Protective effect of resveratrol on methylglyoxal-induced endothelial dysfunction in aged rats.

Background: The cardiovascular benefits of resveratrol (RSV) have been well established by previous experimental and clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of RSV administration on the impaired endothelial function induced by methylglyoxal (MGO), and to elucidate the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on its protective effect.

Methods: Aged Wistar rats (80 weeks old, n = 15) were used in this study.

Protective effect of exendin-4 treatment on erectile dysfunction induced by chronic methylglyoxal administration in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic exendin-4 (Ex-4) treatment on corpus cavernosum (CC) dysfunction in methylglyoxal (MGO) administered rats.

Methods: Male rats were divided into four groups as control, MGO (75 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 12 weeks), MGO + low-dose Ex-4 (0.1 μg/kg twice daily subcutaneously for 12 weeks concomitant with MGO), and MGO + high-dose Ex-4 (1 μg/kg twice daily subcutaneously for 12 weeks concomitant with MGO).

Effects of nesfatin-1 on atrial contractility and thoracic aorta reactivity in male rats.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of nesfatin-1 on thoracic aorta vasoreactivity and to investigate the inotropic and chronotropic effects of nesfatin-1 on the spontaneous contractions of the isolated rat atria.

Methods: Isolated right atria and thoracic aorta were used in organ baths. The reactivity of the thoracic aorta was evaluated by potassium chloride (KCl), phenylephrine (Phe), acetylcholine (ACh), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP).

Cardioprotective effect of nesfatin-1 against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats: Role of the Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of nesfatin-1, a novel peptide with anorexigenic properties, in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI), and to further investigate the role of Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway in the protective effect of nesfatin-1. To induce MI, ISO was subcutaneously injected into the rats for two consecutive days at a dosage of 85mg/kg/day. ISO-induced myocardial damage was indicated by elevated levels of cardiac specific troponin-T, enhanced myocardial expression of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α), and increased number of cells with apoptotic and necrotic appearance in the myocardial tissue.