Age-related differences in cyclic AMP metabolism and their consequences on relaxation induced by isoproterenol and phosphodiesterase inhibitors in rat isolated aorta.

Experiments were designed to investigate the respective roles of adenylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in the alterations with age of cyclic AMP metabolism-dependent relaxation in rat aorta. Neither basal nor stimulated aortic adenylate cyclase activities from 7- and 18-week-old rats differed significantly. The maximal cyclic AMP accumulation induced by isoproterenol in the aorta decreased with the age of the rat as did the maximal relaxation produced by the beta-adrenergic agonist in pre-contracted aorta strips. The age-related difference in cyclic AMP accumulation was abolished when the experiment was performed in the presence of a high concentration (500 microM) of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). In addition, four phosphodiesterase inhibitors, IBMX, rolipram, Ro 20-1724 and zaprinast relaxed aorta strips pre-contracted by serotonin with concentration-effect curves which were displaced to the right in the older rats, the maximal effects being unchanged. The results suggest that the previously reported increased phosphodiesterase activity could be responsible for (1) the diminution with age of isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP accumulation and relaxation in rat aorta; (2) the age-related decrease in potency of phosphodiesterase inhibitors as relaxing agents.