Pyk2 mediates increased adrenergic contractile responses in arteries from DOCA-salt mice - Vasoactive Peptide Symposium

The calcium-dependent proline-rich tyrosine kinase (Pyk2), a nonreceptor protein activated by tyrosine phosphorylation, links G protein-coupled receptors to vascular responses. We tested the hypothesis that enhanced vascular reactivity in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive mice is due to increased activation of Pyk2. Aorta and small mesenteric arteries from DOCA-salt and uninephrectomized (UNI) male C57B1/6 mice were used. Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) was higher in DOCA (126 +/- 3) vs. UNI (100 +/- 4) mice. Vascular responses to phenylephrine (1 nM to 100 mu M) were greater both in aorta and small mesenteric arteries from DOCA-salt than UNI, but treatment with Tyrphostin A-9 (0.1 mu M, Pyk2 inhibitor) abolished the difference among the groups. Pyk2 levels, as well as phospho-Pyk2(Tyr402), paxillin, and phospho-paxillin(Tyr118) were increased in DOCA-salt aorta. Incubation of vessels with Tyrphostin A-9 restored phosphorylation of Pyk2 and paxillin. Increased activation of Pyk2 contributes to increased vascular contractile responses in DOCA-salt mice. J Am Soc Hypertens 2008;2(6): 431-438. (C) 2008 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.

Effects of isoproterenol treatment for 7 days on inflammatory mediators in the rat aorta

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of overstimulation of beta-adrenoceptors on vascular inflammatory mediators. Wistar rats were treated with the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (0.3 mg(.)kg(-1.)day(-1) sc) or vehicle (control) for 7 days. At the end of treatment, the right carotid artery was catheterized for arterial and left ventricular (LV) hemodynamic evaluation. Isoproterenol treatment increased LV weight but did not change hemodynamic parameters. Aortic mRNA and protein expression were quantified by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Isoproterenol enhanced aortic mRNA and protein expression of IL-1 beta (124% and 125%) and IL-6 (231% and 40%) compared with controls but did not change TNF-alpha expression. The nuclear-to-cytoplasmatic protein expression ration of the NF-beta B p65 subunit was increased by isoproterenol treatment (51%); in addition, it reduced the cytoplasmatic expression of I kappa B-alpha (52%) in aortas. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed using the aorta, and increased NF-kappa B DNA binding (31%) was observed in isoproterenol-treated rats compared with controls (P < 0.05). Isoproterenol treatment increased phenylephrine-induced contraction in aortic rigs (P < 0.05), which was significantly reduced by superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml) and sodium salicylate (5 mM). Cotreatment with thalidomide (150 mg(.)kg(-1.)day(-1) for 7 days) also reduced hyperreactivity to phenylephrine induced by isoproterenol. In conclusion, overstimulation of beta-adrenoceptors increased proinflammatory cytokines and upregulated NF-kappa B in the rat aorta. Moreover, local oxidative stress and the proinflammatory state seem to play key roles in the altered vascular reactivity of the rat aorta induced by chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Effect of the Single or Combined Administration of Cocaine and Testosterone on Cardiovascular Function and Baroreflex Activity in Unanesthetized Rats

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Could a high-fat diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids impair the cardiovascular system?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of acute pancreatitis on the in vitro responsiveness of rat mesenteric and pulmonary arteries

Background: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by local tissue injury and systemic inflammatory response leading to massive nitric oxide (NO) production and haemodynamic disturbances. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the vascular reactivity of pulmonary and mesenteric artery rings from rats submitted to experimental pancreatitis.Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: saline (SAL); tauracholate (TAU) and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). Pancreatitis was induced by administration of TAU or PLA(2) from Naja mocambique mocambique into the common bile duct of rats, and after 4 h of duct injection the animals were sacrificed. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and phenylephrine (PHE) in isolated mesenteric and pulmonary arteries were obtained. Potency (pEC(50)) and maximal responses (E(MAX)) were determined. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis.Results: In mesenteric rings, the potency for ACh was significantly decreased from animals treated with TAU (about 4.2-fold) or PLA(2) (about 6.9-fold) compared to saline group without changes in the maximal responses. Neither pEC(50) nor E(MAX) values for Ach were altered in pulmonary rings in any group. Similarly, the pEC(50) and the E(MAX) values for SNP were not changed in both preparations in any group. The potency for PHE was significantly decreased in rat mesenteric and pulmonary rings from TAU group compared to SAL group (about 2.2- and 2.69-fold, for mesenteric and pulmonary rings, respectively). No changes were seen in the E(MAX) for PHE. The nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)(-)) levels were markedly increased in animals submitted to acute pancreatitis as compared to SAL group, approximately 76 and 68% in TAU and PLA(2) protocol, respectively.Conclusion: Acute pancreatitis provoked deleterious effects in endothelium-dependent relaxing response for ACh in mesenteric rings that were strongly associated with high plasma NO(x)(-) levels as consequence of intense inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the subsensitivity of contractile response to PHE in both mesenteric and pulmonary rings might be due to the complications of this pathological condition in the early stage of pancreatitis.

Exercise training improves relaxation response and SOD-1 expression in aortic and mesenteric rings from high caloric diet-fed rats

Background. Obesity has been associated with a variety of disease such as type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Evidences have shown that exercise training promotes beneficial effects on these disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical preconditioning prevents the deleterious effect of high caloric diet in vascular reactivity of rat aortic and mesenteric rings. Methods. Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD); trained (TR); sedentary diet (SDD) and trained diet (TRD) groups. Run training (RT) was performed in sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (70-80% VO2max). Triglycerides, glucose, insulin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NOx -) were measured. Concentration- response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were obtained. Expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) was assessed by Western blotting. Results. High caloric diet increased triglycerides concentration (SDD: 216 ± 25 mg/dl) and exercise training restored to the baseline value (TRD: 89 ± 9 mg/dl). Physical preconditioning significantly reduced insulin levels in both groups (TR: 0.54 ± 0.1 and TRD: 1.24 ± 0.3 ng/ml) as compared to sedentary animals (SD: 0.87 ± 0.1 and SDD: 2.57 ± 0.3 ng/ml). On the other hand, glucose concentration was slightly increased by high caloric diet, and RT did not modify this parameter (SD: 126 ± 6; TR: 140 ± 8; SDD: 156 ± 8 and TRD 153 ± 9 mg/dl). Neither high caloric diet nor RT modified NO x - levels (SD: 27 ± 4; TR: 28 ± 6; SDD: 27 ± 3 and TRD: 30 ± 2 μM). Functional assays showed that high caloric diet impaired the relaxing response to ACh in mesenteric (about 13%), but not in aortic rings. RT improved the relaxing responses to ACh either in aortic (28%, for TR and 16%, to TRD groups) or mesenteric rings (10%, for TR and 17%, to TRD groups) that was accompanied by up-regulation of SOD-1 expression and reduction in triglycerides levels. Conclusion. The improvement in endothelial function by physical preconditioning in mesenteric and aortic arteries from high caloric fed-rats was directly related to an increase in NO bioavailability to the smooth muscle mostly due to SOD-1 up regulation. © 2008 de Moraes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

HSP70, heparanase e HPRT participam da resposta inflamtória intestinal induzida por TNBS em ratos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modulação do metabolismo muscular de glicose e proteínas pelo exercício em ratos diabéticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito do treinamento físico e da dieta hipercalórica sobre a reatividade do músculo liso de artérias aorta e mesentérica de ratos Wistar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Combination Therapy for the Cardiovascular Effects of Perinatal Lead Exposure in Young and Adult Rats

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Endothelial AT(1) and AT(2) pathways in aortic responses to angiotensin II after stress and ethanol consumption in rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

L-Carnitine supplementation impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in mesenteric arteries from rats

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Exposição perinatal ao chumbo e desnutrição intra-uterina, isoladamente ou em associação: efeitos cardiovasculares em ratos recém-desmamados

Plumbism is considered the oldest occupational disease. Among the pathophysiological effects associated with lead (Pb) are cardiovascular disorders. Many diseases that develop later in life are determined during the early stages of life, under the influence of exposure and preferred diet of the mother. Still, one should consider that many environmental contaminants at levels not harmful can determine pathophysiological processes if physical or chemical stressors and/or pathological conditions are present. In this context, the intrauterine malnutrition may represent an additional risk factor in exposure to Pb during pregnancy and lactation. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk of weaned rats that have suffered perinatal exposure to Pb and intrauterine malnutrition, alone or in combination. After mating, female rats were divided into control (ctrl, ad libitum), food restriction (RA, the same diet 50% of consumption in the control group during pregnancy), exposed to Pb (500 ppm Pb in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation) and association (As, received the last two procedures in combination). Cumulative concentration-effect curves (CECs) to CaCl2 and noradrenaline (NA) were obtained in rings with and without endothelium of the same thoracic aorta from male weaned rats (23-25 days old). Maternal weight, litter weight, weight and number of pups at birth, anogenital distance, arterial blood pressure (ABP) and weight of tissues (kidney, liver, aorta, left ventricle) were evaluated. Changes in vascular reactivity were assessed by the maximum response (MR) and 50% effective concentration (EC50). Data were presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed by multifactorial analysis of variance and Tukey's post test. Body weight of dams did not differ between the experimental groups, except on the...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

O Wortmannin reverte a hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina associada à fase final da prenhez de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR)

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Stress vulnerability during adolescence

Objective: This study investigated the physiological and somatic changes evoked by daily exposure to the same type of stressor (homotypic) or different aversive stressor stimuli (heterotypic) in adolescent and adult rats, with a focus on cardiovascular function. The long-term effects of stress exposure during adolescence were also investigated longitudinally. Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to repeated restraint stress (RRS, homotypic) or chronic variable stress (CVS, heterotypic). Results: Adrenal hypertrophy, thymus involution, and elevated plasma glucocorticoid were observed only in adolescent animals, whereas reduction in body weight was caused by both stress regimens in adults. CVS increased mean arterial pressure (adolescent: p = .001; adult: p = .005) and heart rate (HR; adolescent: p = .020; adult: p = .011) regardless of the age, whereas RRS increased blood pressure selectively in adults (p = .001). Rest tachycardia evoked by CVS was associated with increased cardiac sympathetic activity in adults, whereas a decreased cardiac parasympathetic activity was observed in adolescent animals. Changes in cardiovascular function and cardiac autonomic activity evoked by both CVS and RRS were followed by alterations in baroreflex activity and vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictor and vasodilator agents in adolescent adult animals. Except for the circulating glucocorticoid change, all alterations observed during adolescence were reversed in adulthood. Conclusions: These findings suggest a stress vulnerability of adolescents to somatic and neuroendocrine effects regardless of stress regimen. Our results indicated an age-stress type-specific influence in stress-evoked cardiovascular/autonomic changes. Data suggest minimal consequences in adulthood of stress during adolescence.