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Urotensin II is a cyclic undecapeptide which activates the GPR14 receptor and exerts potent vasoconstrictor effects in some species of fish and mammals.

The present study intended to investigate isolated vessels from various species in an attempt to find sensitive preparations to be used in studies of the human urotensin (hU-II)/GPR14 system.

Contractile responses evoked by noradrenaline (NA), angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin 1 (ET-1) and hU-II were measured in large vessels (aorta and some large arteries and veins) of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs and humans. Relaxing effects of hU-II, bradykinin (BK) and substance P (SP) were measured in pig coronary arteries contracted with KCl 30 mM. The rat mesenteric vasculature was investigated from the arterial and venous site to establish the function of ET-1 and hU-II receptors. Results indicate that the only preparation showing high …