Pregnancy Augments G Protein Estrogen Receptor (GPER) Induced Vasodilation in Rat Uterine Arteries via the Nitric Oxide - cGMP Signaling Pathway

RESEARCH ARTICLE Pregnancy Augments G Protein Estrogen Receptor (GPER) Induced Vasodilation in Rat Uterine Arteries via the Nitric Oxide - cGMP Signaling Pathway Teresa Tropea1, Ernestina Marianna De Francesco2, Damiano Rigiracciolo2, Marcello Maggiolini2, Mark Wareing3, George Osol4, Maurizio Mandalà1* a11111 1 Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy, 2 Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy, 3 Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, 4 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America * Abstract OPEN ACCESS Citation: Tropea T, De Francesco EM, Rigiracciolo D, Maggiolini M, Wareing M, Osol G, et al. (2015) Pregnancy Augments G Protein Estrogen Receptor (GPER) Induced Vasodilation in Rat Uterine Arteries via the Nitric Oxide - cGMP Signaling Pathway. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0141997. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0141997 Editor: Christopher Torrens, University of Southampton, UNITED KINGDOM Received: March 16, 2015 Background The regulation of vascular tone in the uterine circulation is a key determinant of appropriate uteroplacental blood perfusion and successful pregnancy outcome. Estrogens, which increase in the maternal circulation throughout pregnancy, can exert acute vasodilatory actions. Recently a third estrogen receptor named GPER (G protein-coupled estrogen receptor) was identified and, although several studies have shown vasodilatory effects in several vascular beds, nothing is known about its role in the uterine vasculature. Accepted: October 15, 2015 Published: November 4, 2015 Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper. Funding: This work was supported by the University of Calabria with a contribution named "ex 60%" to MM. The funder had a role in study design and in analysis and interpretation of data. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the function of GPER in uterine arteries mainly during pregnancy. Uterine arteries were isolated from nonpregnant and pregnant rats. Methods Vessels were contracted with phenylephrine and then incubated with incremental doses (10−12–10−5 M) of the selective GPER agonist G1. Results G1 induced a dose-dependent vasodilation which was: 1) significantly increased in pregnancy, 2) endothelium-dependent, 3) primarily mediated by NO/cGMP pathway and 4) unaffected by BKca channel inhibition. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0141997 November 4, 2015 1/9 GPER Induced Vasodilation in Uterine Resistance Arteries Conclusion This is the first study to show the potential importance of GPER signaling in reducing uterine vascular tone during pregnancy. GPER may therefore play a previously unrecognized role in the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow and normal fetus growth. Introduction During pregnancy, uteroplacental blood flow increases significantly to allow the normal growth of the fetus. Reduced blood flow to the uteroplacental unit is observed in gestational diseases such as fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia, with serious consequences for pregnancy outcome. Estrogens may modulate uteroplacental vascular function since its plasma concentrations increase significantly during pregnancy, and an effect on vascular tone has been documented in many experimental and clinical contexts [1]. Estrogens act on the vasculature via three different receptors: the two classical nuclear estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, function traditionally as ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors [2], while a third membrane estrogen receptor termed G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER, formerly GPR30) was recently identified as an orphan 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor [3–7]. In the last decade, several studies have shown that GPER [8,9] mediates the action of estrogens and estrogen-like compounds in diverse pathophysiological conditions [10–15]. In addition, using the specific GPER agonists and antagonists namely G1 [16] and G15 [17], respectively, several studies have shown that GPER plays a role in the nervous, immune, reproductive and vascular systems [18]. The potential vascular relevance of GPER function was first observed in human vascular endothelial cells, in which flow (shear stress) induced its expression [7]. GPER is also expressed in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells throughout the cardiovascular system [19–21]. Although several vessel types have been assessed [22–24], GPER has not been investigated in the uterine vasculature, which supplies blood flow to the uterus and placenta and plays a crucial role in providing sufficient blood for normal placental exchange [25]. In this study we ascertained that GPER is expressed in the uterine circulation, its activation triggers a vasoactive effect primarily through the NO-cGMP signaling system in uterine arteries and that its effects may be altered during pregnancy. Material and Methods Animals All experiments were conducted in accordance with the European Guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals (Directive 2010/63/EU) and were approved by the local ethical committee of the University of Calabria. Surgery was performed under anesthesia to minimize pain and suffering. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased from Harlan Laboratories (Italy). All animals were housed under controlled conditions on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and provided commercial chow and tap water ad libitum. Experiments were performed on agematched pregnant and non-pregnant animals at 12–15 weeks of age. Pregnant animals were obtained by placing a female in proestrus with a fertile male overnight; detection of spermatozoa using a vaginal smear on the following morning was used to confirm day 1 of pregnancy. Animals were euthanized with inhalation of Diethyl ether followed by decapitation, the uterus was removed and uterine arteries were dissected free from connective and adipose tissue for subsequent experimentation. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0141997 November 4, 2015 2/9 GPER Induced Vasodilation in Uterine Resistance Arteries Pressure myography Radial uterine arteries were obtained from non pregnant (NP) and pregnant animals (P) at 14 days of gestational age, i.e. approximately one week before term. Arterial segments (1–2 mm long) were transferred to the chamber of a small-vessel arteriograph. One end of the vessel was tied onto a glass cannula and flushed of any luminal contents by increasing the pressure before securing the distal (...truncated)