Aging has been reported to cause impotence, the mechanism of which is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of aging on electrical stimulation-induced neurogenic, carbachol-induced, endothelium-dependent, and sodium nitroprusside-induced cGMP-dependent relaxant responses of rabbit corporal smooth muscle. Male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into young (4 months), intermediate (8...

The effects of milrinone, a bipyridine with known vasodilator activity, on guinea pig tracheal-spirals, lung parenchymal strips and pulmonary artery rings in vitro were compared with the effects of isoproterenol and aminophylline on these tissues. The concentration of milrinone that produced 50% relaxation (IC50) of tracheal spirals constricted by carbachol was 3.6 X 10(-5) M. Isoproterenol (IC...

Stress has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and depression, but the correlation is not well understood. However, inflammation is known to have a crucial role in both cardiovascular disease and depression. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a major cytokine for the activation of neuroendocrine, immune and behavioral responses. Therefore, we aimed to explore the eff...

This study was conducted to determine whether the relaxant effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) openers on airway smooth muscle are reduced during the hyporesponsiveness of beta-adrenergic receptors. Isometric tension was measured and dose-response curves were constructed for levcromakalim (a KATP opener), Y-26763 (another KATP opener), isoprenaline and theo...

The hypothesis that the changes in vascular reactivity seen during pregnancy are determined by the gestational age was examined. Experiments were designed to investigate changes in vascular responses with progression of pregnancy. The contractile responses to potassium and phenylephrine (in the presence and absence of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) an...

Cinnamon bark is used as a spice. It is employed in cookery as a condiment and flavouring material. The essential oil of this herb is a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and uterine stimulant. It is useful in diarrhoea and haemorrhage of the womb. It also reduces blood sugar and cholesterol level. One of its uses is in musculoskeletal disorder. The aim of the study was to evaluate the centrall...