This study determined the role of nitric oxide (NO) in neurogenic vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries of the toad, Bufo marinus. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was anatomically demonstrated only in perivascular nerves but not the endothelium. Acetylcholine (ACh) and nicotine caused tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive neurogenic vasodilation of mesenteric arteries. The ACh-induced vasodilation ...

Testicular integrity is compromised during illness or infection leading to temporary or permanent infertility and studies have associated elevated nitric oxide (NO) with infertility. This study was designed to investigate the effect of inhibiting nitric oxide synthase on nicotine-induced reproductive organ decrease in male rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats (160-180g) were randomly assigned to ...

Aim: To investigate the protective effect of sildenafil citrate, a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase, on gastric mucosal damage induced by cold restraint stress (CRS) in rats. Further, the study was extended to investigate some possible mechanisms underlying this effect. Material and Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Normal c...

Endothelial dysfunction is a characteristic of many vascular related diseases such as hypertension. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is a unique stress sensor that largely acts to promote adaptive responses. Therefore, we sought to define the role of endothelial PGC-1α in vascular function using mice with endothelial specific loss of function (PGC-1α EC ...

Ribeiro, Ana Cristina, John G. Gilligan, and Levente Kapás. Systemic injection of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor suppresses sleep responses to sleep deprivation in rats. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 278: R1048– R1056, 2000.—We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in homeostatic sleep regulation. To test this hypothesis, we studied the sleep deprivation (SD)...

Oxytocin (OT) is well known for its role in reproduction. However, evidence has emerged suggesting a role in cardiovascular system but less is known about the role of this hormone in the injured heart. We elucidate oxytocin cardioprotective effects against myocardial infarction (MI). Male rats were divided into six groups: control without surgery, sham without occlusion, MI, OT pretreated then ...

Background and Objective: The effect of chronic dietary soybean (Glycine max L.) on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats was studied. Materials and Methods: Male diabetic rats received soybean for 7 weeks 1 week after diabetes induction at weight ratios of 3 and 6%. Contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh) were obtaine...

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of sperm centrifugation on nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as sperm motility and viability. Human spermatozoa were centrifuged for 10 and 30 minutes (400 x g) in the presence or absence of the NOS inhibitor, N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME); ROS scavenger, N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)Glycine (MPG) or ...

OBJECTIVE We assessed the ability of two commercially-available fractions labeled SX and D derived from the edible maitake mushroom to overcome many age-associated metabolic perturbations such as progressive, age-related elevation of blood pressure, over activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), decreased insulin sensitivity, and inflammation in an in vivo laboratory model. DESIGN AND M...