Production of endothelium derived relaxant factor is dependent on oxidative phosphorylation and extracellular calcium

The production (synthesis or release or both) of endothelium derived relaxant factor was studied in rabbit aortic strip preparations and an aortic-coronary artery bioassay system. Production of endothelium derived relaxant factor was rapidly inhibited by agents that inhibit mitochondrial electron transport or F1-ATPase, or which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation, but was only slowly impaired by inhibition of glycolysis. It was dependent also on the presence of extracellular calcium with a rapid on-off response time. This study shows that production of endothelium derived relaxant factor appears to be dependent on both oxidative phosphorylation and extracellular calcium.