A healthy endothelium is essential for vascular homeostasis, and preservation of endothelial cell function is critical for maintaining transplant allograft function. Damage to the microvascular endothelial cells is now regarded as a characteristic feature of acute vascular rejection, an important predictor of graft loss. It is also linked with transplant vasculopathy, often associated with chro...

Background Leukocytes linked directly and indirectly to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Although leukocytospermia is defined as the presence of ≥1×106 white blood cells/mL (WBC/mL) in a semen sample, the presence of less than 1×106 WBC/mL (low-level leukocytospermia) still can produce a detectable amount of ROS, impairing sperm function and lowering the chances of pregnancy. Low concen...

Nitric oxide-containing neurons are widely distributed within the CNS, including regions involved in the control of reproduction and sexual behavior. The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase is influenced by testosterone in male rat, and by estrogens in female. Moreover, nitric oxide synthase may co-localize with gonadal hormones' receptors. Gonadal hormones may influence nitric oxide s...

NADPH diaphorase histochemistry selectively labels a number of discrete populations of neurons throughout the nervous system. This simple and robust technique has been used in a great many experimental and neuropathological studies; however, the function of this enzyme has remained a matter of speculation. We, therefore, undertook to characterize this enzyme biochemically. With biochemical and ...

To investigate the effect of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHCy) on penile erectile function in a rat model, a methionine-rich diet was used in which erectile function, the reproductive system, and nitric oxide synthase were characterized. The intracavernous pressure, apomorphine experiments, measurement of oxidative stress, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry analysis, reverse transc...

Transient reduction in coronary perfusion pressure in the isolated mouse heart increases microvascular resistance (paradoxical vasoconstriction) by an endothelium-mediated mechanism. To assess the presence and extent of paradoxical vasoconstriction in hearts from normal and diabetic rats and to determine whether increased heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression and HO activity, using cobalt protoporph...

The reaction between reducing sugars and protein free amines, known as the Maillar reaction results in the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). AGE modification changes the structure of proteins to amyloid cross-beta structure. These protein structures can activate receptors known as RAGE on glial cells (microglia and astrocytes), and induce the expression of inducible nitric oxi...

Abstract Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinase 2 is one of the inflammatory mediators that is involved in nociceptive processing and its production is regulated by many inflammatory factors such as nitric oxide. We studied the role of MMP-2 on the analgesic effects of nNOS inhibitor. Methods: Considering that nitric oxide has many roles in pain processing, we studied the CSF levels of MMP-2 ...

introduction: the relation between morphine and nitric oxide release has been shown. due to important role of nitric oxide in regulation of skin blood flow, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (l-name) and nitric oxide synthesis precursor (l-arginine) on skin blood flow of intact and morphine-dependent rats. methods: skin blood flow of hind paw...