The role of nitric oxide on the responses of curcumin-treated rat aorta.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) on the vascular responses of curcumin-treated rats.

Methods: The experimental groups included the control and curcumin-treated (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.

Beneficial effects of levosimendan on cerebral vasospasm induced by subarachnoid haemorrhage: an experimental study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of levosimendan to prevent cerebral vasospasm in a rabbit model of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Animals And Methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into three groups randomly. SAH was induced by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna.

The mechanisms of the direct vascular effects of fentanyl on isolated human saphenous veins in vitro.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of the direct effects of fentanyl on human veins in vitro.

Design: In vitro, prospective with repeated measures.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Role of the endothelium on the response to adrenoceptor agonists of rabbit aorta during cooling.

The role of the endothelium in the effects of cooling on the response to alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists of rabbit aorta was studied. The contractions induced by clonidine (10(-9)-3 x 10(-4) M) and xylazine (10(-7)-10(-3) M) but not phenylephrine (10(-9)-3 x 10(-4) M) and methoxamine (10(-9)-3 x 10(-4) M) were enhanced in endothelium-denuded or N(G)-nitro-L arginine methyl- ester (L-NAME) (10(-5) M) pretreated rabbit aorta. The sensitivity, but not the maximal response, of both alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists was significantly lower at 28 degrees C (cooling) than at 37 degrees C.