Cytochrome P-450 ω-hydroxylase senses O2 in hamster muscle, but not cheek pouch epithelium, microcirculation.

The goal of this study was to investigate the role of cytochrome P-450 ω-hydroxylase in mediating O2-induced constriction of arterioles in the microcirculation of the hamster. Male Golden hamsters were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, and the cremaster muscle or cheek pouch was prepared for observation by intravital microscopy. Arteriolar diameters were measured during elevations of superfusate[Formula: see text] from ∼5 to 150 mmHg. Arteriolar responses to elevated [Formula: see text] were determined in the cremaster muscle, in the retractor muscle where it inserts on the cheek pouch, and in the epithelial portion of the cheek pouch. Elevation of superfusion solution[Formula: see text] caused a vigorous constriction of arterioles in the cremaster and retractor muscles and in the epithelial portion of the cheek pouch. Superfusion with 10 μM 17-octadecynoic acid, a suicide substrate inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 ω-hydroxylase, and intravenous infusion of N-methylsulfonyl-12,12-dibromododec-11-enamide, a mechanistically different and highly selective inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 ω-hydroxylase, caused a significant reduction in the magnitude of O2-induced constriction of arterioles in the cremaster and retractor muscles. However, arteriolar constriction in response to elevated[Formula: see text] was unaffected by 17-octadecynoic acid or N-methylsulfonyl-12,12-dibromododec-11-enamide in the epithelial portion of the cheek pouch. These data confirm that there are regional differences in the mechanism of action of O2 on the microcirculation and indicate that cytochrome P-450 ω-hydroxylase senses O2 in the microcirculation of hamster skeletal muscle, but not in the cheek pouch epithelium.