General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.31, No.3, p.271-278, 2012

The aim of this study was to assess whether an endothelin-A receptor (ETA-R) blocker, BQ123, or an endothelin-B (ETB-R) receptor blocker, BQ788, influences nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) pathway, free radical generation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentration, and glutathione redox system in hearts obtained from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxic rats. The study was performed on rats divided into groups: 1) saline, 2) saline + LPS (15 mg/kg), 3) BQ123 (1 mg/kg b.w.) + LPS, 4) BQ123 (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) + LPS, 5) BQ788 (3 mg/kg b.w.) + LPS. The ETA-R and ETB-R antagonists were injected i.v. 30 min before LPS administration.

In rats, BQ123 caused a significant decrease in TBARS (p < 0.05) but not in H2O2 concentration. It also decreased tissue protein level and improved tissue redox status (p < 0.01).

Only a dose of 1 mg/kg decreased TNF-α concentration (p < 0.05). BQ788 lowered TBARS, H2O2 and protein concentration (p < 0.05; p < 0.02; p < 0.001, respectively), however, it did not affect TNF-α concentration.

Neither ETA-R nor ETB-R blockers influenced LPS-induced increase in p65 subunit level and activation of NF-κB pathway.Our results demonstrated that ETA-R blockage is more effective in inhibiting free radical generation and improving heart antioxidant properties than ETB-R blockage under oxidative stress. NF-κB pathway is not incorporated in ETA-R and ETB-R influence on ROS production.