Pharmacological characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes mediating vasoconstriction of human umbilical vein.

The present study attempted to pharmacologically characterize the muscarinic receptor subtypes mediating contraction of human umbilical vein (HUV).HUV rings were mounted in organ baths and concentration-response curves were constructed for acetylcholine (ACh) (pEC50: 6.16+/-0.

Further pharmacological evidence of nuclear factor-kappa B pathway involvement in bradykinin B1 receptor-sensitized responses in human umbilical vein.

Bradykinin (BK) B(1) receptors are thought to exert a pivotal role in maintaining and modulating inflammatory processes. They are not normally present under physiological situations but are induced under physiopathological conditions. In isolated human umbilical vein (HUV), a spontaneous BK B(1) receptor up-regulation and sensitization process has been demonstrated.