Bothrops jararaca peptide with anti-hypertensive action normalizes endothelium dysfunction involved in physiopathology of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific syndrome characterized by hypertension, proteinuria and edema, is a major cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Bj-PRO-10c, a proline-rich peptide isolated from Bothrops jararaca venom, has been attributed with potent anti-hypertensive effects. Recently, we have shown that Bj-PRO-10c-induced anti-hypertensive actions involved NO production in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Enhancement of the citrulline-nitric oxide cycle in astroglioma cells by the proline-rich peptide-10c from Bothrops jararaca venom.

The biological activity of the proline-rich decapeptide Bj-PRO-10c, a processing product of the C-type natriuretic peptide precursor protein, expressed in the brain and the venom gland of the pit viper Bothrops jararaca, was originally attributed to the inhibition of the somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme activity with subsequent anti-hypertensive effect. However, recent results suggest broader biological activity may also be involved in the cardiovascular effects of this peptide. Here we show that Bj-PRO-10c enhances and sustains the generation of nitric oxide (NO) by regulating argininosuccinate synthase activity and thereby velocity of the citrulline-NO cycle.

Manganese neurotoxic time course is not influenced by L-deprenyl systemic treatment: influence of L-deprenyl in manganese neurotoxic time course.

Unilateral microinjection of manganese into the rat substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) leads to the death of nigral neurons and a decrease in dopamine (DA) within the ipsilateral striatum. L-deprenyl, an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B, appears to protect or rescue dopaminergic nigral neurons from the toxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 1-methyl-4 phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropiridine (MPTP). In this study we aimed to investigate whether L-deprenyl is able to influence the manganese neurotoxic time course.