The influence of nitric oxide (NO) on hypnotic activity of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and clonazepam was studied in mice. Administration of both non-selective NO synthase inhibitors: N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) and selective NO synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) resulted in significant increase in the duration of diazepam-, chlordiazepoxid...

Our previous studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-containing neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) are activated during cardiac sympathoexcitatory reflexes (Refs. 12 and 13). However, the precise function of NO in the rVLM in regulation of these reflexes has not been defined. Three isoforms of NOS, including neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and endoth...

The innervation pattern and the vasomotor response of the potential transmitters in the porcine pial veins were investigated morphologically and pharmacologically. The porcine pial veins were more densely innervated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive (I) fibers than were calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-I, choline acetyltransferase-I, Substance P...

  Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosalninidase (NAG) has been proved to be a useful marker of early renal injury as a result of factors such as lead toxicity. In this study the effect of lead acetate on the kidney and its correlation with the nitric oxide (NO) system was investigated by determining the NAG release in perfused kidney of rat. Lead acetate caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in en...

Amino acid transport systems mediating uptake of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors were characterized in the murine macrophage cell line J774. Treatment of J774 cells with bacterial endotoxin (LPS, 1 microgram ml-1, 24 h) selectively increased the transport capacity for NG-monomethyl-L-[14C]arginine (L-NMMA), whereas transport of NG-nitro-L-[3H]arginine (L-NNA) was unaffected. Inhibition st...

OBJECTIVES Nucleus Raphe Magnus (NRM) that is involved in the regulation of body temperature contains nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Considering the effect of NO on skin blood flow control, in this study, we assessed its thermoregulatory role within the raphe magnus. MATERIALS AND METHODS To this end, tail blood flow of male Wistar rats was measured by laser doppler following the induction of hy...

Objective(s): This study was performed to investigate the effects of mucosal acidification on mRNA expression and protein synthesis of cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE), cystathionine beta synthase (CBS), and mucosal release of H2S in gastric mucosa in rats. Materials and Methods:Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (8 in each), including: the control group, HCl (10 mM) treated g...

BACKGROUND Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations in renal patients are associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease. The mechanism(s) by which homocysteine acts remains unclear however, evidence implicates a role involving endothelial dysfunction. METHODS Rat femoral arteries after acute or 4-h pre-incubation with racemic D,L-homocysteine (100 microM) were mounted on a myograph, p...

Objective(s): Nitric oxide (NO) is an important neurotransmitter in central nervous system involved in central cardiovascular regulation. The presence of NO in the pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT) nucleus has been shown, but its cardiovascular effect has not been determined. In the present study, the cardiovascular effect of NO in the PPT nucleus was evaluated. Materials and Methods: After indu...