Raloxifene Relaxes Rat Cerebral Arteries In Vitro and Inhibits L-Type Voltage-Sensitive Ca Channels

Background and Purpose—Because of their mixed estrogen-agonist and estrogen-antagonist properties, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are considered promising substitutes for hormone replacement therapy. Raloxifene and other SERMs confer estrogen-like cardiovascular protective effects but lack the carcinogenic activity of exogenous estrogen. However, little is known about the cerebrovascular action of raloxifene. Therefore, we studied the effects of raloxifene on the mechanisms regulating rat cerebral artery tone. Methods and Results—Ring segments of the isolated rat posterior communicating cerebral arteries were mounted in a microvessel myograph for measurement of isometric tension. Whole-cell L-type voltage-sensitive Ca currents were recorded using the perforated patch-clamp technique. Raloxifene (0.1 to 10 mol/L) reduced the contractile responses to U46619, phenylephrine, and endothelin-1 in normal Krebs solution or to CaCl2 in Ca 2 -free, high K -containing solution. Raloxifene-induced relaxation was identical in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings. ICI 182780 had no effect on raloxifene-induced relaxation. Raloxifene reduced L-type Ca currents with a pD2 of 5.98 0.06, close to that (6.44 0.09) for raloxifene-induced relaxation of 60 mmol/L K -contracted rings. Conclusions—This study demonstrates that raloxifene acutely relaxes rat cerebral arteries largely via an endotheliumindependent mechanism, involving inhibition of Ca influx through L-type Ca channels. (Stroke. 2004;35:000-000.)