Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase by endothelium-derived relaxing factor from cultured endothelial cells

Bovine endothelial cells, grown on microcarrier beads and superfused with a saline solution, were stimulated with thimerosal or bradykinin to release endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). EDRF activity in the effluent was assayed in endothelium-denuded rabbit aorta. The stimulation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase in test tubes by the EDRF-containing effluent amounted to 90-fold of basal activity and its time course correlated with that of the dilator response of the aorta. After preincubation of endothelial cells with gossypol the EDRF-induced dilator response as well as the stimulation of guanylate cyclase was suppressed.