Effect of arginine vasopressin on the canine epicardial coronary artery: experiments on V1-receptor-mediated production of nitric oxide

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether arginine vasopressin releases endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) from the epicardial coronary artery. METHODS: We studied segments of canine left circumflex coronary arteries suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric force. The coronary artery segments were contracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (2 x 10-6M) and exposed to a unique, strong arginine vasopressin concentration (10-6M) or titrated concentrations (10-9 a 10-5 M). RESULTS: The unique dose of arginine vasopressin concentration (10-6M) induced transient, but significant (p<0.05), relaxation in arterial segments with endothelium, and an increase, not significant, in tension in arteries without endothelium. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to arginine vasopressin was inhibited by Ng-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10-5M) or N G-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) (10-4M), 2 inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis from L-arginine. Exogenous L-arginine (10-4M), but not D-arginine (10-4M), reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA on vasopressin-mediated vasorelaxation. Endothelium dependent relaxation to vasopressin was also reversibly inhibited by the vasopressin V1-receptor blocker d(CH2)5Try(Me) arginine vasopressin (10-6M) (n=6, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Vasopressin acts through V1 endothelial receptors to stimulate nitric oxide release from L-arginine.

Effects of Ischemic Postconditioning on the Hemodynamic Parameters and Heart Nitric Oxide Levels of Hypothyroid Rats

Background: Ischemic postconditioning (IPost) is a method of protecting the heart against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. However, the effectiveness of IPost in cases of ischemic heart disease accompanied by co-morbidities such as hypothyroidism remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of IPost on myocardial IR injury in hypothyroid male rats. Methods: Propylthiouracil in drinking water (500 mg/L) was administered to male rats for 21 days to induce hypothyroidism. The hearts from control and hypothyroid rats were perfused in a Langendorff apparatus and exposed to 30 min of global ischemia, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. IPost was induced immediately following ischemia. Results: Hypothyroidism and IPost significantly improved the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and peak rates of positive and negative changes in left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt) during reperfusion in control rats (p < 0.05). However, IPost had no add-on effect on the recovery of LVDP and ±dp/dt in hypothyroid rats. Furthermore, hypothyroidism significantly decreased the basal NO metabolite (NOx) levels of the serum (72.5 ± 4.2 vs. 102.8 ± 3.7 μmol/L; p < 0.05) and heart (7.9 ± 1.6 vs. 18.8 ± 3.2 μmol/L; p < 0.05). Heart NOx concentration in the hypothyroid groups did not change after IR and IPost, whereas these were significantly (p < 0.05) higher and lower after IR and IPost, respectively, in the control groups. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism protects the heart from IR injury, which may be due to a decrease in basal nitric oxide (NO) levels in the serum and heart and a decrease in NO after IR. IPost did not decrease the NO level and did not provide further cardioprotection in the hypothyroid group.

Role of microRNAs 221/222 on Statin Induced Nitric Oxide Release in Human Endothelial Cells

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) has been largely associated with cardiovascular protection through improvement of endothelial function. Recently, new evidence about modulation of NO release by microRNAs (miRs) has been reported, which could be involved with statin-dependent pleiotropic effects, including anti-inflammatory properties related to vascular endothelium function. Objective: To evaluate the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs including the inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis, atorvastatin and simvastatin, and the inhibitor of cholesterol absorption ezetimibe on NO release, NOS3 mRNA expression and miRs potentially involved in NO bioavailability. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to atorvastatin, simvastatin or ezetimibe (0 to 5.0 μM). Cells were submitted to total RNA extraction and relative quantification of NOS3 mRNA and miRs -221, -222 and -1303 by qPCR. NO release was measured in supernatants by ozone-chemiluminescence. Results: Both statins increased NO levels and NOS3 mRNA expression but no influence was observed for ezetimibe treatment. Atorvastatin, simvastatin and ezetimibe down-regulated the expression of miR-221, whereas miR-222 was reduced only after the atorvastatin treatment. The magnitude of the reduction of miR-221 and miR-222 after treatment with statins correlated with the increment in NOS3 mRNA levels. No influence was observed on the miR-1303 expression after treatments. Conclusion: NO release in endothelial cells is increased by statins but not by the inhibitor of cholesterol absorption, ezetimibe. Our results provide new evidence about the participation of regulatory miRs 221/222 on NO release induction mediated by statins. Although ezetimibe did not modulate NO levels, the down-regulation of miR-221 could involve potential effects on endothelial function.

Estudos sôbre a coloração da gema de ôvo de galinhas - IV. Efeito da raça e da quantidade de milho amarelo na ração

This paper deals with experiments on the yolk color of chicken eggs. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: a) no differences were observed when different breeds (S. C. W. Leghorn and Rhode Island Red) were fed whith the same ration: yellow corn grains or green feed. b) 30% of yellow corn grain (orange or yellow) in the ration are sufficient to give satisfactory color to the yolk eggs.

Sombreamento dos cafezais IV - resultados de mais dois biênios: 1963/1964 - 1965/1966

This paper deals with data obtained in 1963, 1964, 1965 e 1966 in shaded and unshaded coffee plots at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The results can be summarized as follows: a. the production, in shaded and unshaded plots, did not show differences statisticaly significant; b. the percentage of coffee berry borer infestations was higher in shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; c. the percentage of green, ripened and dry fruits depends on the year and on the harvest time.

Nutrição mineral de hortaliças IV absorção de nutrientes pela cultura da beringela

Plantas de beringela da var. Hibrida F. Piracicaba nº 100 foram cultivadas em vasos contendo sílica e irrigados com solução nutritiva completa. Quando as plantas atingiram 36 dias de idade da germinação, foram colhidas amostras de 10 em 10 dias até aos 126 dias para determinação do pêso da matéria fresca e sêca, assim como, análises químicas quantitativas para N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S. 0 crescimento e a absorção de nutrientes é lenta até aos 56 dias intensificando-se com o crescimento da planta. Uma população de 20.000 plantas correspondentes a um ha absorvem 88,8 kg de nitrogênio, 9,8 kg de fósforo, 142 kg de potássio, 43,1 kg de cálcio, 13,4 kg de magnésio e 5,4 kg de enxofre.

Nutrição mineral das plantas ornamentais: IV. carências nutricionais em roseira

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos: 1) Obter um quadro sintomatológico das carências de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn: 2) Aquilatar o efeito da omissão e presença dos nutrientes sobre o crescimento e composição química das diversas partes da planta. Plantas de roseira (Rosa spp, var. Happiness) foram cultivadas em vasos contendo silica e irrigados com solução nutritiva completa e deficiente nos macro e micronutrientes. Surgidos os sintomas de deficiência as plantas foram coletadas, secas e analisadas para os elementos em estudo. Os autores descrevem os sintomas e apresentam dados analíticos referentes a plantas sadias e desnutridas.

IV - Ocorrência de domácias em espécies e híbridos da família vitaceae

Neste trabalho, o quarto de uma série sobre o assunto, apresentamos os estudos feitos em 60 novas variedades híbridas IAC, pertencentes à família Vitaceae. Deste total, 34 revelaram domácias as quais se enquadram nos tipos: "em tufo de pêlos" e variações, e em "bolsa", segundo a classificação de CHEVALIER & CHESNAIS (1941). O material estudado constou de folhas não herborizadas, vindas do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas - Secção de Viticultura. As folhas ainda frescas e em várias fases do seu desenvolvimento, foram examinadas em ambas as faces, superior e inferior, na junção do pecíolo, anotando-se as particularidades relativas às domácias tais como: aspecto, localização, tamanho, forma, coloração e tamanho dos pêlos, etc. Observou-se pequena variação nas domácias do tipo "em tufo de pêlos", que ora aparecem como "pêlos esparsos", ora como "aglomerado de pêlos" e ainda como "tufo de pêlos" propriamente dito. As domácias encontradas nos 34 híbridos, estão assim distribuidas. a - domácias em "tufo de pêlos" e suas variações: 32. b - domácias "em bolsas": 2. Os pêlos domaciais podem ser claros ou escuros, curtos ou longos, lisos ou crespos. As domácias aparecem na face inferior do limbo, na axila das nervuras de primeira e segunda ordem e na junção das nervuras com o pecíolo. Ocorrem, também, domácias na confluência das nervuras de diversas ordens.

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do feijão macassar (Vigna sinensis (L.) Endl.). IV: exigências de macro e micronutrientes

Duas cultivares de Vigna sinensis, "dorminhoco" e "pitiúba" foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva completa ate o fim do ciclo. Nas diferentes partes, vegetativas e reprodutivas, foram determinados os macro e micronutrientes. Os dados obtidos permitiram estimar as exigências de uma população no campo e as quantidades de elementos exportados como produto colhido.