Endothelial and smooth muscle properties of coronary and mesenteric resistance arteries in spontaneously hypertensive rats compared to WKY rats

Summary— To investigate if the functional alterations observed in resistance arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were also present at the coronary level, in vitro experiments were performed in mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) and in right (RIC) and left interventricular coronary (LIC) arteries taken from 15–25-week-old SHR and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats WKYs. Using a passive extension protocol, internal diameters corresponding to 100 mmHg intraluminal pressure (D₁₀₀) were determined and vessels were set up to a normalized internal diameter (0.9 D₁₀₀). SHR mesenteric resistance arteries had a significantly smaller diameter compared to WKY arteries, whereas both types of SHR coronary arteries had a greater diameter compared to those of WKY rats. In arteries in the absence of contracting agonist, nitro-L-arginine (NOLA, 100 μM) induced a progressive rise in basal tone, which could be reversed by subsequent addition of L-arginine (100 μM) but not D-arginine (100 μM). When expressed as percent of maximal contractions induced by agonists (noradrenaline, NA [10 μM] in MRA; serotonin, 5-HT [10 μM], in RIC and LIC), these contractions were significantly stronger in WKY compared to SHR coronary and mesenteric resistance arteries. In NA-precontracted MRA and 5HT-precontracted coronary arteries in the presence of indomethacin (10 μM), the magnitude of acetylcholine-induced maximal relaxations (expressed as percent of maximal contractions induced by agonists) was greater in WKY compared to SHR arteries. After a 30-min incubation period, NOLA (100 μM) completely inhibited relaxations induced by acetylcholine (0.01–10 μM) in all types of precontracted arteries. Subsequent additions of sodium nitroprusside, (SNP, 10 μM) induced complete relaxations in all preparations. These results show that a basal release of NO or NO-like compound by endothelial cells is present in isolated mesenteric resistance and coronary arteries of WKY rats and SHRs. The contribution of endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide (EDRF-NO) to arterial tone was lower in MRA compared to coronary arteries in both strains and in SHR compared to WKY arteries. In the SHR preparations, the impaired relaxation induced by acetylcholine appeared to be due to a functional alteration of the endothelium in the presence of normal reactivity of the smooth muscle cells.     

麦冬类中药组织切片计算机三维重建图鉴

利用计算机技术实现麦冬类中药组织连续切片三维重建与动态显示,为计算机辅助生药学鉴定和教学提供了新的三维图像技术和研究资料。     

Ultrasound cystography in the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux

Vesicoureteric reflux is common in children with urinary tract infection and may cause end-stage renal failure. The diagnosis is usually based on micturating cystourethrography (MCU). We describe an alternative technique using ultrasound during bladder infusion with agitated saline. Comparison of the 2 methods shows ultrasound to be 100% sensitive in the detection of grades 3 and 4 reflux. Conclusive evidence of reflux was seen in 2 cases where MCU was subsequently normal, questioning the role of MCU as the gold standard.     

表小檗碱对α受体的作用

表小檗碱(epiberberine,EB)是从湖北产黄连(Coptis chinensis Franch)中提取的一种生物碱,属苯喹嗪类原小檗碱,对其药理作用的研究资料甚少,未见其对α肾上腺素体作用的报道。资料表明,许多原小檗碱类化合物有α受体阻滞作用,为从该类化合物中选择     

Differential cytokeratin expression in normal, hyperplastic and malignant epithelial cells from human prostate.

Studies were undertaken to define the expression of cytokeratins in normal, hyperplastic and malignant epithelial cells from human prostate. Cytokeratin (CK) polypeptides, separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, were identified by immunoblotting with CK-specific monoclonal antibodies. CK polypeptides 5, 7, 8, 15, 18 and 19 were identified in fresh normal and hyperplastic prostate. Expression of CK 15 has not been previously reported in human prostate. Analysis of central and peripheral zone tissues from human prostate did not reveal qualitative differences in CK expression between these areas. Epithelial cells harvested from fresh BPH tissue by percoll gradient centrifugation and propagated in vitro using selective culture techniques showed alterations in CK expression compared to intact human prostate. Specifically, CKs 6, 14, 16 and 17 were noted in cultured BPH epithelial cells but not fresh normal prostate or BPH tissue. Immunoblot analysis of the established prostate cancer cell lines PC3, DU145 and LNCAP showed expression of CKs 8 and 18 but not CKs 5, 7 and 15 which were observed in benign prostate. These studies further characterize CK expression in benign and malignant human prostate and provide insights which may be useful in differentiating normal, hyperplastic and malignant epithelial cells in the human prostate gland.