Sympathetic nerve function and vascular reactivity in Doca-salt hypertensive rats

The present study was conducted to measure norepinephrine release during sympathetic nerve stimulation and to evaluate vascular reactivity in the isolated perfused mesenteric vasculature of normotensive and Doca-salt hypertensive rats. Significantly greater vasoconstrictor responses to periarterial nerve stimulation, norepinephrine, and vasopressin, but not to barium chloride, were observed in the mesenteric vasculature of the hypertensive rats in comparison with the control normotensive group. Norepinephrine release, measured as total tritium overflow, during periarterial nerve stimulation at 4 Hz for 2 min, was identical in both normotensive and hypertensive animals. Phentolamine (5.3 micro M) significantly increased tritium overflow, but to the same extent in the normotensive and the hypertensive mesenteric vasculature, suggesting that the negative feedback presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptor mechanism, which has been proposed to modulate transmitter release, was unaltered in this form of hypertension. These results indicate that hyperresponsiveness of the mesenteric vasculature to periarterial nerve stimulation in the hypertensive rats is due to increased sensitivity of the vascular alpha-adrenoceptor and not facilitation of the transmitter release. The increased vascular reactivity to norepinephrine and vasopressin may be involved in the maintenance of Doca-salt hypertension.     

Effect of estrogen and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on vascular remodeling in ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated whether estrogen influences the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in preventing the vascular remodeling induced by hypertension and also investigated the signal mechanism involved in that effect. DESIGN: Ten-week-old female spontaneously hypertensive rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and randomly assigned to the groups: untreated OVX and treated with 17beta-estradiol (estradiol, 1.5 mg) and/or captopril (5 mg/kg/day). Evolution of systolic blood pressure was determined until 18 weeks. At that time, the heart and mesentery were excised. Structural changes in coronary vessels were quantified by an image analyzer. Inmunoblotting was performed on mesenteric arteries for determination of phosphorylated (ERK1/2). RESULTS: Estradiol treatment enhanced the antihypertensive effect of captopril in OVX rats. Treatment with captopril slightly modified the media cross-sectional area and wall-to-lumen of myocardial arterioles from OVX spontaneously hypertensive rats, whereas coadministration of captopril and estradiol significantly reduced the media cross-sectional area, wall-to-lumen ratio, and perivascular fibrosis in OVX spontaneously hypertensive rats. Captopril alone did not significantly inhibit extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation, whereas coadministration of captopril and estradiol significantly attenuated this parameter. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that estrogen may enhance the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition-mediated improvement of vascular remodeling in hypertension, which may be partly mediated via inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2.     

自发性高血压大鼠一侧颈动脉去外膜后结构和功能的变化

目的： 研究自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）去除一侧颈动脉外膜后血管结构和功能的变化。方法: 8只13周龄雄性SHR作为SHR对照组，8只同周龄雄性WKY大鼠作为正常血压对照组（WKY组）。机械和化学方法去除大鼠右侧颈动脉外膜，左侧作假手术对照。4周后，电磁流量计测量双侧颈动脉血流量，放免法测定血浆及双侧颈动脉血管紧张素Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）浓度。取双侧颈动脉制成光镜标本，病理图像分析系统测定颈动脉管腔横截面积（LA）、内弹力层围绕面积（IELA）、外弹力层围绕面积（EELA），评价内膜和中膜增生程度。RT－PCR法检测颈动脉血管紧张素转换酶2 mRNA（ACE2 mRNA）表达，免疫组化法检测ACE2 mRNA、蛋白激酶C-ζ（PKC-ζ）和胞外信号调节激酶1/2（ERK1/2）蛋白表达。结果: （1）SHR对照组双侧血管内膜比WKY组明显增生(P<0.01)，中膜面积显著大于WKY组（P<0.05, P<0.01）；去外膜侧内膜增生较外膜完整侧显著（P<0.05）；（2）SHR对照组去外膜侧血流速度明显少于WKY组和SHR对照组外膜完整侧（均P<0.01）；（3）SHR对照组血浆及双侧颈动脉AngⅡ浓度均明显高于WKY组 (P<0.01)，去外膜侧颈动脉AngⅡ浓度明显高于外膜完整侧（P<0.01）；（4）SHR对照组双侧血管ACE2 mRNA表达均显著少于WKY组（P<0.01），去外膜侧ACE2 mRNA表达显著少于外膜完整侧（P<0.01）；（5）SHR对照组PKC-ζ和ERK1/2在双侧血管的表达均显著高于WKY组（P<0.01），去外膜侧PKC-ζ和ERK1/2表达显著高于外膜完整侧（P<0.01）。结论: SHR去除一侧颈动脉外膜后血管内膜增生明显，中膜面积增大，血流速度减慢；这一变化可能与ACE2 mRNA表达减少、PKC-ζ和ERK1/2蛋白表达增加有关。     

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist restores homeostatic function and limits multiorgan damage in heatstroke

We measured diffusing capacity (DLCO), alveolar membrane properties (D _m), capillary lung volume (V _c), and alveolar volume (V _A ) in 20 healthy subjects (12 males; age 32.4 ± 13 (SD); BMI 21.7 ± 3; non smokers) at total lung capacity (TLC) and at ∼80, 60, and 40% TLC. In all subjects, D _m increased with lung volume, the increase being significantly greater for higher values of D _m(TLC): the inter-individual differences can be interpreted by a greater number of alveolar units coupled to a lower thickness of the air–blood barrier (thus a higher alveolar surface to thickness ratio S _A/τ). On the average, the volume-dependent increase of D _m from ∼40 to 100% TLC is less than expected based on geometrical increase of S _A /τ. In fact, up to ∼80% TLC, the increase in D _m closely reflects only the increase of S _A, suggesting “unfolding” of the septa with no appreciable decrease in τ. Conversely, above 80% TLC, the decrease in τ due to parenchymal stretching becomes the main factor affecting D _m. In all subjects, V _c decreased with increasing lung volume, in line with an increase in parenchymal stretching; the decrease was significantly larger for higher values of V _c (40% TLC). Possibly reflecting differences in alveolar capillary density. No correlation was found between D _m(TLC) and V _c(40%TLC). The individual specificity in the lung volume dependence of V _c and D _m can be reasonably described by evaluating the V _c/D _m ratio at TLC and at ∼40%TLC.     

人参皂甙Rb1对血管性痴呆大鼠认知功能及突触素表达的影响

目的:研究人参皂甙Rb1 (GSRb1)对血管性痴呆大鼠认知功能与海马突触素表达的影响.方法:将36只大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和治疗组.以双侧颈总动脉结扎法制作血管性痴呆大鼠模型.造模后治疗组大鼠腹腔注射GSRb1(30mg·kg-1·d-1).Y型迷宫和免疫组织化学法结合图像分析检测各组大鼠认知功能和海马突触素免疫阳性产物的平均光密度.结果:与对照组大鼠相比,模型组大鼠Y型迷宫中错误次数增加,模型组大鼠学习记忆能力减退,其海马区突触素免疫反应阳性产物平均光密度降低;与模型组相比,治疗组大鼠出错次数减少,而海马区突触素免疫阳性产物平均光密度升高.结论:人参皂甙Rb1可增加血管痴呆性大鼠海马区突触素表达,显著改善其认知功能.     

Resistance training restores the gene expression of molecules related to fat oxidation and lipogenesis in the liver of ovariectomized rats

Decreased levels of estrogen are associated with hepatic steatosis (HS), through changes in gene expression of molecules related to fat oxidation and lipogenesis. Both resistance training (RT) and endurance training (ET) prevent HS in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. However, the molecular events associated with this process were only investigated for ET, but not for RT. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ovx and RT on the gene expression of molecules related to fat oxidation and lipogenesis in the liver of rats. Sprague–Dawley adult female rats were grouped into four (n = 6 per group): sham-operated sedentary (Sham-Sed); Ovx sedentary (Ovx-Sed); sham-Rt and Ovx-Rt. A 10-week RT period, during which the animals climbed a 1.1-m vertical ladder with weights attached to their tails, was used. The sessions were performed three times a week, with 4–9 climbs and 8–12 dynamic movements per climb. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR by the ∆∆Ct method. The estrogen deficiency associated with ovariectomy decreased the gene expression of molecules related to fat oxidation, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (53%) and β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (27%), and increased molecules related to lipogenesis, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (106%), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) (72%) and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (109%). With the exception of ACC, the ovariectomy-induced changes in the expression of these molecules were restored by RT. The present results indicate that RT has important effects on the prevention of HS in Ovx animals, through changes in gene expression of molecules related to hepatic lipid metabolism.     

Caveolin-1在高盐饮食损伤糖尿病大鼠血管中的作用

目的:观察1型糖尿病(DM)大鼠给予高盐饮食后内皮细胞功能障碍的可能机制。方法:SD大鼠(150~180 g)60只,腹腔注射链唑霉素(70 mg/kg),3 d后空腹血糖≥16.7 mmol/L为1型DM大鼠。正常大鼠和DM大鼠分别给予正常饮食和高盐饮食(8%Na Cl)6周。检测肠系膜动脉舒张功能,Western blot技术检测血管中Akt、内皮型一氧化氮合酶(e NOS)、caveolin-1(Cav-1)等蛋白的水平。结果:高盐饮食DM大鼠收缩压显著高于DM组,其肠系膜动脉乙酰胆碱和胰岛素的舒张作用显著下降(P0.01)。Akt、p-e NOS和NO水平均显著低于DM组(P0.01),Cav-1显著增高(P0.01)。结论:1型糖尿病大鼠高盐饮食血管功能障碍可能与抑制内皮细胞Akt激活及增强Cav-1表达导致的e NOS活性下降有关。     

Elevated estrogen receptor expression in hypothalamic preoptic area decreased by electroacupuncture in ovariectomized rats

MicroRNA-146a (miRNA-146a) is an inducible, 22 nucleotide, small RNA over-expressed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Up-regulated miRNA-146a targets several inflammation-related and membrane-associated messenger RNAs (mRNAs), including those encoding complement factor-H (CFH) and the interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), resulting in significant decreases in their expression (p<0.05, ANOVA). In this study we assayed miRNA-146a, CFH, IRAK-1 and tetraspanin-12 (TSPAN12), abundances in primary human neuronal-glial (HNG) co-cultures, in human astroglial (HAG) and microglial (HMG) cells stressed with Aβ42 peptide and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). The results indicate a consistent inverse relationship between miRNA-146a and CFH, IRAK-1 and TSPAN12 expression levels, and indicate that HNG, HAG and HMG cell types each respond differently to Aβ42-peptide+TNFα-triggered stress. While the strongest miRNA-146a-IRAK-1 response was found in HAG cells, the largest miRNA-146a-TSPAN12 response was found in HNG cells, and the most significant miRNA-146a-CFH changes were found in HMG cells, the 'resident scavenging macrophages' of the brain.     

Chronic treatment with progesterone but not medroxyprogesterone acetate restores the endothelial control of vascular tone in the mesenteric artery of ovariectomized rats

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether chronic administration of the natural hormone progesterone or a synthetic progestogen, medroxyprogesterone acetate, to ovariectomized rats affects the endothelial control of arterial tone in the isolated mesenteric artery. DESIGN: Sham-operated rats received a daily subcutaneous injection of solvent (sesame oil), whereas ovariectomized rats received either sesame oil, progesterone (22 mg kg/day), or medroxyprogesterone acetate (22 mg kg/day) for 4 weeks, according to their respective group. RESULTS: Phenylephrine-induced contractions were significantly increased (about 200% at 10 microM) by N-nitro-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, in intact mesenteric arterial rings from the sham-operated but not from the ovariectomized group. The progesterone but not the medroxyprogesterone treatment restored the potentiating effect of N-nitro-L-arginine on phenylephrine-induced contraction (about 180% at 10 microM). Contractions to phenylephrine were not affected by the combination of charybdotoxin plus apamin, two inhibitors of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated responses, in all groups. Acetylcholine induced endothelium-dependent relaxations, which were partially inhibited by N-nitro-L-arginine and abolished by the combination of N-nitro-L-arginine plus charybdotoxin and apamin, in all groups. Acetylcholine induced similar charybdotoxin and apamin-sensitive hyperpolarizations in intact mesenteric artery segments from all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic administration of progesterone, but not medroxyprogesterone, to ovarictomized rats restores the endothelium-dependent attenuation of contractile responses to phenylephrine in mesenteric arterial rings through the endothelial formation of nitric oxide. Thus, an enhancement of the protective effect of endothelial cells on the arterial wall might contribute to the beneficial effect of certain progestogen-containing preparations during hormonal treatment.     

雌激素对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞囊泡素-1基因表达的影响

目的:探讨雌激素对血管平滑肌细胞囊泡素-1基因表达的影响。方法:取Wistar雌性大鼠,分为3组:假手术组,卵巢切除后皮下埋植雌激素组 (OVX+E组)及卵巢切除后皮下埋植安慰剂组(OVX+V组)。用药2周后处死大鼠,剥离主动脉平滑肌组织,提取总RNA进行半定量RT-PCR分析,检测雌激素对囊泡素-1(caveolin-1)基因表达的影响。为进一步明确雌激素是否直接调节血管平滑肌细胞caveolin-1基因表达,又采用100 nmol/L 17β-雌二醇(17β-E₂)处理培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞24 h,通过Northern blot分析检测雌激素对细胞caveolin-1 mRNA表达的影响。结果:OVX+E组大鼠主动脉平滑肌组织caveolin-1基因表达量明显高于OVX+V组,17β-E₂处理的培养细胞中caveolin-1基因mRNA表达量高于未用药的培养细胞。 结论:雌激素可促进血管平滑肌细胞caveolin-1基因表达,反映了雌激素心血管作用机理的一个方面。     

去卵巢骨质疏松模型大鼠骨组织CGRP及其1型受体的表达

目的: 观察去卵巢骨质疏松(OP)模型大鼠骨组织降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)及其1型受体(CGRPR1)的表达。方法: 将30只3月龄Sprague-Dawley(SD)雌性大鼠随机分成假手术组(15只)和模型组(15只)。采用双侧卵巢切除术复制OP大鼠模型。去卵巢12周后,应用逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)观察各组大鼠股骨CGRP和CGRPR1 mRNA的表达;应用免疫组织化学技术观察各组大鼠股骨远端干骺端CGRP和CGRPR1蛋白的表达。结果: 模型组大鼠股骨CGRP和CGRPR1 mRNA的表达较假手术组显著降低(P<0.01);模型组大鼠股骨远端干骺端CGRP和CGRPR1蛋白的表达较假手术组显著降低(P<0.01)。结论: 骨组织CGRP及CGRPR1表达的减少可能是OP形成的机制之一。     

Effect of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker on caveolin-1 expression in prostate cancer cells

Introduction

Caveolin-1, the major structural protein of caveolae, interacts directly with the AT1 receptor. The biological functions of caveolin-1 in cancer are compound, multifaceted, and depend on cell type, tumour grade and cancer stage. The AT1-R-caveolin complex in caveolae may coordinate angiotensin II (Ang II) induced signalling. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the angiotensin II receptor type 1 blocker candesartan on caveolin expression in human metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma cells PC-3.

Material and methods

WST-1 and BrdU assays were used as indicators of cell viability and proliferation after angiotensin II and/or candesartan stimulation. Real-time RT–PCR and western blot were used to study the effect of Ang II and/or candesartan on the expression of Cav-1 and AT1-R in PC-3 cells

Results

We found that the expression of caveolin-1 mRNA in the PC-3 cells treated with CV was significantly decreased in comparison with the control (2.9 ±0.17, 4.7 ±0.6, p < 0.05), whereas a higher caveolin-1 mRNA expression was observed in those after Ang II treatment (6.0 ±0.43, 4.7 ±0.6, p < 0.05). Protein analysis indicate that the expression of caveolin-1 protein in the PC-3 cells treated with candesartan was significantly decreased when compared with the control (0.69 ±0.05, 1.6 ±0.12, p < 0.05), whereas higher caveolin-1 protein expression was observed after Ang II treatment (2.5 ±0.20, 1.6 ±0.12, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These results provide new information on the action of candesartan and may improve the knowledge about AT1 receptor inhibitors, which can be potentially useful in prostate cancer therapy.     

同型半胱氨酸经甲基化修饰下调去卵巢大鼠主动脉雌激素受体α基因的表达

目的观察同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)对大鼠雌激素受体α(ERα)基因表达和其启动子CpG岛甲基化的影响。方法高效液相色谱仪检测血浆Hcy水平;RT-PCR和甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)分别检测ERαmRNA表达水平及基因启动子CpG岛的甲基化状态。结果去卵巢和给予甲硫氨酸饮食均可升高大鼠血浆Hcy水平。去卵巢和Hcy均可使大鼠ERαmRNA表达减少,但5′-Aza可使细胞ERαmRNA表达增多。假手术组大鼠主动脉ERα基因启动子有2例(20%)存在甲基化,去卵巢组有3例(30%)存在甲基化,而去卵巢 Hcy组有6例(60%)存在甲基化,对照组细胞ERα启动子CpG岛完全去甲基化,Hcy组细胞甲基化增强,5′-Aza使细胞去甲基化。结论Hcy可经甲基化修饰方式下调去卵巢大鼠主动脉ERαmRNA表达。     

窖蛋白-1在肺癌中的表达及意义

目的 探讨窖蛋白-1（caveolin-1）在不同类型肺癌组织中的表达及其与微血管密度（MVD）和临床病理因素之间的关系。方法 对154例原发性肺癌、相应癌旁正常肺组织及36例淋巴结转移癌行caveolin-1免疫组织化学染色;对154例原发性肺癌行CD34免疫组织化学（SP法）染色并进行微血管密度计数;Western印迹法检测其中50例新鲜肺癌组织及其癌旁正常肺组织中caveolin-1的表达情况。结果 caveolin-1为膜／质表达蛋白,在正常支气管上皮细胞和肺泡上皮细胞中的阳性率为100％。在肺癌组织中的阳性率为59．1％（91／154）,低于癌旁正常肺组织,P＜0．01;Western印迹结果进一步证实caveolin-1在肺鳞癌、肺腺癌组织中的表达均显著低于癌旁正常肺组织,P＜0．01。caveolin-1在小细胞肺癌（SCLC）和非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）中的阳性率分别为7．1％和64．3％,二者间差异有统计学意义,P＜0．01。NSCLC中,有淋巴结转移组caveolin-1表达高于无淋巴结转移组（P=0．005）;Ⅲ、Ⅳ期组caveolin-1表达显著高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期组（P=0．042）,caveolin-1表达与NSCLC的其他临床病理因素及MVD值无关（P＞0．05）。结论caveolin-1其作为一种肿瘤抑制因子的同时,可能还具有促进NSCLC进展和转移的活性。     

Hypoxia and cobalt stimulate vascular endothelial growth factor receptor gene expression in rats

 This study aimed to examine the influence of acute tissue hypo-oxygenation on the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor genes. To this end male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to different hypoxic conditions such as 10% or 8% oxygen, 0.1% carbon monoxide and cobalt chloride (60 mg/kg) for 6 h and the abundance of flt-1, flt-4 and flk-1 mRNA in lungs and livers was determined by RNase protection assay. The relative proportions of flt-1, flt-4 and flk-1 were 10 : 2.5 : 1 and 10 : 10 : 2 in normoxic lungs and livers, respectively. It was found that 8% but not 10% oxygen increased flt-1 mRNA two- to threefold in both organs, whilst flt-4 and flk-1 mRNA were not changed by acute inspiratory hypoxia. Carbon monoxide inhalation also increased flt-1 mRNA but not flt-4 or flk-1 mRNA in both organs. Subcutaneous cobalt administration increased flt-1 mRNA in the livers only, whilst flt-4 and flk-1 mRNA remained unchanged. These findings show that acute tissue hypo-oxygenation is a rather selective stimulus for flt-1 gene expression. The efficiency of the different manoeuvres applied to stimulate flt-1 gene expression is rather similar to the stimulation of erythropoietin gene expression. It is not unreasonable to assume, therefore, that the oxygen-dependent regulation of both genes at the cellular level has significant similarities.     

Over-expression of caveolin-1 aggravate LPS-induced inflammatory response in AT-1 cells via up-regulation of cPLA2/p38 MAPK

Objective and design

The aim of this study was to study the effect of caveolin-1 on the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in mouse lung alveolar type-1 cells' (AT-1 cells) inflammatory response induced by LPS.

Materials and methods

Gene clone technique was used to over-express caveolin-1 in AT-1 cells by lentivirus vector. The level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), cPLA2, p38 MAPK and NF-κB was measured by ELISA, western blotting and EMSA.

Treatment

AT-1 cells were treated with LPS.

Results

Over-expression of caveolin-1 not only increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-6, but also enhanced the expression of the cPLA2, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that over-expression of caveolin-1 aggravates the AT-1 injury induced by LPS, involving in modulation of the cPLA2 mediated by the cPLA2/p38 MAPK pathway.