Role of constitutively expressed heme oxygenase-2 in the regulation of guinea pig coronary artery tone.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well known as a relaxing substance in the vasculature, where it is released during the heme oxygenase (HO) reaction. Little is known about the tissue-specific targets of CO in smooth muscles. To date the functional role of CO in the coronary artery remains unclear.

Induction of heme oxygenase in guinea-pig stomach: roles in contraction and in single muscle cell ionic currents.

The role of heme oxygenase reaction products in modulation of stomach fundus excitability was studied. The presence of constitutive heme oxygenase 2 was verified in myenteric ganglia by immunohistochemistry. The role of inducible heme oxygenase isoenzyme was investigated after invivo treatment of animals with CoCl2 (80 mg kg-1 b.