Responses of the Bovine Mammary Artery to Angiotensins

¹ Lactation Physiology Laboratory Department of Animal Science Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853

The main objective of our study was to determine whether angiotensins cause vasoconstriction of mammary arterial segments in vitro. Once this action was established, its specificity was determined. Mammary arterial sections were obtained from lactating cattle at slaughter. Vessel sections were placed in a gravity-fed, closed, perfusion apparatus, and flow was measured by a transit-time flow sensor mounted in-line. Treatments were administered by injection into a leurlock port located proximal to the sensor. Angiotensins I, II, and III induced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction of arterial segments at concentrations of 5 x 10^-10 to 5 x 10^-6 M. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, Saralisin and (Sarl, Thr8)-angiotensin II (5 x 10^-8 M)), inhibited vasoconstriction induced by angiotensins I, II, and III. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, Captopril (5 x 10^-8 M), inhibited angiotensin I vasoconstriction, thereby showing that the vasoconstriction by angiotensin I was mediated through its conversion to angiotensin II. These data demonstrated that the mammary artery of lactating cows is responsive to the angiotensin family. Furthermore, mammary arteries contain angiotensin-converting enzyme and specific receptors for angiotensin II. This system may be important in the normal physiological regulation of mammary gland blood flow of lactating cows.

Key Words: angiotensin • vasoconstriction • mammary artery

Submitted on October 13, 1992
Accepted on December 10, 1992