Vasodilation promoted by (E, E)-farnesol involving ion channels in human umbilical arteries

Paulo Ricardo Batista; Andressa de Alencar Silva; Carla Mikevely de Sena Bastos; Renata Evaristo Rodrigues da Silva; Gabriela Lucena Calixto; Luís Pereira de Morais; Gyllyandeson de Araújo Delmondes; Marta Regina Kerntopf; Irwin Rose Alencar de Menezes; Roseli Barbosa

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17328

Vasodilation promoted by (E, E)-farnesol involving ion channels in human umbilical arteries

Heliyon. 2023 Jun 16;9(6):e17328. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17328. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Biological Chemistry Department, Pimenta Campus, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil.
² Biological Sciences Department, Physiopharmacology of Excitable Cells Laboratory, Pimenta Campus, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, 63105-000, Ceará, Brazil.
³ Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, Higher Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60714-903, Ceará, Brazil.
⁴ Biotechnology By the Northeastern Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60714-903, Ceará, Brazil.
⁵ Nursing Collegiate, Petrolina Campus, Federal University of the San Francisco Vale, Petrolina, 56304-205, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: (E,E)-farnesol is a sesquiterpene alcohol derived from plants and animals that exhibits pharmacological properties in the cardiovascular system. However, its effects on human umbilical vessels remain unknown.

Purpose: Thus, this study aims to characterize the vasodilatory effect of (E,E)-farnesol in human umbilical arteries (HUA).

Study design: The tissue is obtained from pregnant women over 18 years of age, normotensive, and without prepartum complications. After collected, the tissue was segmented and dissected to remove Wharton's jelly and obtain the umbilical arteries segments.

Methods: HUA segments were isolated and sectioned into rings that were subjected to isometric tension recordings in an organ bath.

Results: (E,E)-farnesol (1 μmol/L to 1 mmol/L) promoted vasodilatory effect in HUA preparations, affecting basal tone, and inhibiting the electromechanical coupling induced by KCl 60 mmol/L with greater potency (EC₅₀ 225.3 μmol/L) than the pharmacomechanical coupling induced by 5-HT 10 μmol/L (EC₅₀ 363.5 μmol/L). In the absence of extracellular calcium, pharmacomechanical coupling was also abolished, and contractions induced by CaCl₂ or BaCl₂ were attenuated by (E,E)-farnesol indicating a possible direct inhibition of L-type VOCC as a mechanism of the vasodilatory effect. The vasodilator efficacy of (E,E)-farnesol on reduction of vasocontraction induced by the presence of tetraethylammonium (1 or 10 mmol/L), 4-aminopyridine (1 mmol/L) and glibenclamide (10 μmol/L) suggesting a possible influence of different potassium channels (BK_Ca, K_V and K_ATP).

Conclusion: These results suggest that (E,E)-farnesol may be a promising pharmacological candidate for obstetric hypertensive disorders.

Keywords: (E,E)-farnesol; Blockers of channel; Human umbilical artery; Vasorelaxant effect; ex vivo assay.