Red wine but not alcohol consumption improves cardiovascular function and oxidative stress of the hypertensive-SHR and diabetic-STZ rats.

Aims: This raised the issue of whether long-term red wine treatment can act as a modulator of these targets.

Main Methods: We monitored SBP, glucose tolerance, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular function. Aortic and atrial tissues from normotensive-WKY, hypertensive-SHR, and diabetic-STZ animals, chronically exposed to red wine (3.

Chronic resveratrol consumption prevents hypertension development altering electrophysiological currents and Ca signaling in chromaffin cells from SHR rats.

Resveratrol (RESV) is one of the most abundant polyphenol-stilbene compounds found in red wine with well-established cardioprotective and antihypertensive effects. Hyperactivity of the sympathoadrenal axis seems to be one of the major contributing factors in the pathogenesis of human essential hypertension. Alterations in outward voltage-dependent potassium currents (I) and inward voltage-dependent sodium (I), calcium (I) and nicotinic (I) currents, CCs excitability, Ca homeostasis, and catecholamine exocytosis were previously related to the hypertensive state.

Physiopharmacological properties of the testicular capsule: A concise review.

The testicular capsules of different mammalian species exhibit spontaneous motor activity. In addition, contractions can be mediated by neuronal stimulation or exogenous drug administration. However, the physiological role of testicular capsule motor activity is still not well understood.

Intrinsic Adaptation of SHR Right Atrium Reduces Heart Rate.

Hypertension represents an autonomic dysfunction, characterized by increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic cardiovascular tone leading to resting tachycardia. Therefore, studies assessing hypertension-associated changes in isolated cardiac tissues were conducted under electric field stimulation to stimulate the neurons. Herein, we characterize the influence of the autonomic neurotransmitter on the baseline atrial chronotropism of unpaced isolated right atria of normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Function of AT1 and AT2 receptors in atrial contractions from spontaneous hypertensive and diabetic-induced streptozotocin rats.

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are diseases that are strongly correlated. A major factor in this correlation is the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), with the peptide angiotensin II being a key component. This study analyzed the impact of Angiotensin Type 1 receptor (AT1R) and Angiotension Type 2 receptor (AT2R) in atrial function.

Increased Gi protein signaling potentiates the negative chronotropic effect of adenosine in the SHR right atrium.

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which have been associated with dysfunction of sympathetic and purinergic neurotransmission. Therefore, herein, we evaluated whether modifications of adenosine receptor signaling may contribute to the cardiac dysfunction observed in hypertension. Isolated right atria from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) or normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) were used to investigate the influence of adenosine receptor signaling cascade in the cardiac chronotropism.

Cardiac arrest induced by muscarinic or adenosine receptors agonists is reversed by DPCPX through double mechanism.

In the right atrium (RA), adenosine and acetylcholine inhibit the pacemaker function of the sinoatrial node and induce cardiac arrest. Pre-incubation of receptor antagonists is known to inhibit the cardiac arrest induced by these agonists; however, the effect of antagonist administration after established cardiac arrest has not been described. Therefore, we assessed whether specific receptor antagonists could revert cardiac arrest induced by adenosine and muscarinic receptors activation.

Altered mitochondrial function, calcium signaling, and catecholamine release in chromaffin cells of diabetic and SHR rats.

Comorbidity of diabetes and hypertension is frequent. Here, we have performed a comparative study in three animal models namely, normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ), and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). With respect WKY rats, we have found the following alterations in adrenal chromaffin cells from STZ and SHR rats: (1) diminished Ca currents; (2) augmented [Ca elevations and catecholamine release in cells stimulated with angiotensin II or high K; (3) unchanged expression of angiotensin II receptors AT and AT; (4) higher density of secretory vesicles at subplasmalemmal sites; (5) mitochondria with lower cristae density that were partially depolarized; and (6) lower whole cell ATP content.

Altered mitochondrial function, capacitative calcium entry and contractions in the aorta of hypertensive rats.

Objective: It has been suggested that Ca entry through store-operated Ca channels (SOCs) is regulated by a dynamic interplay between the endoplasmic reticulum Ca stores and the mitochondria. These relationships drive the activation and inactivation of SOCs, yet it remains unclear whether this regulation of SOCs by mitochondria is altered in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Methods: We performed a thorough study of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the ability of mitochondria to deal with cytosolic Ca, capacitative Ca entry (CCE), and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 (orai1) protein expression, as well as the contractile capacity of aortic rings, in normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) and SHRs.

Functional Upregulation of STIM-1/Orai-1-Mediated Store-Operated Ca2+ Contributing to the Hypertension Development Elicited by Chronic EtOH Consumption.

Background: Chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption has been associated with deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system by abnormal calcium (Ca2+) handling. Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is related to cardiovascular remodeling which leads to the hypertension development, and the coupling between STIM-1 (ER Ca2+ sensor) and Orai-1 (channel pore) is a key mechanism to control SOCE through of store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs). However, the role of STIM-1/Orai-1-mediated SOCE and its cross-talk with EtOH-triggered vascular remodeling and hypertension remain poorly understood.

Effects of in vitro, acute and chronic treatment with fluoxetine on the sympathetic neurotransmission of rat vas deferens.

It is described that fluoxetine treatment is able to induce ejaculatory disorders. However, the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. Therefore, this study was carried out to further evaluate the anti-ejaculatory effects of fluoxetine, using different approaches (in vitro or in vivo treatments), on the sympathetic neurotransmission of the rat vas deferens.

Relationship between central behavioral effects and peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission functionality during acute cocaine withdrawal syndrome in adult rats.

Background: Acute cocaine withdrawal syndrome (ACWS) is characterized as a set of organic alterations triggered by abrupt discontinuation of chronic cocaine consumption, usually occurring at 24-40 hours after withdrawal. However, little is known about the relationship between central and peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission during ACWS.

Objective And Methods: We investigated the mechanisms involved in central and peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission and how ACWS affects the sympathetic functionality.

Would calcium or potassium channels be responsible for cardiac arrest produced by adenosine and ATP in the right atria of Wistar rats?

Autonomic nerves release ATP, which is processed into adenosine in the synaptic cleft. Adenosine and ATP exert a negative chronotropic effect in the heart. This study aims to evaluate adenosine and P2 receptors and cellular signalling in cardiac arrest produced by purines in the heart.

Could α1-adrenoceptors and androgen receptors be modified by sexual maturation and testosterone in the rat testicular capsule?

Aims: Testicular capsule contractile dysfunctions are recognized to contribute to male infertility, but the influence of sexual maturation and exogenous testosterone on the expression and function of androgen receptor and α1-adrenoceptors on rat testicular capsule is unclear. Here, these two biological parameters were evaluated on testicular capsule from sexually immature and young adult rats treated or not with exogenous testosterone.

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats (45- and 60-day-old) were assigned into groups: control (saline 0.

Chronic treatment with red wine modulates the purinergic neurotransmission and decreases blood pressure in hypertensive SHR and diabetic-STZ rats.

It is known that red wine has cardioprotective properties. However, its influence is unknown about purinergic system. Therefore, we study the influence of the treatment with red wine or ethanol in purinergic neurotransmission.

Influence of acute treatment with sibutramine on the sympathetic neurotransmission of the young rat vas deferens.

The effects of acute treatment with sibutramine on the peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission in vas deferens of young rats were still not evaluated. Therefore, we carried out this study in order to verify the effects of acute sibutramine treatment on the neuronal- and exogenous agonist-induced contractions of the young rat vas deferens. Young 45-day-old male Wistar rats were pretreated with sibutramine 6 mg/kg and after 4h the vas deferens was used for experiment.

Functional effects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome on peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission in vas deferens of adult rats.

Aims: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is characterized by a set of physiological modifications triggered by abrupt withdrawal and/or decreasing consumption of ethanol (EtOH), which may manifest 16-48 h after ceasing consumption. The relationship between the effects of AWS and central and peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission is unknown. This study investigates the possible mechanisms on the sympathetic system during periods of AWS.

Acute treatment with alcohol affects calcium signaling and contraction associated with apoptosis in vas deferens of periadolescent rats.

Our purpose was to verify if alcohol causes alterations on translocation of Ca(2+) and tension induced by KCl or noradrenaline in vas deferens of periadolescent Wistar rats. A single dose of alcohol (i.p.

Novel features on the regulation by mitochondria of calcium and secretion transients in chromaffin cells challenged with acetylcholine at 37°C.

From experiments performed at room temperature, we know that the buffering of Ca(2+) by mitochondria contributes to the shaping of the bulk cytosolic calcium transient ([Ca(2+)]c) and secretion transients of chromaffin cells stimulated with depolarizing pulses. We also know that the mitochondrial Ca(2+) transporters and the release of catecholamine are faster at 37°C with respect to room temperature. Therefore, we planned this investigation to gain further insight into the contribution of mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering to the shaping of [Ca(2+)]c and catecholamine release transients, using some novel experimental conditions that have not been yet explored namely: (1) perifusion of bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) with saline at 37°C and their repeated challenging with the physiological neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh); (2) separate blockade of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter (mCUP) with Ru360 or the mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (mNCX) with CGP37157; (3) full blockade of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) cycling (mCC) by the simultaneous inhibition of the mCUP and the mNCX.

A comparison of histamine effects on the sympathetic neurotransmission of testicular capsule and rat vas deferens.

Histamine is an important modulatory agent of the sympathetic neurotransmission, but its exact action on the testicular capsule or rat vas deferens is not fully understood. The present study sought to further investigate the functional effects of histamine on the neuronal and exogenous noradrenaline-induced contraction of the testicular capsule and rat vas deferens as well as to evaluate the contractile properties of this drug. The testicular capsule or vas deferens from Wistar rats, 3-4 months old, weighing 300-400 g, was isolated and mounted in organ baths for functional experiments.

Comparative study of autophagy inhibition by 3MA and CQ on Cytarabine‑induced death of leukaemia cells.

Background: As the molecular mechanisms of Cytarabine,one of the most important drugs used in the leukaemia’s treatment, are only partially understood and the role of autophagy on leukaemia development and treatment is only recently being investigated, in this study, by using Chloroquine (CQ) and 3-methyladenine (3MA) as autophagy inhibitors, we aim to evaluate the contribution of an autophagic mechanism to Cytarabine (AraC)-induced death of HL60 leukaemia cells.

Methods: Trypan blue exclusion and AnnexinV/PI assays were used to evaluate HL60 cell death under AraC treatment in the presence or absence of 3MA and CQ. Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments were performed to show the involvement of apoptosis and autophagy protein expressions.

Effects of clonidine in the isolated rat testicular capsule.

The testicular capsule contracts in response to noradrenaline and adrenaline, but the effects of adrenoceptor agonists, as for instance clonidine, had not yet been thoroughly evaluated. The testicular capsule from adult male Wistar rats was isolated and mounted in organ bath and cumulative concentration curves were performed for clonidine and other adrenergic agonists in the absence or presence of α-adrenoceptors antagonists. The order of potency for agonists (pD2) was clonidine=adrenaline>UK 14,304>noradrenaline>phenylephrine>methoxamine.

Differential regulation of atrial contraction by P1 and P2 purinoceptors in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In the normotensive rat atrium, adenosine-5'-triphosphate and uridine-5'-triphosphate exert a biphasic effect consisting of an initial negative inotropic effect (NIE) followed by a subsequent positive inotropic effect (PIE). We comparatively studied these responses in normotensive Wistar rats (NWRs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Compared with NWRs, the NIE responses in the atria were lower and the PIE responses were higher in SHRs.

Increase of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and peripheral sympathetic dysfunction could contribute to hypertension development in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes augments the risk of hypertension. Although several factors have been implicated in the development of such hypertensive state, we designed this study to investigate blood pressure development, the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in blood as well as sympathetic neurotransmission in the vas deferens of diabetic rats. We used streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (60 mg/kg) in order to evaluate the systolic blood pressure (SBP), ACE activity and peripheral sympathetic neurotransmission.