The innervation pattern and the vasomotor response of the potential transmitters in the porcine pial veins were investigated morphologically and pharmacologically. The porcine pial veins were more densely innervated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive (I) fibers than were calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-I, choline acetyltransferase-I, Substance P...

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell mitogen that promotes angiogenesis, was initially identified as a vascular permeability factor (VPF). Abundant evidence suggests that angiogenesis is preceded and/or accompanied by enhanced microvascular permeability. The mechanism by which VEGF/VPF increases vascular permeability (VP), however, has remained enigmatic. Ac...

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors including quinapril could exert a protective effect on cardiovascular system through endothelial system in normoglycemic and diabetic rats. The present experimental work was designed to study the vascular reactivity of aortic ring segments isolated from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats treated for 4 weeks with nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAM...

At low concentrations, nitric oxide is a physiological transmitter, but in excessive concentrations it may cause cell and tissue injury. We report that in acute oxidant injury induced by the herbicide paraquat in isolated guinea pig lungs, nitric oxide synthesis was markedly stimulated, as evidenced by increased levels of cyclic GMP in lung perfusate and of nitrite and L-citrulline production i...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether methotrexate modulates bradykinin-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the in situ oral mucosa and whether this response is mediated by thel-arginine/nitric oxide biosynthetic pathway. Using intravital microscopy, we found that suffusion of methotrexate alone onto the hamster cheek pouch had no significant effects on leaky site format...