Arginine is a precursor amino acid for the synthesis of nitric oxide by nitric oxide synthase. A defect in arginine supply could regulate nitric oxide-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation. In this study, we evaluated the effect of supplementation with L-arginine given in vitro on both functional relaxation and cGMP generation in response to acetylcholine in the streptozotocin-induced diab...

Hyperglycemia affects male and female vascular beds differently. We have previously shown that 1 week after the induction of diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ), male and female rats exhibit differences in aortic endothelial function. To examine this phenomenon further, aortic responses were studied in male and female rats 8 weeks after the induction of diabetes (intermediate stage). Endothelium...

Although Eurycoma longifolia has been studied for erectile function, the blood pressure- (BP-) lowering effect has yet to be verified. Hence, this study aims at investigating the BP-lowering properties of the plant with a view to develop an antihypertensive agent that could also preserve erectile function. Ethanolic root extract was partitioned by hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate, b...

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. "pequi" is a native plant from the Cerrado region of Brazil that contains bioactive components reported to be antioxidant agents. Previous work has demonstrated that dietary supplementation with pequi decreased the arterial pressure of volunteer athletes. We found that the crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) of C. brasiliense leaves relaxed, in a concentration-dependen...

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta was assessed in JCR:LA-corpulent rats, which are hyperphagous, hyperlipidemic, hyperinsulinemic, and obese and spontaneously develop atherosclerotic disease and myocardial lesions. The findings in corpulent rats (6 months of age) were compared with those in age-and sex-matched lean rats. Aortic rings were prepared and mounted in Krebs-Henseleit buff...

It has been indicated that activation of peripheral imidazoline I2-receptor (I-2R) may reduce the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Also, guanidinium derivatives show the ability to activate imidazoline receptors. Thus, it is of special interest to characterize the I-2R using guanidinium derivatives in blood vessels for development of antihypertensive agent(s). Six guani...

Objective(s): Angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) represent one of the widely used antihypertensive agents. In addition to anti-hypertension effect, some ARBs also show other molecular effects such as activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and so on. Here we studied the effects of telmisartan on the rat isolated mesenteric artery rings pre-contracted by phenylephrine ...

BACKGROUND Daming capsule (DMC), a traditional Chinese formula, has a lipid-modulating action with reduced adverse side effects as compared with other lipid lowering compounds. Since endothelial dysfunction often accompanies the hyperlipidemic state, we hypothesize that DMC might restore endothelial dysfunction produced by a high-fat (HF) diet. Importantly, we also investigate possible mechanis...

Gonzales, Rayna J., Benjimen R. Walker, and Nancy L. Kanagy. 17b-Estradiol increases nitric oxide-dependent dilation in rat pulmonary arteries and thoracic aorta. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 280: L555–L564, 2001.—Past studies have demonstrated that 17b-estradiol (E2b) increases endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) activity in uterine, heart, and skeletal muscle and in cultured h...

Background: Diabetes is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction is the main reason cause of disability and death in diabetic patients and death. The present study investigates the effects of metformin and glibenclamide on vasoconstrictive and vasodilative responses in the diabetic rat aorta. Methods: Rats were divided into four experimental groups (con...