NC-1005

1. NC 1005 and NC 1006 (3 x 10(-6) M-10(-4) M) inhibited the contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE) and KCl in isolated rat aortas with or without endothelium. 2. In a Ca(2+)-free medium containing EGTA and nifedipine, NC 1005 and NC 1006 inhibited PE-response and a subsequent response to Ca2+ in the presence of PE. 3. NC 1005 and NC 1006 also caused relaxations of endothelium-removed aortas precontracted with PE. 4. The relaxations induced by NC 1005 and NC 1006 were potentiated by amiloride, zaprinast and theophylline but not by increasing the external Na+ concentration. 5. Methylene blue and ouabain slightly potentiated NC 1005-relaxation, but not NC 1006-relaxation. 6. Glyburide, apamine and nifedipine had no effect on the relaxations. 7. NC 1005 and NC 1006 potentiated the relaxation induced by nitroglycerin (NG) without affecting isoproterenol-relaxation. 8. In the presence of forskolin, NC 1005 and NC 1006 failed to potentiate NG-relaxation. 9. These results suggest that the vasoinhibitory effects of NC 1005 and NC 1006 may be due to an increase in the level of cAMP.