[Hyperglycemia inhibited taurine transport and taurine transporter gene expression in cultured rat cardiomyocytes].

Aim: To investigate the alterations of taurine transport, and taurine transporter (TAUT) mRNA by hyperglycemia in cultured rat cardiomyocytes.

Methods: 3H-taurine measured the amount of taurine uptake. TAUT mRNA consents were measured using quantitative RT-PCR.

[Preventive effect of endothelin-1 pretreatment on hypoxia-induced injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes].

This study was designed to observe the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) pretreatment on hypoxia-induced injury and changes in [Ca(2+)](i) in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the supernatant were determined in the cultured cardiomyocytes subjected to a 12-h hypoxia induced by a 3% O(2)-5% CO(2) atmosphere at 37 with or without ET-1 pretreatment. [Ca(2+)](i) was measured with Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probe fluo-3/AM under a laser scanning confocal microscope.

The regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats.

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is an important pathophysiological process. The mechanism of HPH is still not fully understood. Recent studies showed that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) could relax vascular smooth muscles and inhibit the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

[Clinical study of changes of urotensin II in patients with congestive heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the changes of plasma urotensinII (UII) levels in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) of different severities and their clinical implications.

Methods: Plasma UII was determined by radioimmunoassay in 45 patients with CHF and 20 healthies control subjects. In all the subjects, the left ventricular fraction (LVEF) and the ratio of E/A were measured by echocardiography.

[FAK antisense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell migration and adhesion mediated by FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway].

Aim: To study the effects of FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway and FAK antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and adhesion stimulated by fibronectin (FN).

Methods: Migration and adhesion of cultured SMCs were stimulated by different concentrations of FN, FAK, ERK1/2. And their phosphorylation were detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot.

[Impact of human urotensin II on the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells cycle in normoxic/hypoxic rats].

Aim: To investigate the impact of human urotensin II (hUII) on pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMCs) cycle in vitro.

Methods: PASMCs dissected from Wistar rats were cultured in vitro, and incubated with series of concentrations of hUII (10(-7) mol/L, 10(-8) mol/L, 10(-9) mol/L) for 12 hours under normoxia or hypoxia condition, in order to analyze cell cycle progression and sub-G1 of PASMCs by using flow cytometric analysis stain of propidium iodide, which represented the proliferative and apoptotic changes in PASMCs.

Results: The study showed a dose-dependent effect of hUII on PASMCs proliferation, which reflected the increase both in percentage of S phase of cell cycle and proliferative index (PI).

Dysfunction of myocardial taurine transport and effect of taurine supplement in rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.

Aim: To study the alterations of myocardial taurine transport function, taurine transporter (TAUT), and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) mRNA as well as effect of exogenous taurine in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiomegaly.

Methods: [3H]-Taurine uptake and release on myocardium were determined. Binding sites of [3H]-taurine for myocardial sarcolemma were measured.

Effect of ghrelin on septic shock in rats.

Aim: To study the role of ghrelin in the late stage of septic shock in rats.

Methods: The rat model of septic shock was made by caecal ligation and perforation. At the time of operation ghrelin 10 nmol/kg was infused through femoral vein followed by a sc injection at 8 h after operation.

Involvement of I(1)-imidazoline receptors in baroreceptor reflex in the caudal ventrolateral medulla of rats.

There is ample evidence to show the existence of center I(1)-imidazoline receptors that are involved in the regulation of cardiovascular activities. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible role of I(1)-imidazoline receptors and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors within the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) in mediating the baroreceptor reflex in anesthetized rats. Unilateral microinjection of idazoxan (2 nmol in 50 nl), a mixed antagonist of I(1)-imidazoline receptors and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, into the CVLM significantly (P<0.

Changes of heme oxygenase-carbon monoxide system in vascular calcification in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the change in heme oxygenase (HO)-carbon monoxide (CO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in vascular calcification. Vascular calcification model was established in rats by using vitamin D(3) and nicotine. Vascular calcium content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, HO activity, HbCO formation and content of cGMP in vessels were measured.

[A new technique for transmyocardial laser revascularization].

Objective: To investigate the effects of traditional transmyocardial laser revascularization (T-TMLR) and non-transmural myocardial laser revascularization (N-TMLR) on myocardial ischemic and necrotic areas and angiogenesis.

Methods: In 30 rabbit models, Evans blue -TTC staining and HE staining were used for measuring ischemic and necrotic areas and observing angiogenesis.

Results: The ischemic areas in the MI + T-TMLR (30.

Esophageal dysmotility and the change of synthesis of nitric oxide in a feline esophagitis model.

The present study explores the changes of nitric oxide synthesis and esophageal dysmotility in a feline model of esophagitis. Perfusion of the esophagus with acid produced inflammatory changes of esophageal mucosa. The esophageal motility was measured before and after the perfusion.

The modulating effect of L-arginine on collagen metabolism of pulmonary artery in pulmonary hypertension induced by a left-to-right shunt.

Objective: To explore the modulating effect of L-arginine on collagen metabolism of pulmonary artery in rats with high pulmonary blood flow-induced pulmonary hypertension and its molecular mechanism.

Method: Eighteen rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 rats: shunt group (pulmonary hypertension was established with an abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava shunting), shunt + L-Arg group (L-arginine, 1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) was given into the stomachs of rats for weeks after shunting), and control group. After 11 weeks of experiment, the pulmonary hemodynamics were studied, the contents of collagen I and collagen III expressions were detected by immunohistochemical assay.

Dysfunction of myocardial and vascular taurine transport in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The alterations of taurine transport and the expression of taurine transporter (TAUT) mRNA in myocardium and aortic wall were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. It was demonstrated that plasma taurine concentration and taurine release from myocardium and aortic wall in SHR were higher than those in WKY rats, whereas taurine content, taurine uptake and TAUT mRNA in myocardium and aortic wall of SHR were lower than those of WKY rats. In SHR, the maximal velocity (V(max)) of taurine transportation in myocardium and aortic wall was lower by 24% (P<0.

Changes of plasma adrenomedullin and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide concentrations in patients with heart failure.

Objective: To study the changes in plasma adrenomedullin (ADM) and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) concentrations and their clinical significance in the pathological process of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Plasma ADM and PAMP concentrations in 45 patients with CHF (according to the functional classification of New York Heart Association, NYHA) and 20 control subjects were measured by specific radioimmunoassay.

Results: Plasma ADM concentrations were 51.

Regulative effect of human urotensin-II on cardiovascular system.

The author reviewed the structure of human urotensin-II and its receptor, also with regard to its distribution and biological effect on cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular effects of urotensin II in different brain areas.

It has been shown that intracerebroventricular injection of urotensin II (UII)-induced hypotensive and bradycardiac responses. Here, we tested the cardiovascular roles of UII in different brain areas by microinjection of UII into the A1 and A2 areas (noradrenergic cells found in the lower part of the medulla that have been designated either A1 or A2 areas), the paraventricular and the arcuate nucleus. In urethane-anaesthetized rats, we observed that: (1) microinjection of UII into the A1 area induced dose-related depressor and bradycardiac responses; (2) mean arterial blood pressure (mABP) and heart rate (HR) did not change significantly after microinjection of UII into the A2 area; and (3) significant increases in mABP and HR were induced after microinjection of 10 pmol UII into either the paraventricular or arcuate nucleus.

[Changes in adrenomedullin and receptor activity-modifying protein 2 mRNA in myocardium and vessels during L-NNA-induced hypertension in rats].

To explore the changes in adrenomedullin (ADM) and receptor activity-modifying protein 2 (RAMP2) mRNA in myocardium and vessels in hypertension, a hypertensive rat model was prepared by administering L-NNA. Contents of ADM in plasma, myocardium and vessels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and vessels were determined by competitive quantitative RT-PCR.

[Effect of urotensin II on the nitric oxide production in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes].

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urotensin II (U II) on the nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NO content in cardiomyocytes were measured.

[Focal adhesion kinase and mitogen activated protein kinase are involved in vascular smooth muscle cells migration and proliferation stimulated by fibronectin].

Objective: To study the roles of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mitogen activated protein kinase (p42/44MAPK) in the process of migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by fibronectin (FN).

Methods: VSMCs were taken from the tunica media of SD rats and cultured. Migration and proliferation of cultured VSMCs were stimulated by different concentrations of FN; FAK, p42/44MAPK and their phosphorylation were detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot.

Activated focal adhesion kinase involved in adhesion and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by fibronectin.

Objective: To study the effects of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) adhesion and migration stimulated by fibronectin.

Methods: Adhesion and migration of cultured SMCs were stimulated by different concentrations of fibronectin (FN), FAK and its phosphorylation were detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. FAK antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were transfected into SMCs by cationic lipid to investigate its modulatory effects on tyrosine phosphorylation.

Group II Phospholipase A(2) Activity and Its Molecular Regulation in Rat Heart during Sepsis.

Changes of activity and content of myocardial group II phospholipase A(2) and its mRNA transcription and stability during rat sepsis were investigated. Results showed that, compared with control group,myocardial group II phospholipase A(2) activity in early and late sepsis decreased by 25.0%(P<0.

Probucol inhibits oxidized-low density lipoprotein-induced adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism by which probucol (PBC) affected adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: Effects of PBC on expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-selectin, a nd E-selectin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of PBC were compared with that of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin, and E-select in on adhesion induced by oxidized-low density lipoprotein(Ox-LDL).