Abstract
This study investigates the effects of wild blueberry (WB, Vaccinium angustifolium) on arterial contractile response to the α1‐adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (Phe) in 8 week old obese Zucker rats (OZR). Twenty OZR were randomly assigned to a control (C) or an 8% WB diet for 8 weeks. Vascular studies were conducted in isolated aortic ring preparations to measure vasoconstriction induced by Phe, 10–8 to 3×10–6M. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) and aortic concentration of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in the effluent was determined.Obese Zucker rats exhibited a reduced response to Phe‐induced vasoconstriction, possibly due to a compensatory overproduction of NO under inflammatory conditions. The WB diet partially restored Phe‐induced constrictor responses, compared to their lean littermates, by increasing the maximal force developed (0.55±0.02 g WB vs 0.43±0.02 g C, p≤0.05)Plasma NO was significantly attenuated (22.1±1.1 μmol/L, WB vs 25.6±1.4 μmol/L, C, p≤0.05) with the WB diet. Aortic effluent TXA2 levels were not significantly altered, while PGI2 concentration significantly increased (766.5±92.2 pg/mg WB vs 571.7±37.8 pg/g C aorta, p≤0.05).In conclusion, WB consumption significantly altered vasomotor tone in response to an α1‐adrenergic agonist in the OZR aorta and modulated plasma NO and aortic effluent PGI2.Grant Funding Source: Wild Blueberry Association of North America
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