Augmented oxidative stress and reduced mitochondrial function in ageing goat testis.

Recently, there is a significant increase in the commercial use of goat products. Nevertheless, there are very few reports on the characterization of redox biomarkers and mitochondrial function in the goat testis. Therefore, in this study we studied the markers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial functions in the goat testis during the process of ageing.

Elevated 20-HETE in metabolic syndrome regulates arterial stiffness and systolic hypertension via MMP12 activation.

Arterial stiffness plays a causal role in development of systolic hypertension. 20-hydroxyeicosatetraeonic acid (20-HETE), a cytochrome P450 (CYP450)-derived arachidonic acid metabolite, is known to be elevated in resistance arteries in hypertensive animal models and loosely associated with obesity in humans. However, the role of 20-HETE in the regulation of large artery remodeling in metabolic syndrome has not been investigated.

Comparing the dopaminergic neurotoxic effects of benzylpiperazine and benzoylpiperazine.

Benzylpiperazine has been designated as Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act by Drug Enforcement Administration. Benzylpiperazine is a piperazine derivative, elevates both dopamine and serotonin extracellular levels producing stimulatory and hallucinogenic effects, respectively, similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). However, the comparative neurotoxic effects of Piperazine derivatives (benzylpiperazine and benzoylpiperazine) have not been elucidated.

Multi-Institutional, Multidisciplinary Study of the Impact of Course-Based Research Experiences.

Numerous national reports have called for reforming laboratory courses so that all students experience the research process. In response, many course-based research experiences (CREs) have been developed and implemented. Research on the impact of these CREs suggests that student benefits can be similar to those of traditional apprentice-model research experiences.

Cardiovascular function in male and female JCR:LA-cp rats: effect of high-fat/high-sucrose diet.

Thirty percent of the world population is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. High-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet (Western diet) correlates with metabolic syndrome prevalence. We characterized effects of the HF/HS diet on vascular (arterial stiffness, vasoreactivity, and coronary collateral development) and cardiac (echocardiography) function, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (JCR rats).

Elevated 20-HETE impairs coronary collateral growth in metabolic syndrome via endothelial dysfunction.

Coronary collateral growth (CCG) is impaired in metabolic syndrome (MetS). microRNA-145 (miR-145-Adv) delivery to our rat model of MetS (JCR) completely restored and neutrophil depletion significantly improved CCG. We determined whether low endogenous levels of miR-145 in MetS allowed for elevated production of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), which, in turn, resulted in excessive neutrophil accumulation and endothelial dysfunction leading to impaired CCG.

Diminazene attenuates pulmonary hypertension and improves angiogenic progenitor cell functions in experimental models.

Rationale: Studies have demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays a protective role against lung diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). Recently, an antitrypanosomal drug, diminazene aceturate (DIZE), was shown to exert an "off-target" effect of enhancing the enzymatic activity of ACE2 in vitro.

Objectives: To evaluate the pharmacological actions of DIZE in experimental models of PH.

Targeting the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system: a novel strategic approach to pulmonary hypertensive therapy.

A decade has passed since the discovery of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a component of the ACE2-angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7)-Mas counterregulatory axis of the renin angiotensin system (RAS). ACE2 is considered an endogenous regulator of the vasoconstrictive, proliferative, fibrotic, and proinflammatory effects of the ACE-Ang II-angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) axis. Both animal and clinical studies have emerged to define a role for ACE2 in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Therapeutic implications of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular diseases.

The recent discovery of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the Mas receptor has resulted in the recognition of a counterregulatory, ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas, axis within the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Any disturbance in the balance between this and the ACE/AngII/AT receptor axis is suggested to lead to the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, activation of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis has been an obvious target for CVD therapeutics.

Prevention of pulmonary hypertension by Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene transfer.

In spite of recent advancements in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, successful control has yet to be accomplished. The abundant presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the lungs and its impressive effect in the prevention of acute lung injury led us to test the hypothesis that pulmonary overexpression of this enzyme could produce beneficial outcomes against pulmonary hypertension. Monocrotaline (MCT) treatment of mice for 8 weeks resulted in significant increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricle:left ventricle plus septal weight ratio, and muscularization of pulmonary vessels.