Inbred strains of mice vary in their sensitivity to the diabetogenic effects of streptozotocin (STZ). To investigate the basis for this strain difference we exposed islet cells from two strains of mice that differ in sensitivity to the drug. We examined them morphologically and measured islet NAD + NADH content, streptozotocin metabolite accumulation, glucose transport capacity, Glut2 levels an...

Decomposition of three imidazole based model energetic systems (2-nitroimidazole, 4-nitroimidazole, and 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole) is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The initial decomposition mechanism for these three nitroimidazoles is explored with nanosecond energy resolved spectroscopy, and quantum chemical theory at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSC...

Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) within the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) functions to regulate sodium and water reabsorption. Because fluid shear stress has been shown to increase NO production in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, experiments were designed to determine whether a similar mechanism exists in IMCD cells. Cultured IMCD-3 cells derived from murin...

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production after injury on inflammatory cell accumulation and fibrosis around digital flexor tendon and synovium. A standard crush injury was applied to the flexor tendons of the middle digit of the hindpaw and the overlying muscle and synovium of female Wistar rats. Thirty animals received an intraper...

Immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin A inhibit neurotoxicity of N-methyl-D-aspartate in primary cortical cultures, while having no effect on quisqualate- and kainate-mediated neurotoxicity. Rapamycin completely reverses the neuroprotective effect of FK506. Both FK506 and cyclosporin A inhibit NMDA-elicited/nitric oxide-mediated increases in cGMP levels in cortical cultures. FK506 has no eff...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that nitrite serves as an endogenous reservoir of nitric oxide (NO), particularly in the presence of hypoxia and ischemia. We hypothesized that exogenous nitrite supplementation would protect cardiac allografts. METHODS Fully allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantation was performed in LEW to BN combination under tacrolimus. Animals were given either regu...

Nitrite-hemoglobin reactions have been studied extensively in vitro, but there is a lack of information on the kinetics of nitrite and its metabolites in humans. In this study, we developed a nine-compartment physiological pharmacokinetic model to describe the in vivo erythrocytic uptake and release and disposition pathways of nitrite, nitrate, methemoglobin, and iron-nitrosyl hemoglobin in the...

The study was carried out to determine the seasonal variation of nitrite levels in drinking and surface waters of urban, peri-urban and rural areas of Lucknow, during 2007-2008, and to evaluate the nitrite removal and accumulation potential of certain native aquatic macrophytes. Most of the drinking and surface water samples were collected from urbanized region of the city. All drinking water s...

Elevation of circulating nitrite (NO2(-)) levels causes vasodilatation and lowers blood pressure in healthy volunteers. Whether these effects and the underpinning mechanisms persist in hypertension is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of systemic nitrite elevation in spontaneously hypertensive rats and conducted proof-of-principle studies in patients. Nitrite caused dose-depe...

We carried out an integrated environmental/biological monitoring program to evaluate cancer hazards among metal industry workers exposed to cutting fluids. Several cutting fluids were sampled according to response to a semiquantitative nitrite rapid test in metal factories in central Italy. The nitrite-positive samples were analyzed for nitrite and nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) content and muta...