Abstract Background Preeclampsia is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response. Recent studies have shown that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. This study aims to investigate whether VNS safe for use during pregnancy and explore the therapeutic potential underlying mechanisms of PE. Methods Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly chosen receive...

N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension is associated with protein remodeling of the left ventricle. The aim of the study was to show, whether aldosterone receptor blocker spironolactone and precursor of NO-production L-arginine were able to reverse the protein rebuilding of the left ventricle. Six groups of male Wistar rats were investigated: control 4 (4 weeks placebo...

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and its synthase (NOS) inhibitor on the generation of spontaneous spreading depression (SD) waves in the frog retina were studied by recording spreading depression potentials (SDPs) as an index. NO-releasing reagents such as sodium nitroprusside and hydroxylamine as well as the substrate of NOS, L-arginine, increased the frequency of the occurrence of spontaneou...

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the long-term, amine-depleting effects of methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was investigated in the rodent central nervous system. The NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) antagonized the dopamine- and serotonin-depleting effects of both METH and MDMA. The protective actions of L-NAME in METH-treated...

The goal of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a non-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to modulate the toxicity of aluminium chloride (AlCl3). Rats were killed at 3 h and at 30 days after treatments and the striatum was removed. Nitrite, superoxide, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione wer...

Small airway and vessels play a critical role in chronic airway and pulmonary vascular diseases, but their pharmacology has not been well characterised. We have studied airway and vascular responses in rat lung slices and separately in vitro using myography. In lung slices, under basal conditions, acetylcholine contracted airways, but had no vascular effect. The thromboxane mimetic, U46619 cont...

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry was investigated in the axolotl (Ambystoma tigrinum) lateral line. Hair cells of neuromast organs of the head skin and neurons of the postotic ganglia showed a significant NADPH-d reaction. Multiunit recording of neuromast afferent activity was also performed. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-...