AIM Esophagitis is associated with an impaired esophageal peristalsis. A few studies have been aimed at understanding the pathophysiology of abnormal peristaltic activity. The mechanism of impaired esophageal smooth muscle reactivity in the chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) model is investigated in vitro for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS The chronic GER rat model was created by pa...

The present study aimed to characterize the contractile reactivity of the chicken ductus arteriosus (DA) from the last stage of prenatal development and throughout the perinatal period. Isolated DA rings from 15-day, noninternally-pipped 19-day, and externally-pipped 21-day embryos were studied using myograph techniques. On embryonic day 15, the chicken DA did not respond to O(2) (0 to 21%), no...

Cardiovascular disorders continue to constitute major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. In this study, the effect of chronic administration of sesame (Sesamum indicum L) seed feeding was studied on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Male diabetic rats received sesame seed-mixed food at weight ratios of 3% and 6% for 7 weeks, one week after diabetes in...

The reactivity of the vascular wall to endothelin-1 (ET-1) is influenced by cholesterol, which is of possible importance for the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate signaling steps affected, the cholesterol acceptor methyl-cyclodextrin (m cd, 10 mmol/L) was used to manipulate membrane cholesterol and disrupt caveolae in intact rat arteries. In endothelium-denuded caudal artery, contrac...

To evaluate the potential contribution of endothelin-1 (ET-1) toward the cardiovascular complications of diabetes, the present study examined the effects of chronic ET receptor blockade with bosentan on heart function and vascular reactivity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, control bosentan-treated, diabetic, and diabetic bosenta...

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...

AIM The aim of the present study was to determine the nature and intensity of changes in the contractile activity and reactivity of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tissue in conditions of increased intra-abdominal pressure. METHODS A method for recording isometric contractions of isolated smooth muscle preparations from gastric corpus, duodenum and sigmoid colon of rats was used. RESULTS Two...

In utero hypoxia influences the structure and function of most fetal arteries, including those of the developing cerebral circulation. Whereas the signals that initiate this hypoxic remodeling remain uncertain, these appear to be distinct from the mechanisms that maintain the remodeled vascular state. The present study explores the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia elicits sustained changes in fe...

The reactivity of the vascular wall to endothelin-1 (ET-1) is influenced by cholesterol, which is of possible importance for the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate signaling steps affected, the cholesterol acceptor methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (mbetacd, 10 mmol/L) was used to manipulate membrane cholesterol and disrupt caveolae in intact rat arteries. In endothelium-denuded caudal artery,...