Captopril restores endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aortic rings after exposure to homocysteine

This study was designed to investigate the effects of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by homocysteine in isolated rat aorta. Isometric tension recordings were used to assess inhibitory effects of homocysteine and protective effects of captopril on endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic rings. Exposure of aortic rings to homocysteine (0.3 approximately 3 mmol/L) for 30 min induced a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh), but did not affect endothelium-independent relaxation response to sodium nitroprusside. Pre-incubation of aortic rings with captopril (3 approximately 30 micromol/L) for 15 min and co-incubation of aortic rings with homocysteine (1 mmol/L) for another 30 min attenuated the inhibition of homocysteine in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD, 200 U/mL), a scavenger of superoxide anions, reduced homocysteine-induced inhibition. L-Arginine (3 mmol/L), a precursor of nitric oxide (NO), also attenuated the impairment of vasorelaxation induced by homocysteine. However, in the combined presence of SOD and L-arginine, the inhibitory effect of homocysteine was reversed, which was very similar to the effect of 30 micromol/L captopril. These results suggest that captopril can prevent the inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by homocysteine in isolated rat aorta, which may be related to scavenging oxygen free radicals and enhancing NO production.     

Captopril restores endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by advanced oxidation protein products in rat aorta

To explore whether advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) can cause endothelial dysfunction in vitro, and whether captopril exerts beneficial effect on impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by exogenous advanced oxidation protein products and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Both the Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent relaxation of aortic rings were measured by recording isometric tension after the rings were exposed to AOPP-BSA in the absence or presence of captopril to assess the injury effect of AOPP-BSA and the protective effect of captopril on the aortic endothelium, respectively. Co-incubation of aortic rings with AOPP-BSA (3 mmol/L) for 90 minutes resulted in a significant inhibition of EDR to ACh, but had no effects on endothelium-independent relaxation to SNP. After incubation of the rings in the co-presence of captopril (3 to 30 micromol/L) or enalaprilat (30 micromol/L) with AOPP-BSA (3 mmol/L) for 90 minutes, captopril significantly and enalaprilat only partly attenuated the inhibition of EDR induced by AOPP-BSA. This protective effect of captopril (30 micromol/L) was abolished by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 micromol/L), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Furthermore, the superoxide anion scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD, 200 U/mL), and the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine (3 mmol/L) also ameliorated the impaired EDR caused by AOPP-BSA. But D-arginine had no effect on the impaired EDR caused by AOPP-BSA. AOPP-BSA can trigger endothelial dysfunction and captopril can protect the endothelium against functional damage induced by AOPP-BSA in rat aorta, increase nitric oxide bioavailability. The mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction induced by AOPP-BSA may include the decrease of NO and the generation of oxygen-free radicals.     

Protective effects of cariporide on endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose

Aim: To explore the effects of cariporide, a selective sodium-hydrogen antiporter inhibitor, on endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose. Methods: Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation and biochemical parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in rat isolated aorta. Results: A 6-h incubation of aortic rings with high glucose (44 mmol/L) resulted in a significant inhibition of EDR, but had no effects on endothelium-independent relaxation. After the 6-h incubation of aortic rings in the co-presence of cariporide (0.01, 0.1, and 1μmol/L) with high glucose, cariporide prevented the inhibition of EDR caused by high glucose in concentration-dependent manners. Similarly, high glucose decreased SOD activity and contents of NO, and increased MDA concentration in aortic tissue. Cariporide (1 μmol/L) significantly resisted the decrease of NO content and SOD activity, and elevation of MDA concentration caused by high glucose in aortic tissues. Mannitol (44 mmol/L) or cariporide (1μmol/L) alone had no effect on EDR, endothelium-independent relaxation and biochemical parameters. Conclusion: Cariporide significantly prevented endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose. The mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose may involve the activation of sodium-hydrogen antiporter and the generation of oxygen-free radicals, but it is not related to the change of osmolarity.     

依达拉奉对LPC所致兔胸主动脉内皮功能的影响及机制

目的探讨依达拉奉(edaravone,Eda)对溶血磷脂酰胆碱(lysophosphatidylcholine,LPC)所致家兔血管内皮损伤的影响及机制。方法家兔胸主动脉环分别与LPC(5 mg.L-1)和Eda(25～100μmol.L-1)单独孵育或共孵育,分别检测乙酰胆碱诱导的内皮依赖性舒张反应和硝普钠诱导的非内皮依赖性舒张反应,血管组织中一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)和丙二醛(malonaldehyde,MDA)含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)的活性。结果 5 mg.L-1LPC孵育血管环30 min,明显抑制了乙酰胆碱诱导的内皮依赖性舒张反应,但没有影响硝普钠诱导的非内皮依赖性舒张反应,降低了血管组织中NO含量和SOD活性而增加了MDA含量。25～100μmol.L-1Eda分别孵育血管环15min,再与5 mg.L-1LPC共同孵育30 min,明显改善LPC所致的血管舒张功能的损害,升高了血管组织中NO含量和SOD活性而降低了MDA含量。结论 Eda对LPC所致的血管内皮依赖性舒张功能的损伤具有明显的保护作用,该效应可能与其抗氧化作用有关。     

（—）Epicatechin induces and modulates endotheliumdependent relaxation in isolated rat mesenteric artery rings

AIM:The present study was aimed to examine the role of endothelial nitric oxide in the relaxant response to green tea (-)epicatechin and its modulation of endothelium-mediated relaxation in the isolated rat mesenteric artery rings.METHODS:Changes in the isometric tension were measured with Grass force-displacement transducers.RESULTS:The (-)epicatechin-induced relaxation was largely dependent on the presence of intact endothelium and was reversed by N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester 10μmol/L or methylene blue 10μmol/L,the inhibitors of nitric oxidemediated relaxation.L-Arginine at 1mmol/L antagonized the effect of L-NAME or methylene blue.Pretreatment of endothelium-intact rings with (-)epicatechin 10μmol/L enhanced the relaxation induced by endothelium-dependent vasodilator,acetylcholine,while this concentration did not influence the endothelium-independent relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside in the endothelium-denuded artery rings.CONCLUSION:The results indicate that the endothelium-dependent vasodilation by (-)epicatechin is mainly mediated through nitric oxide and low concentration of (-)epicatechin augments endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the rat mesenteric arteries.     

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor ameliorates impaired endothelium-dependent Na+ relaxation induced by high glucose in rat aorta

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, on impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) induced by high glucose in rat isolated aorta. Both acetylcholine (ACh)-induced EDR and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation (EIR) were measured after aortic rings had been exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of KB-R7943. Coincubation of aortic rings with high glucose (25 mmol/L) for 24 h resulted in a significant inhibition of EDR, but had no effect on EIR. After incubation of aortic rings in the presence of both KB-R7943 (0.1-10 micromol/L) and high glucose for 24 h, significantly attenuation of impaired EDR was observed. This protective effect of KB-R7943 (10 micromol/L) was abolished by superoxide dismutase (SOD; 200 U/mL) and l-arginine (3 mmol/L), whereas d-arginine (3 mmol/L) had no effect. Similarly, high glucose decreased SOD activity and the release of nitric oxide (NO) and increased superoxide anion (O2(-)) production in aortic tissue. KB-R7943 significantly decreased O2(-) production and increased SOD activity and NO release. These results suggest that KB-R7943 can restore impaired EDR induced by high glucose in rat isolated aorta, which may be related to the scavenging of oxygen free radicals and enhanced NO production.     

卡托普利抗同型半胱氨酸和溶血性磷脂酰胆碱损伤大鼠血管内皮功能

目的　研究卡托普利能否保护同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)和溶血性磷脂酰胆碱 (LPC)在体外直接损伤的大鼠离体胸主动脉内皮功能。方法　用Hcy或LPC孵育大鼠离体胸主动脉环 3 0min诱导血管内皮损伤 ,观察卡托普利对Hcy和LPC损伤血管内皮依赖性舒张反应的影响。结果　Hcy( 0 .3～ 3mmol·L-1)或LPC( 1～1 0 μmol·L-1)呈浓度依赖性地损伤乙酰胆碱诱导的内皮依赖性血管舒张反应 ,但不影响硝普钠诱导的内皮非依赖性血管舒张。卡托普利( 3～3 0 μmol·L-1)预孵育血管环 1 5min,再与Hcy( 1mmol·L-1)共同孵育 3 0min,浓度依赖性改善Hcy对血管内皮依赖性舒张反应的损害。 3 0 μmol·L-1卡托普利也可完全逆转LPC( 3 μmol·L-1)对内皮依赖性血管舒张反应的损害。结论　卡托普利对Hcy和LPC所引起的血管内皮依赖性舒张反应的损害都具有明显的保护作用     

Pravastatin restores DDAH activity and endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aorta after exposure to glycated protein

This study was designed to investigate whether glycated bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) inhibits dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity to contribute to its adverse effect on endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta, and whether pravastatin reverses the inhibition of DDAH activity and endothelial dysfunction induced by AGE-BSA. Endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic rings was measured by isometric tension recording, and DDAH activity, and the contents of nitrite/nitrate as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) in aortic tissue were determined after exposure of Sprague-Dawley rat aorta to AGE-BSA (1.70 mmol/L) for 60 minutes in the presence or absence of pravastatin. In comparison with control, both endothelium-dependent relaxation and DDAH activity (0.032 +/- 0.002 versus 0.095 +/- 0.003 U/g protein, n = 5, P < 0.01) were significantly inhibited in isolated rat aorta after exposure to AGE-BSA, which was accompanied by decreases of nitrite/nitrate contents and elevations of MDA levels in aorta. Treatment with pravastatin (1 mmol/L) not only prevented the inhibition of endothelial function but also reversed the decrease of DDAH activity induced by AGE-BSA and normalized the alterations in nitrite/nitrate and MDA contents. Similar effects were observed when rat aorta exposed to AGE-BSA in the presence of antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocharbamate (PDTC, 30 micromol/L) or protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine (1 micromol/L). These results suggested that decreased DDAH activity may be involved in endothelial dysfunction of rat aorta induced by AGE-BSA, and that pravastatin restores DDAH activity and endothelium-dependent relaxation after aorta exposure to AGE-BSA, which may be secondary to its antioxidative effects.     

EFFECTS OF ARGININOSUCCINIC ACID ON NITRIC OXIDE-MEDIATED RELAXATIONS IN RAT AORTA AND ANOCOCCYGEUS MUSCLE

1. Argininosuccinic acid (ASA), a naturally occurring NG derivative of arginine, and the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were compared for their ability to reduce responses to nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial cells (aorta) and nitrergic nerves (anococcygeus muscle). 2. In isolated rings of rat aorta, endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine were abolished by L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) and were reduced by ASA (0.1 and 0.3 mmol/L). Relaxations induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were not affected by L-NAME but were reduced by ASA. 3. In rat isolated anococcygeus muscles, relaxations elicited by nitrergic nerve stimulation at 1 Hz were abolished by L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) but were only slightly reduced by ASA (1 mmol/L). The effect of ASA was not sustained. L-Arginine (1 mmol/L) prevented the effect of L-NAME but not that of ASA. Neither ASA or L-NAME inhibited SNP-induced relaxation in the anococcygeus muscle. 4. The results suggest that ASA inhibits NOS but this does not totally account for its effects in reducing NO-mediated relaxations produced by the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine in rat aortic rings and stimulation of nitrergic nerves in the rat anococcygeus muscle.     

Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aortas by homocysteine thiolactone and attenuation by captopril

To explore the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction induced by homocysteine thiolactone (HTL). Both endothelium-dependent relaxation and nondependent relaxation of thoracic aortic rings in rats induced by acetylcholine (Ach) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and biochemical parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in rat isolated aorta. Exposure of aortic rings to HTL (3 to 30 mM) for 90 minutes made a significant inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by Ach, decreased contents of NO, and increased MDA concentration in aortic tissue. After incubation of aortic rings with captopril (0.003 to 0.03 mM) attenuated the inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and significantly resisted the decrease of NO content and elevation of MDA concentration caused by HTL (30 mmol/L) in aortic tissues, a similarly protective effect was observed when the aortic rings were incubated with both N-acetylcysteine (0.05 mM). Treatment with enalaprilat (0.003 to 0.01 mM) made no significant difference with the HTL (30 mM) group regarding EDR, but enalaprilat (0.03 mM) and losartan (0.03 mM) could partly restore the EDR in response to HTL (30 mM). Captopril was more effective than enalaprilat and losartan in attenuation of the inhibition of on acetylcholine-stimulated aortic relaxation by HTL in the same concentration. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD, 200 U/mL), which is a scavenger of superoxide anions, apocynin (0.03 mM), which is an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, and l-Arginine (3 mmol/L), a precursor of nitric oxide (NO), could reduce HTL (30 mM)-induced inhibition of EDR. After pretreatment with not only the NO synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.01 mM) but also the free sulfhydryl group blocking agent p-hydroxymercurybenzoate (PHMB, 0.05 mM) could abolish the protection of captopril and N-acetylcysteine, respectively. These results suggest that mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction induced by HTL may include the decrease of NO and the generation of oxygen free radicals and that captopril can restore the inhibition of EDR induced by HTL in isolated rat aorta, which may be related to scavenging oxygen free radicals and may be sulfhydryl-dependent.     

Cocaine toxic effect on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation: an in vitro study on rabbit aorta

Effects of cocaine on vascular endothelium relaxing properties and the related mechanism were investigated in vitro in rabbit aorta. Several vasorelaxing agents with different mechanisms, i.e. acetylcholine, substance P, calcium ionophore A23187, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, or sodium nitroprusside, were employed. Cocaine effects on the vascular response to relaxing agents in cumulative (acetylcholine, substance P, or A23187) or single dose (2,5-di-tert-butyl-hydroquinone) were performed in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine. Relaxing activity of cumulative doses of sodium nitroprusside was evaluated in endothelium-denuded aortic rings, in the presence of cocaine. Cocaine significantly reduced endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by acetylcholine, or substance P. By contrast A23187 endothelium-mediated relaxation as well as endothelium-independent relaxation by sodium nitroprusside were unaffected by cocaine. Furthermore, cocaine significantly increased endothelium-dependent relaxation response to 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, a sarcoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase pump inhibitor, in the aortic rings. These findings indicate that cocaine reduces nitric oxide release from vascular endothelium apparently through the inhibiting action of Ca2+-ATPase pump.     

Effect of chronic lithium administration on endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta

1. The effects of chronic lithium administration on the relaxant responses of rat thoracic aortic rings in the presence of indomethacin (a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) and/or NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG; a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) to acetylcholine (ACh) or sodium nitroprusside were investigated in the present study. 2. Acetylcholine produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in vessels precontracted by phenylephrine (PE), while in lithium-treated rats the maximal relaxation was significantly increased. 3. Indomethacin (20 mumol/L) significantly potentiated the ACh-induced relaxation in lithium-treated and control rats. 4. NG-Nitro-L-arginine (1 mumol/L) decreased the ACh-induced relaxation in both control and lithium-treated rats. In contrast, indomethacin (20 mumol/L) reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NOARG. 5. Sodium nitroprusside produced similar concentration-dependent relaxations of vessels from both control and lithium-treated rats, which was not affected by indomethacin. In endothelium-denuded rings, indomethacin (20 mumol/L) caused a rightward shift in the concentration-contraction curve to PE. 6. These data support evidence for a possible increase in endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh during long-term administration of lithium in rat aortic rings.     

Temocapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, protects against diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction

The effect of chronic treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, temocapril, on prevention of endothelial dysfunction was evaluated in an experimental model of diabetes mellitus. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was impaired while endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroglycerin was unaltered in diabetic aortic ring segments. Treatment of diabetic animals with temocapril prevented the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation without altering responses to nitroglycerin. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was largely due to nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation; however, a small but significant portion of relaxation in aortic rings from temocapril-treated diabetic rats was resistant to inhibition by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-nitroarginine.     

Attenuation of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta from diabetic rats

Endothelium-dependent relaxation was examined in aortic ring preparations obtained from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The endothelium-dependent relaxation which was produced by acetylcholine and histamine in aortic rings precontracted with norepinephrine was significantly attenuated in aortic rings from diabetic rats when compared with the relaxation in rings from age-matched control animals. However, the relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside (an endothelium-independent relaxant agent) in diabetic preparations was comparable to the control. These results show that diabetes leads to an impairment of the endothelium-dependent relaxation of aorta.     

洛伐他汀对低密度脂蛋白损伤血管内皮的保护作用

目的：探讨洛伐他汀对低密度脂蛋白所致血管内皮功能损伤的保护作用及可能的机制．方法：一次性从大鼠舌下静脉注射天然低密度脂蛋白(n-LDL 4mg／kg),在舌下静脉注射n-LDL之前大鼠腹腔注射洛伐他汀(2或4mg／kg),每天一次,连续五天．注射n-LDL后48小时检测乙酰胆碱诱导的血管内皮依赖性舒张(EDR)及血清一氧化氮(N0)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性．结果：一次注射n-LDL导致了EDR、血清NO水平及SOD活性明显降低,MDA的浓度明显增高。预先给予洛伐他汀能明显减轻LDL引起的EDR的抑制和血清NO水平及SOD活性的降低,减少MDA的生成,左旋硝基精氨酸(L-NNA)减弱洛伐他汀对血管内皮的保护作用．结论：洛伐他汀对LDL损伤的血管内皮具有保护作用,可能与保护内皮依赖性松弛因子和抗氧化作用有关。     

高浓度葡萄糖抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张(英文)

目的:研究高浓度葡萄糖是否能抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张以及可能的机制。方法:利用器官组织浴动脉环法测定血管张力,观察去除内皮、NO合酶抑制剂L-NMMA,不同浓度的葡萄糖对乙酰胆碱(ACh)产生的内皮依赖的和硝普钠(SNP)产生的非内皮依赖的血管舒张功能的影响以及维生素C和膜渗透性抗氧化剂MnTMPyP对高浓度葡萄糖作用的影响。结果:ACh和SNP均产生浓度依赖的血管舒张效应,高浓度葡萄糖明显抑制ACh产生的血管舒张,而对SNP的作用无明显影响,维生素C和MnTMPyP不能逆转高浓度葡萄糖对ACh产生的血管舒张的抑制作用。结论:高浓度葡萄糖抑制内皮依赖的血管舒张,这种作用不是通过增加氧自由基的产生介导的。     

糖尿病大鼠内源性ADMA升高与代谢控制的关系

目的　以链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病大鼠为实验模型 ,研究内源性一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)抑制物非对称性二甲基精氨酸 (ADMA)升高与糖尿病代谢控制的关系。方法　用高效液相色谱测定大鼠血清ADMA浓度 ;用离体胸主动脉环检测乙酰胆碱诱导的内皮依赖性舒张反应 ;并检测血糖、糖基化血清蛋白和血清脂质过氧化产物丙二醛 (MDA)浓度以反映代谢控制。结果　糖尿病大鼠血清ADMA浓度比正常组大鼠明显升高 ,并伴有离体血管内皮依赖性舒张反应的显著抑制 ;经胰岛素治疗 8wk后 ,不仅阻止内源性ADMA的升高 ,也明显改善血管的内皮依赖性舒张功能。此外 ,糖尿病大鼠血糖、糖基化血清蛋白和血清MDA水平也比正常组明显升高。用胰岛素改善代谢控制后 ,血糖、糖基化血清蛋白和血清MDA水平均恢复正常 ,血中ADMA浓度也显著降低。结论　糖尿病大鼠血中内源性NOS抑制物ADMA浓度升高与代谢控制密切相关 ;胰岛素逆转糖尿病大鼠内源性ADMA升高可能与纠正代谢紊乱和降低脂质过氧化有关     

Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor prevented endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose

The aims of this study were to examine whether cariporide, a selective Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor, has protective effects against endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose in vitro and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Exposure of rat aorta rings to high glucose (44 mmol/L) for 6 hours caused an inhibition of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation but had no effect on sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent relaxation. Treatment with cariporide (0.01, 0.1, 1 micromol/L) of aortic rings incubated with high-glucose medium attenuated the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, high glucose resulted in an increase of malondialdehyde and a decrease of superoxide dismutase activity in rat aorta rings, and these effects were reversed by cariporide. In addition, cariporide was able to inhibit the activation of Na+/H+ exchanger induced by high glucose in cultured endothelial cells. These findings suggest that the endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose in vitro is caused by the activation of Na+/H+ exchanger.     

Investigation of the inhibitory effects of homocysteine and copper on nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of rat isolated aorta

1. Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (HC) and copper have both been associated with the development of inflammatory vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. In this study, the effects of a combination of HC and copper on nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation of isolated rat aortic rings were investigated. 2. Exposure to HC (10-100 microM; 30 min) had no effect on relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh; 0.01-10 microM, n=4). Pre-incubation of aortic rings with a higher concentration of HC for an extended period (1 mM; 180 min) significantly inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation (n=4), but this inhibition was prevented by the presence of the copper chelator bathocuprione (10 microM, 180 min, n=6). 3. Exposure to HC (100 microM) and copper (10-100 microM; 30 min) caused a copper concentration-dependent inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation (n=4). This inhibitory effect was reduced in the presence of either superoxide dismutase (SOD; 100 u ml(-1); n=4) or catalase (100 u ml(-1); n=4), and further reduced by the presence of both enzymes (n=5). 4. HC and copper (100 microM; 30 min) significantly inhibited endothelium-independent relaxation to glyceryl trinitrate (0.01-10 microM; n=8). In contrast, HC (1 mM), alone or in combination with copper (100 microM), did not inhibit relaxation to the endothelium-independent relaxant sodium nitroprusside (0.01-10 microM; n=4). 5. These data indicate that the presence of copper greatly enhances the inhibitory actions of HC on NO-mediated relaxation of isolated aortic rings. The reduction of inhibition by catalase and SOD indicates a possible role for copper-catalyzed generation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide leading to an increased inactivation or decreased production of endothelium-derived NO.     

高浓度葡萄糖抑制兔胸主动脉内依赖的血管舒张

目的：研究高浓度葡萄糖是否能抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张以及可能的机制。方法：利用器官组织浴动脉环法测定血管张力,观察去除内皮、NO合酶抑制剂L－NMMA,不同浓度的葡萄糖对乙酰胆碱（ACh)产生的内皮依赖的和硝普钠（SNP）产生的非内皮依赖的血管舒张功能的影响以及维生素C和膜渗透性抗氧化剂MnTMPyP对高浓度葡萄糖作用的影响。结果：ACh和SNP均产生浓度依赖的血管舒张效应,高浓度葡萄糖明显抑制ACh产生的血和舒张,而对SNP的作用无明显影响,维生素C和MnTMPyP不能逆转高浓度葡萄糖对ACh产生的血管舒张的抑制作用。结论：高浓度葡萄糖抑制内皮依赖的血管舒张,这种作用不是通过增加氧自由基的产生介导的。