Evidence that pharmacological manipulations of central L-arginine-NO pathway influence blood pressure and heart rate in rats.

In the present study we have investigated whether pharmacological manipulations of central L-arginine-nitric oxide (L-Arg-NO) pathway could affect blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in normotensive rats either untreated or pretreated with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthesis, caused a fall of BP and HR in LPS-treated but not in control rats. Furthermore, the pressor responses to i.c.v. injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) were enhanced by L-Arg or LPS treatment and, in both cases, this potentiation was blocked by L-NAME. The present results show that in some experimental conditions, such as activation of NMDA receptors or LPS pretreatment, the central microinfusion of drugs affecting the L-Arg-NO pathway may interfere with BP and HR.     

一氧化氮对大鼠学习记忆和胆碱能系统的影响

目的:探讨一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)在大鼠空间学习和记忆过程中的作用及其对胆碱能受体作用机制。方法:大鼠侧脑室分别注射NO前体左旋精氨酸(L-arginine,L-Arg,L-Arg组)、α7烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(α7nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,α7nAChR)拮抗剂甲基牛扁亭(methyllycaconitine,MLA,MLA组)、α7nAChR激动剂氯化胆碱(choline chloride,CC组)、一氧化氮合酶抑制剂Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯(nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester,L-NAME,L-NAME组)以及先注射MLA再注射L-Arg(ML组)、先注射L-NAME再注射氯化胆碱(NC组),并以等量生理盐水(NS组)作为对照。用Y型迷宫刺激器、硝酸还原酶法、免疫组织化学以及Western-Blot等技术分别检测大鼠空间学习和记忆行为能力、大脑皮质和海马NO含量和α7nAChR的表达。结果:与对照组比较,Y迷宫空间学习能力达标次数和24 h后30次测试记忆行为中错误反应次数在L-Arg组和CC组均减少,而在MLA组和L-NAME组均增多;大脑前额叶皮质和海马NO含量和α7nAChR阳性细胞数以及蛋白含量在L-Arg组和CC组均明显增多,而在MLA组和L-NAME组均明显减少。ML组和NC组分别与L-Arg和CC组相比较,大鼠学习和记忆行为能力均明显减弱,并且大脑前额叶皮质和海马NO含量以及α7nAChR的表达均减少。结论:侧脑室应用MLA或L-NAME可减弱L-Arg或氯化胆碱对大鼠空间学习和记忆行为能力的促进作用;NO通过α7nAChR促进大鼠空间学习和记忆能力。     

Perceptual bisection in rats: the effects of physostigmine, scopolamine and pirenzepine.

The effects of cholinergic drugs on three different perceptual bisection tasks were studied in rats. Physostigmine (0.056-0.56 mg/kg), a reversible anticholinesterase, produced dose-dependent decrements in discriminability (A'), but did not affect the bisection point (BP) in visual duration, auditory duration, and auditory intensity bisection tasks. This finding is consistent with results previously obtained in an auditory duration bisection task with an irreversible anticholinesterase, diisopropyl phosphofluoridate. Scopolamine (0.075-0.422 mg/kg), a muscarinic cholinergic-receptor antagonist, produced dose-dependent decrements in both A' and BP in visual and auditory duration bisection tasks. The behavioral antagonism between physostigmine (0.56 mg/kg) and scopolamine (0.075-0.237 mg/kg) was studied in the visual and auditory duration bisection tasks. The BP was not affected by physostigmine alone or in combination with scopolamine, except at the largest dose of scopolamine, which produced a reliable decrement in the BP. A', however, was equally decreased by physostigmine alone and all combinations of physostigmine and scopolamine. Pirenzepine (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg), a selective high-affinity M1 muscarinic antagonist, had no effect on A' or the BP in the duration bisection tasks, suggesting changes in perception produced by muscarinic antagonists do not involve the M1 receptor subtype. The similar drug effects in different sensory modalities (visual and auditory) and perceptual systems (subjective duration and loudness) suggest that cholinergic drugs may affect perceptual mechanisms responsible for sensory coding, such as the output of a neural generator.     

长时间应用L-精氨酸增强大鼠学习记忆功能和大脑皮质、海马nNOS或c-fos的表达及神经元数目的增加(英文)

为探讨长时间应用一氧化氮(NO)对学习记忆功能和神经系统可塑性的影响,以及NO与c-fos基因表达的关系,分别给初断乳的大鼠灌胃NO前体左旋-精氨酸(L-Arg)或一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME,用Morris水迷宫检测大鼠的学习记忆功能,用免疫组化技术和HE染色检测大脑皮质和海马CA1、CA3、DG区的神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)和c-fos基因的表达以及神经细胞数目的变化。将大鼠随机分成L-Arg组、L-NAME组和对照组。大鼠断乳后分别每天用L-Arg[200mg/(kg.d)]、L-NAME[50mg/(kg.d)]和等剂量的蒸馏水灌胃,持续3个月。结果显示:长期应用NO前体L-Arg可明显缩短大鼠的寻台潜伏期,促进nNOS和c-fos基因的表达,同时大脑皮质和海马CA1、CA3、DG区的神经元数目增加;而长期应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME可抑制大鼠寻台潜伏期的缩短和nNOS、c-fos基因的表达,同时大脑皮质和海马CA1、CA3、DG区的神经元数目减少。因此我们认为长时间应用NO可促进神经系统c-fos基因的表达和幼鼠神经系统的发育,即可塑性的变化,继而影响大鼠的学习记忆功能。     

不同剂量的一氧化氮对福尔马林炎性痛大鼠脊髓背角Bcl-2/Bax表达的影响

目的:探讨多次应用不同剂量的一氧化氮(NO)对福尔马林炎性痛中脊髓背角神经元Bcl-2、Bax表达的影响。方法:连续4 d给大鼠各进行鞘内注射不同剂量的一氧化氮前体左旋精氨酸(L-arginine,L-Arg)10μg/d(低L-Arg组)、250μg/d(高L-Arg组)或一氧化氮合酶(nitric oxide synthase,NOS)抑制剂Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯(Nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester,L-NAME)2700μg/d(L-NAME组),鞘内注射生理盐水(NS组)作为对照,各给药1次/d。随后于大鼠右后肢脚掌皮下注射福尔马林(2%,100μl),4 h后分别做免疫组化和Western Blot检测脊髓背角Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达。结果:免疫组化结果显示,Bcl-2和Bax表达分布于两侧脊髓背角,但主要位于脊髓背角浅层,各组在注射福尔马林同侧均明显高于对侧。Western Blot结果显示Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达含量的比值,在各实验组与对照组比较,低L-Arg组Bcl-2/Bax比值明显升高,而高L-Arg组和L-NAME组Bcl-2/Bax比值均明显降低。bcl-2为抑制细胞凋亡的基因,而bax为促进细胞凋亡的基因。结论:在炎性痛模型中,低剂量的NO以促进抑凋亡基因的表达为主,而高剂量的NO以及NO生成不足均以促进促凋亡基因的表达为主,进而影响炎性痛的发生。     

Scopolamine treatment and fimbria-fornix lesions: mimetic effects on radial maze performance

Long-Evans female rats were "trained" in an 8-arm radial maze and subsequently tested under systemic treatment with physostigmine (0.05 mg/kg, IP), scopolamine methylbromide (MBr) and scopolamine hydrobromide (HBr; 0.5 mg/kg, IP), whose effects were compared to those of aspirative lesions of the fimbria-fornix pathways. During the predrug trials, rats with lesions showed impaired performances compared to those of intact rats. Whereas physostigmine had no significant effect in either group, scopolamine HBr impaired performances of intact rats in a manner closely parallel to all measured behavioral effects of the lesions (errors, "correct arms" and strategies). The scopolamine HBr-induced deficits were not correlated with the percentage of "spatial" strategies. Under scopolamine HBr treatment the performances of rats showing preferences for "spatial" strategies did not differ significantly from those of rats showing preferences for "orientation" strategies. These results provide further support for the involvement of cholinergic processes in working memory and suggest that scopolamine-induced central cholinergic disruption may mimic the effects of fimbria-fornix lesions in an 8-arm radial maze. They also somewhat qualify previous reports on 1) the poor sensitivity of an uninterrupted radial maze testing procedure to pharmacological treatment and 2) the abilities of rats to resist muscarinic blockade depending on the strategies they use in the maze.     

Role of acetylcholine transmission in nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area in heroin-seeking induced by conditioned cues

The involvement of cholinergic transmission in heroin self-administration and the reinstatement of heroin-seeking was examined in rats trained to nose-poke for i.v. heroin. Systemic treatment with physostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, modestly reduced the acquisition and rate of heroin self-administration, and this suppression of heroin intake was reversed by pretreatment with scopolamine but not by mecamylamine. Following 10-14 days of self-administration, rats were left in the home environment for 14 days. Subsequently, rats were evaluated for extinction of nose-pokes during the first hour after being returned to the self-administration apparatus. One hour later a conditioned stimulus (house light, light in the nose-poke hole, sound of the infusion pump) was presented to initiate cue-induced reinstatement. Physostigmine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cue-induced reinstatement, but only the dose of 0.5 mg/kg significantly decreased nose-poke responding in the extinction test. Chronic treatment with physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg) did not impair performance during acquisition of heroin self-administration. However, during a subsequent reinstatement test conducted in the absence of physostigmine pretreatment, heroin seeking was significantly below that of rats chronically pretreated with saline. To evaluate brain regions mediating the effects of systemic drug treatment on reinstatement, physostigmine was microinjected into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or ventral tegmental area (VTA). Microinjection of physostigmine into the NAc prior to presenting conditioned cues inhibited the reinstatement of heroin-seeking, without affecting extinction responding. In contrast, microinjection of physostigmine into the VTA augmented the reinstatement induced by conditioned cues and extinction responding. Inactivation of either NAc or VTA by microinjecting tetrodotoxin blocked both extinction responding and cue-induced reinstatement. These data demonstrate that cholinergic transmission influences heroin self-administration and reinstatement. Moreover, cue-induced reinstatement was inhibited by physostigmine in the NAc and potentiated by cholinergic stimulation in the VTA.     

Oral l-arginine protects against cyclosporine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Cyclosporine A (CyA) leads to liver injury, probably by causing the production of free radicals and resulting in nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. We evaluated CyA-mediated liver damage histopathologically to determine the possible beneficial effects of L-arginine (L-Arg). In this study, 7 groups of Sprague-Dawley rats; (1) Control group; (2) 0.9% NaCl group; (3) CyA group: 7.5mg/kg/day; (4) L-Arg group: 2g/lt/day; (5) l-NAME (N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) group: 5mg/100ml/day; (6) CyA+L-Arg group: L-Arg (2g/lt/day)+CyA (7.5mg/kg/day); and (7) CyA+L-NAME group: CyA (7.5mg/kg/day)+L-NAME (5mg/100ml/day) were included. At the end of the treatments, animals were killed and hepatic tissues were treated for morphological (hematoxylin and eosin) and biochemical (NO and malondialdehyde, MDA) analyses, and serum was processed for biochemical (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total protein) study. The results indicated that CyA-induced hepatotoxicity was characterized by sinusoidal dilatation, hepatocellular vacuolization, neutrophilic infiltration and hepatocellular necrosis. These findings were less pronounced in the CyA+L-Arg group than CyA alone group. L-NAME group showed moderate changes. The CyA+L-NAME (Group 7) had more severe changes. We found changes in tissue NO and MDA levels. We think that the tissue damage caused by CyA is mild and reversible at the period when biochemical parameters are just starting to become abnormal and that L-Arg may have a protective effect against CyA damage on liver.     

Role of dentate gyrus cells in retention of a radial arm maze task and sensitivity of rats to cholinergic drugs

Male adult Fischer-344 rats that received bilateral injections of colchicine into two rostrocaudal sites showed relatively long-lasting alterations in the performance of a previously acquired radial arm maze task and specific destruction of dentate granule cells. Results of subsequent experiments with cholinergic drugs indicated that physostigmine or nicotine had no effect on the number of errors made in the maze, although other signs of cholinergic or pharmacological activity were present. RS-86, an analog of the muscarinic agonist arecoline, decreased errors in colchicine-treated rats, but these effects were associated with signs of parasympathetic overstimulation and behavioral sedation. Pretreatment with scopolamine, a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist, increased errors in control rats but had no effect in colchicine-treated rats. Results of subsequent experiments found that colchicine-treated rats were less sensitive to the motor stimulant effect of scopolamine. These effects appeared to be associated with increased levels of choline acetyltransferase in the hippocampus and a down regulation of muscarinic postsynaptic receptors. One interpretation of these data is that intradentate colchicine may destroy granule cells, which leads to a compensatory reinnervation of cholinergic nerve terminals having cell bodies in the septum.     

L-arginine attenuates blood pressure and reverses the suppression of angiogenic risk factors in a rat model of preeclampsia

This study investigated the effect of L-arginine on blood pressure, angiogenic factors and liver enzymes in pregnant rats administered L-NAME. Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 150–170?g were divided into 4 groups of the control (normal saline), L-NAME (50?mg/kg b.w. intraperitoneal injection from days 13–18 of pregnancy), L-NAME?+?L-arginine (50?mg/kg b.w. and 1?g/kg b.w of L-arginine from days 13 to 18) and L-arginine (1?g/kg b.w administered orally from days 13 to 18). Urine samples were collected on day 18 of pregnancy and the animals were sacrificed on day 19 of pregnancy for blood pressure parameters, angiogenic and liver enzyme assays. L-NAME increased protein, albumin, systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly when compared with control. This effect was reversed by L-arginine when co-administered with L-NAME (p?<?0.05). No difference was found in the pulse pressure and heart rate in all the groups as well as ALP and ALT levels. However, AST levels were significantly decreased in L-Arginine (L-Arg) administered rats when compared with control. VEGF and PIGF levels were decreased in the L-NAME administered rats, while this levels were increased in the L-NAME?+?L-Arg group and L-Arg group when compared with the L-NAME alone group (p?<?0.05). sVEGFR-1 level was increased in L-NAME administered rats when compared to control, while in the L-NAME?+?L-Arg group and L-Arg group the level of sVEGFR-1 was significantly decreased when compared to L-NAME alone group. This study showed that L-arginine supplementation in pregnancy reduced the preeclampsia-like symptoms exhibited by L-NAME in pregnant rats.     

Nitric oxide regenerates the normal colonic peristaltic activity in mdx dystrophic mouse

We demonstrated in vitro that the colonic peristaltic activity is modified in dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse indicating a defect in the enteric nervous system (ENS). Since nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a putative inhibitory mediator of ENS, here we have examined the effects of both L-Arginine (L-Arg) and Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the peristaltic activity of mdx mouse distal colon. The motor pattern of colonic segment showed irregular peristaltic waves. L-Arg (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) induced the peristaltic activity to slow down. At a concentration of 10(-5) M, L-Arg produced hypomotility, characterised by a decrease in amplitude, frequency and ejected fluid volume. Conversely, L-NAME elicited hypermotility, this effect being reversed once again by the subsequent addition of L-Arg. Interestingly the addition of 10(-5) M L-Arg to the organ bath led to the normal progression, in an oral to aboral direction, of 90% of the peristaltic waves. This last result strongly suggests that exogenous application of L-Arg restores the integrative circuits of the ENS responsible for programming and co-ordinating peristaltic activity in the distal colon of mdx mouse.     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase delays the development of tolerance to LPS in rats

The role of nitric oxide (NO) was investigated in endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) tolerance in freely moving biotelemetered rats. We monitored changes in febrile response and feeding behavior (food intake, water intake) during the development of tolerance to repeated intraperitoneal injections of LPS (50 microg/kg) along with injections of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 50 mg/kg), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Rats were treated with LPS and L-NAME for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, all rats were injected with LPS alone. Control rats were injected with saline along with saline or with L-NAME for four consecutive days. Rats repeatedly injected with LPS became tolerant to pyrogenic and hypophagic/cachexic effects of LPS as early as on the second day of experiment. The treatment with L-NAME prevented the attenuation of febrile response following the second LPS injection. Moreover, the depressive effects of LPS on body weight as well as on water and food intake were prolonged in rats treated with a combination of L-NAME and LPS. Injection of LPS caused a 3.5-fold increase in plasma nitrite within 3 h and nitrite levels remained significantly elevated 6 and 24 h after LPS. Rats injected secondly with LPS did have still 2.5- to 3-fold increase in plasma nitrite levels 3 and 6 h, but not 24 h, after injection. Third injection of LPS did not elevate nitrite level in plasma. Taken together, presented data provide clear evidence that NO formation is involved in mechanisms responsible for development of early-stage tolerance to endotoxin.     

一氧化氮抑制缺氧诱导因子α亚基表达对大鼠缺氧性肺动脉高压的作用

目的: 研究缺氧诱导因子α亚基(HIF-α)在一氧化氮(NO)抑制缺氧性肺动脉高压形成中的作用。方法: 32只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组:常氧对照组(C组)、单纯缺氧组(H组)、缺氧加左旋精氨酸组(L-Arg组)、缺氧加左旋精氨酸甲酯组(L-NAME组)。3个缺氧组常压缺氧(10%)21 d并每天1次腹腔注射相应药物。测定各组大鼠平均肺动脉压(mPAP)、右室肥大指数(RVHI)、血管形态学指标;原位杂交和RT-PCR检测HIF-α、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS) mRNA的表达,免疫组化和Western blotting检测HIF-α、iNOS蛋白质的表达。结果: 3个缺氧组肺组织NO浓度较C组降低,且L-Arg组肺组织NO浓度高于H组,L-NAME组肺组织NO浓度低于H组。3个缺氧组mPAP、RVHI、血管壁面积与血管面积比值(WA%)、肺动脉中膜厚度(PAMT)都较对照组增高(P＜0.05)。L-Arg组mPAP和PAMT较H组低(P＜0.05),RVHI和WA%与H组比较差异无显著。L-NAME组mPAP、RVHI、WA%和PAMT均较H组高(P＜0.05)。3个缺氧组HIF-1α和HIF-3α mRNA表达较C组增高(P＜0.05),3个缺氧组间HIF-1α mRNA表达差异无显著,而L-NAME组HIF-3α mRNA表达高于L-Arg组(P＜0.05),其它组间无显著差异。L-NAME组HIF-2α mRNA高于C组,其它组之间差异无显著。3个缺氧组HIF-1α、HIF-2α和HIF-3α蛋白质表达较C组均增高(P＜0.05),且L-Arg组表达低于H组(P＜0.05),L-NAME组高于H组(P＜0.05)。直线相关分析表明,大鼠肺组织NO浓度与HIF-α蛋白质、iNOS mRNA及蛋白质表达水平、mPAP、RVHI、WA%和PAMT呈负相关(均P<0.05)。结论: 在缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠模型中NO主要在转录后下调HIF-α的表达,NO下调HIF-α的表达可能是其抑制缺氧性肺动脉高压形成的重要机制。     

Brain nitric oxide changes after controlled cortical impact injury in rats

Nitric oxide (NO) and the NO end products, nitrate and nitrite, were measured at the impact site after a 5-m/s, 3-mm deformation controlled cortical impact injury in rats. Immediately after the impact injury and the NO and microdialysis probes could be replaced, there was an increase from baseline in NO concentration of 83 +/- 16 (SE) nM, compared with 0.5 +/- 4 nM in the sham injured animals (P < 0.001). This marked increase in NO occurred at the time of the initial rise in blood pressure (BP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) in response to the injury. After the initial increase in BP and ICP, the BP decreased and stabilized at a value which was approximately 20 mmHg below the preinjury values, and ICP plateaued at an average value of 20 mmHg, compared with 8 mmHg in the sham-injured animals. This provided an average cerebral perfusion pressure of 40-50 mmHg, compared with 65-75 mmHg for the sham-injured animals. These values were relatively constant for the remainder of the 3-h monitoring period. The NO values also stabilized during this time period. By 1 h after the impact injury the NO concentration measured directly using the NO electrode had decreased from baseline values by an average value of 25 +/- 6 nM. NO concentration remained significantly lower than baseline values throughout the remainder of the 3-h monitoring period. The concentration of nitrate/nitrite in the dialysate fluid also decreased by an average value of 341 +/- 283 nM 20-40 min after the injury. Dialysate nitrite/nitrate concentrations remained less than the preinjury baseline values throughout the remainder of the 3-h monitoring period. Preinjury treatment with L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) blunted the injury-induced increase in NO and resulted in more severe immediate intracranial hypertension and more severe systemic hypotension at one hour after injury. Mortality was also 67% with L-NAME pretreatment, compared with 1% in untreated animals.     

L-精氨酸对缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠内皮素释放的影响

目的：探讨Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－Ａｒｇ）对缺氧性肺动脉高压（ＨＰＨ）大鼠血浆内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）释放的影响。方法：将Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠４０只分为：对照组,缺氧组,缺氧＋Ｎ＾ω－硝基－Ｌ－精氨酸甲脂（Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ）组和缺氧Ｌ－Ａｒｇ组。结果：缺氧组的肺动脉平均压（ｍＰＡＰ）显著高于对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）,缺氧组＋Ｌ－Ａｒｇ组的ｍＰＡＰ显著低于缺氧组（Ｐ〈０．０５）及缺氧＋Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ组（Ｐ〈０．０１）,缺     

Role of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase in Pulmonary Vascular Control in Isolated Perfused Lungs of Ferrets, Rats and Rabbits

Dilator products of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) may contribute to the low normal pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa). In isolated perfused lungs of ferrets, rabbits and rats we investigated this hypothesis by blockade of NOS with L-NAME (L-nitro-arginine methyl ester) and COX with meclofenamate. There were species differences. Inhibition of either enzyme caused little rise in Ppa in ferrets and rats but inhibition of both enzymes caused huge increases in Ppa. We suggest this might be due to intracellular connections between the excitatory pathways for NOS and COX dilators, such that inhibition of one enzyme leads to activation of the other. Impairment of these endothelial-based enzymes in pulmonary vascular disease might lead to severe pulmonary hypertension. By contrast, in rabbits, comparable doses of L-NAME lead to large rises in Ppa which were reversed rather than amplified by COX blockade. NO seems to protect against some pressor/oedema forming product of COX in this species.     

Cholinergic regulation of sexual behavior in female hamsters

The effect of cholinergic manipulations on sexual behavior in female hamsters was determined in a series of experiments. The cholinergic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, reduced total lordosis duration following systemic (1 mg/kg) or intraventricular (10 and 20 micrograms bilaterally) administration to ovariectomized hamsters primed with estrogen and progesterone. The inhibitory effect of scopolamine on lordosis occurred within 15 min after either treatment route and persisted at 2 hr after systemic administration. Intraventricular administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine (10 micrograms bilaterally), activated lordosis of short duration in ovariectomized hamsters primed only with estrogen. These results indicate that the cholinergic system plays a facilitative role in the regulation of sexual behavior in female hamsters similar to that demonstrated previously in female rats. The activational effect of cholinergic neurotransmission on female sexual behavior may be a neural mechanism common to a number of mammalian species.     

一氧化氮在休克大鼠离体淋巴管对P物质反应性中的作用

目的: 应用离体淋巴管灌流技术,观察一氧化氮(NO)在失血性休克(HS)大鼠离体淋巴管对P物质(SP)反应性双相变化中的作用。方法: Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为对照组(仅手术)和休克组(复制HS模型后分为shock 0.5 h、shock 2 h组)。在相应时点分离胸导管,制备淋巴管条,3 cmH₂O跨壁压下行离体灌流,应用一氧化氮合酶(NOS)工具药分别孵育shock 0.5 h和shock 2 h的淋巴管。分别给予从低到高浓度的SP,测量淋巴管收缩末期口径、舒张末期口径、收缩频率(CF)和被动管径,计算收缩幅度(CA)、泵流分数(FPF)和紧张指数(TI),以给予SP前后淋巴管的CF、TI、CA和FPF的差值ΔCF、ΔTI、ΔCA和ΔFPF评价淋巴管对SP的反应性。结果: NO供体L-Arg可显著降低shock 0.5 h淋巴管对多个SP浓度点的ΔCF、ΔTI与ΔFPF;可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂ODQ可显著抑制L-Arg的作用,在某些SP浓度点上,使ΔCF、ΔTI和ΔFPF显著高于shock 0.5 h+L-Arg组,ΔCF和ΔFPF高于对照组水平。NOS抑制剂L-NAME可提高shock 2 h淋巴管对多个SP浓度点的ΔCF、ΔTI与ΔFPF,且高于对照组水平;shock 2 h淋巴管与L-NAME和磷酸二酯酶抑制剂氨茶碱(AP)同时孵育后,在SP为1×10^-8 mol/L和3×10^-8 mol/L时,AP显著抑制了L-NAME的作用,使ΔCF、ΔTI与ΔFPF明显降低。结论: NO参与了休克淋巴管反应性的双相调节,其机制可能是通过环鸟苷酸实现的。     

NANC relaxation of the circular smooth muscle of the oesophagus of the Agama lizard involves the L-arginine-nitric oxide synthase pathway

On carbachol (CCh; 10-30 microM) pre-contracted circular muscle strips of the Agama lizard oesophagus, electrical field stimulation evoked frequency-dependent relaxations in the presence of guanethidine (1 microM) and indomethacin (1 microM). These non-adrenergic inhibitory responses were concentration-dependently inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) within a concentration range of 30-300 microM but not D-NAME (up to 300 microM), although a component remained at 4-16 Hz even with 300 microM L-NAME. The inhibition by L-NAME (300 microM) was completely prevented when L-arginine (L-Arg; 15 mM) but not D-Arg (up to 15 mM) was applied simultaneously with L-NAME (300 microM). Increasing the L-NAME concentration to 1 mM had no additional inhibitory effect. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) concentration-dependently relaxed pre-contracted oesophageal strips, L-NAME (up to 300 microM) had no effect. Neither adenosine 5'-triphosphate (up to 0.1 mM) nor vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (up to 0.1 microM) caused the pre-contracted oesophagus to relax. This study has shown that the NANC inhibitory response of the Agama lizard oesophagus circular muscle largely involves the L-Arg-NOS pathway as seen by the effect of L-NAME, L-Arg and SNP. The identity of the L-NAME-resistant component(s) and the lack of effect of tetrodotoxin (up to 3 microM) and omega-conotoxin GVIA (up to 0.1 microM) in relation to the nature of the inhibitory response are discussed.     

Taurine activates strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in neurons freshly isolated from nucleus accumbens of young rats

Although functional glycine receptors (GlyRs) are present in the mature nucleus accumbens (NAcc), an important area of the mesolimbic dopamine system involved in drug addiction, their role has been unclear because the NAcc contains little glycine. However, taurine, an agonist of GlyRs, is abundant throughout the brain, especially during early development. In the present study on freshly dissociated NAcc neurons from young Sprague-Dawley rats (12- to 21-day old), we found that both glycine and taurine can strongly depolarize NAcc neurons and modulate their excitability. In voltage-clamped NAcc neurons, glycine and taurine elicited chloride currents (IGly and ITau) with an EC50 of 0.12 and 1.25 mM, respectively. The reversal potential of IGly or ITau was 0 mV in conventional whole cell mode and -30 mV in gramicidin-perforated mode. At concentrations <1 mM, both glycine and taurine were very effectively antagonized by strychnine and by picrotoxin (with an IC50 of 60 nM and 36.5 microM for IGly, and 40 nM and 42.2 microM for ITau) but were insensitive to 10 microM bicuculline. The currents elicited by taurine (< or =1 mM) showed complete cross-desensitization with IGly, but none with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced currents (IGABA). However, ITau elicited by very concentrated taurine (10 mM) showed partial cross-desensitization with IGABA, and it was substantially antagonized by 10 microM bicuculline. These results indicate that taurine binds mainly to GlyRs in NAcc, but it could be a partial agonist of GABAA receptors. By activating GlyRs, taurine may play an important physiological role in the control of NAcc function, especially during development.