Acrylamide-treatment and responses to phenylephrine and potassium in rat aorta

Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical used in many industries around the world and was found to form naturally in foods cooked at high temperatures. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of ACR treatment on vascular responses to phenylephrine (PHE; 10-9-3×10-4 M) and potassium chloride (KCl; 5-100 mM). We also examined the role of gender in these responses. The animals in both genders were divided into three groups as follows. (1) Control animals, (2) ACR-I; ACR-treated (2 mg/kg-d for 90 days), (3) ACR-II; ACR-treated (5 mg/kg-d for 90 days). Male rat aortas were more sensitive to PHE and KCl than female aortas. ACR-treatment increased the sensitivity to PHE and KCl, in both genders. Compared to the control group, ACR treatment significantly reduced the luminal area of both male and female rat aortas. Furthermore, the responses to PHE and KCl were similar in both 2 mg/kg-d ACR-treated rat aortas with 5 mg/kg-d ACR-treated rat aortas, in both genders. The results of this study suggest that ACR treatment affects vascular contractility and morphology in both gender of rat aorta.