Protein kinase C activity in blood vessels from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study investigates the effects of phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) on protein kinase C (PKC) activation, as assessed by the translocation of PKC activity from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction, in aortas and mesenteric arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The basal distribution of PKC activity between the cytosolic and particulate fractions of SHR and WKY aortas, and mesenteric arteries, was not significantly different. PDB induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cytosolic PKC activity in SHR and WKY aortas. PDB (0.01 microM) decreased cytosolic PKC activity to a greater magnitude in SHR aorta as compared to WKY aorta, while 1.0 microM PDB decreased cytosolic PKC activities to similar magnitudes in SHR and WKY aortas, and mesenteric arteries. These results suggest that the increased sensitivity of SHR vessels to contraction by phorbol esters may be due, at least in part, to the greater sensitivity of PKC in these vessels to phorbol ester activation.