Deletion of the UT receptor gene results in the selective loss of urotensin‐II contractile activity in aortae isolated from UT receptor knockout mice

Urotensin‐II (U‐II) is among the most potent mammalian vasoconstrictors identified and may play a role in the aetiology of essential hypertension. Currently, only one mouse U‐II receptor (UT) gene has been cloned. It is postulated that this protein is solely responsible for mediating U‐II‐induced vasoconstriction. This hypothesis has been investigated in the present study, which assessed basal haemodynamics and vascular reactivity to hU‐II in wild‐type (UT(+/+)) and UT receptor knockout (UT(−/−)) mice. Basal left ventricular end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volumes/pressures, stroke volumes, mean arterial blood pressures, heart rates, cardiac outputs and ejection fractions in UT(+/+) mice and in UT(−/−) mice were similar. Relative to UT(+/+) mouse isolated thoracic aorta, where hU‐II was a potent spasmogen (pEC50=8.26±0.08) that evoked relatively little vasoconstriction (17±2% 60 mM KCl), vessels isolated from UT(−/−) mice did not respond to hU‐II. However, in contrast, the superior mesenteric artery isolated from both the genotypes did not contract in the presence of hU‐II. Reactivity to unrelated vasoconstrictors (phenylephrine, endothelin‐1, KCl) and endothelium‐dependent/independent vasodilator agents (carbachol, sodium nitroprusside) was similar in the aorta and superior mesenteric arteries isolated from both the genotypes. The present study is the first to directly link hU‐II‐induced vasoconstriction with the UT receptor. Deletion of the UT receptor gene results in loss of hU‐II contractile action with no ‘nonspecific’ alterations in vascular reactivity. However, as might be predicted based on the limited contractile efficacy recorded in vitro, the contribution that hU‐II and its receptor make to basal systemic haemodynamics appears to be negligible in this species. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 139, 464–472. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705254