Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin and open Ca2+-activated K+ channels. The effects of these actions of ACE inhibitors on infarct size were investigated in open-chest dogs subjected to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Infarct size was assessed 6 hours after the onset of reperfusion, subsequent to 90 minutes of occlusi...

Nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis increases during pregnancy and has been shown to suppress baroreceptor activity. The renal response to a simulated increase in circulating blood volume (atrial distension) is also attenuated at this time. We hypothesized that blocking NO biosynthesis during pregnancy would restore the renal response. Female rats were implanted with indwelling intracardiac balloons...

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a highly selective pulmonary vasodilator. It was recently reported that inhaled NO causes peripheral vasodilatation after treatment with a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These findings suggested the possibility that inhibition of endogenous NOS uncovered the systemic vasodilating effect of NO or NO adducts absorbed via the lungs during NO inhalation. To learn whether ...

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin and open Ca-activated K channels. The effects of these actions of ACE inhibitors on infarct size were investigated in open-chest dogs subjected to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Infarct size was assessed 6 hours after the onset of reperfusion, subsequent to 90 minutes of occlusion ...

atropine has been used to block cholinergic neurotransmission in basic research. large doses of atropine cause vasodilation of the blood vessels in the skin. this effect is apparently unconnected with the antimuscarinic activity of atropine and seems to be due to a direct action on the blood vessels. it has been suggested that atropine blocks muscarinic receptors at low doses and it induces the...

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is thought to promote arteriosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease, in part by impairing the function of endothelium. Because flow-induced dilation is mediated by the endothelium, we hypothesized that HHcy alters this response by interfering with the synthesis/action of NO and prostaglandins. Thus, changes in the diameter of isolated, pressurized (at 80 mm Hg) gr...

BACKGROUND Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin (STa) is a major cause of secretory diarrhoea in humans. AIMS To assess the effects of instilling STa into the ileum on remote fluid secretion in the jejunum and colon in rats in vivo by a gravimetric technique. METHODS AND RESULTS Ileal STa (55 ng/ml) stimulated fluid secretion in both ileal and jejunal loops but not in the colon. The flu...

Leptin is a circulating adipocyte-derived hormone that influences blood pressure (BP) and metabolism. This study was designed to define the possible role of leptin in regulation of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) system using acute and chronic experiments. Intravenous infusion of rat leptin (250 microg/kg injection plus 2 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 20 min) into Sprague-Dawley rats increased...

OBJECTIVE Thrombin is implicated in the genesis of arrhythmias and activation of thrombin receptors exacerbated ventricular arrhythmias following coronary artery ligation. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of the protease-activated receptor-1 antagonist, SCH79797 against ischemia and reperfusion arrhythmias in the rat heart. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hea...

In the present study, we examined the roles of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in the activation of satellite cells in passively stretched rat skeletal muscle. A hindlimb suspension model was developed in which the vastus, adductor, and gracilis muscles were subjected to stretch for 1 h. Satellite cells were activated by stretch determined on the basis of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyur...