Age- and Urothelium-related Changes in Hydrogen Sulfide-induced Responses in Mouse Bladder.

The alterations in bladder function are associated with aging. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous neurotransmitter that is synthesized in the urinary bladder and is suggested to regulate bladder smooth muscle tone. The effects of age and urothelium on the L-cysteine/H2S-induced relaxant responses were investigated in young (3-4 months) and aged (23-24 months) mice.

Evaluation of zma-miR408 and its target genes function on maize (Zea mays) leaf growth response to cold stress by VIGS-based STTM approach.

miR408 is a conserved plant miRNA family that is known to regulate genes involved in copper metabolism. However, the function of miR408 in maize leaf growth regulation under cold stress isn't defined. In this study, endogenous maize miR408 was transiently silenced by using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) combined with short tandem target mimic (STTM) approaches.

Seed bio-priming enhanced salt stress tolerance of maize ( L.) seedlings by regulating the antioxidant system and miRNA expression.

Maize () is moderately sensitive to salt stress. Therefore, increasing salinity in soil causes the arrestment of physiological processes and retention of growth and development, consequently leading to yield loss. Although many strategies have been launched to improve salt stress tolerance, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are considered the most promising approach due to being more environmentally friendly and agronomically sustainable than chemicals.

Nicotiana benthamiana as a model plant host for Fusarium verticillioides to investigate RNA interference, cross-kingdom RNA exchange, and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network.

Background: Fusarium verticillioides is among the most devastating fungal pathogen of cereals. Therefore, it is crucial to employ effective and long-term strategies for managing F. verticillioides for sustainable agriculture.

The role of rhoA/rho-kinase and PKC in the inhibitory effect of L-cysteine/HS pathway on the carbachol-mediated contraction of mouse bladder smooth muscle.

We investigated the role of RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) and PKC in the inhibitory effect of L-cysteine/hydrogen sulfide (HS) pathway on the carbachol-mediated contraction of mouse bladder smooth muscle. Carbachol (10-10 M) induced a concentration-dependent contraction in bladder tissues. L-cysteine (HS precursor; 10 M) and exogenous HS (NaHS; 10 M) reduced the contractions evoked by carbachol by ~ 49 and ~ 53%, respectively, relative to control.

The role of l-cysteine/Hydrogen sulfide pathway on β-Adrenoceptor- induced relaxation in mouse gastric fundus.

In this study, we investigated the possible role of the l-cysteine/hydrogen sulfide pathway in β-adrenoceptors-mediated relaxation in isolated mouse gastric fundus tissue. l-cysteine (endogenous HS; 10-10 M), sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS; exogenous HS; 10-10 M), selective β-adrenoceptors agonist BRL 37344 (10-10 M) and non-selective β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (10-10 M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation in mouse gastric fundus. The non-selective β-adrenoceptors antagonist propranolol (10 M) inhibited the relaxant response to isoprenaline but not to BRL 37344.

Elucidating the regulatory roles of microRNAs in maize (Zea mays L.) leaf growth response to chilling stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: miRNAs control leaf size of maize crop during chilling stress tolerance by regulating developmentally important transcriptional factors and sustaining redox homeostasis of cells. Chilling temperature (0-15 °C) is a major constraint for the cultivation of maize (Zea mays) which inhibits the early growth of maize leading to reduction in leaf size. Growth and development take place in meristem, elongation, and mature zones that are linearly located along the leaf base to tip.

The Relaxant Mechanisms of Hydrogen Sulfide in Corpus Cavernosum.

In several animal and human studies, the contribution of the endothelium, nitric oxide/soluble guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway, adenylyl cyclase, phosphodiesterase (PDE), potassium (K) channels, L-type calcium channels, Na-K-ATPase, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, and cyclooxygenase (COX)/arachidonic acid cascade on the relaxant mechanism of L-cysteine/HS pathway in corpus cavernosum has been investigated. In this chapter the relaxant mechanisms of HS in corpus cavernosum is discussed with data available in the current relevant literature. Also, in vitro experimental procedure for mice corpus cavernosum which used to investigate the relaxant effect of HS is given in detail.

Involvement of RhoA/Rho-kinase in l-cysteine/HS pathway-induced inhibition of agonist-mediated corpus cavernosal smooth muscle contraction.

Rho-kinase activity is a key regulator in the maintenance of corporal vasoconstriction and penile detumescense. Also, importance of l-cysteine/HS pathway in erectile tissue has been shown; however it is currently unknown the role RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in HS-induced inhibition in cavernosal tissue. We investigated the role of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the inhibitory effect of l-cysteine and NaHS, as endogenous and exogenous HS, respectively, on phenylephrine-induced contractions of mouse cavernosal strips.

Identification and expression profiles of putative leaf growth related microRNAs in maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid ADA313.

Throughout the plant life cycle, growth of new leaves is governed by cell division and cell expansion. During steady-state growth of the maize leaf, these processes are spatially separated between the meristem zone, consisting of dividing cells at the leaf base, the elongation zone, consisting of expanding cells moving upwards from the meristem, and the mature zone containing differentiated mature cells. Increased leaf size can be achieved through increasing cell number or cell size, for example by manipulating the genes controlling the transition between those zones.

The interaction of l-cysteine/HS pathway and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in mouse corpus cavernosum.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible interaction of l-cysteine/HS pathway and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the mouse corpus cavernosum (CC). l-cysteine (endogenous HS substrate; 10-10 M), sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS; exogenous HS; 10-10 M) and acetylcholine (10-10 M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation in isolated mouse CC tissues. Relaxations to endogenous and exogenous HS were reduced by non-selective mAChR antagonist atropine (5 × 10 M), selective M mAChR antagonist pirenzepine (5 × 10 M) and selective M mAChR antagonist 4-DAMP (10 M) but not by selective M mAChR antagonist AF-DX 116 (10 M).

The role of arachidonic acid/cyclooxygenase cascade, phosphodiesterase IV and Rho-kinase in HS-induced relaxation in the mouse corpus cavernosum.

Background: Penile corpus cavernosum is an extremely vascularized tissue and cavernosal smooth muscle tone is regulated by the balance between contractile and relaxant factor. We investigated the possible role of arachidonic acid/cyclooxygenase cascade, phosphodiesterase IV (PDEIV) and Rho-kinase in exogenous hydrogen sulfide (HS)-induced relaxation in mouse corpus cavernosum.

Methods: The relaxant response to HS (NaHS as exogenous HS; 1-1000μM) were obtained in isolated mouse corpus cavernosum tissues which pre-contracted by phenylephrine (5μM).

Characterization of relaxant mechanism of H2 S in mouse corpus cavernosum.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of H2 S-induced relaxation in mouse corpus cavernosal tissue. l-cysteine (10(-6) × 10(-3) mol/L) and exogenous H2 S (NaHS; 10(-6) to 10(-3) mol/L) induced concentration-dependent relaxation. l-cysteine-induced relaxations was reduced by d,l-propargylglycine, a cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE) inhibitor but not influenced by aminooxyacetic acid, a cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) inhibitor.

The effect of sub-chronic systemic ethanol treatment on corpus cavernosal smooth muscle contraction: the contribution of RhoA/Rho-kinase.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the sub-chronic systemic ethanol exposure has direct effect on cavernosal smooth muscle contractions induced by KCl (depolarizing) and phenylephrine (α1-receptor agonist), and the possible involvement of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway. Sub-chronic systemic ethanol was applied to mice with inhalation route for 14 days. The blood levels in ethanol-treated mice averaged 121.

Effects of ethanol on RhoA/Rho-kinase-mediated calcium sensitization in mouse lung parenchymal tissue.

Calcium sensitization by the RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway contributes to the contraction in smooth muscle. Contractile stimuli can sensitize myosin to Ca(2+) by activating RhoA/Rho-kinase that inhibits myosin light chain phosphatase activity. The present study was aimed at investigating the possible involvement of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in contractile responses to agonist (phenylephrine) and depolarizing (KCl) of mouse lung parenchymal tissues.

Physical mapping integrated with syntenic analysis to characterize the gene space of the long arm of wheat chromosome 1A.

Background: Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide and its production faces pressing challenges, the solution of which demands genome information. However, the large, highly repetitive hexaploid wheat genome has been considered intractable to standard sequencing approaches.

The effects of thiol modulators on nitrergic nerve- and S-nitrosothiols-induced relaxation in duodenum.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether thiols are involved in the nitrergic neurotransmission in mouse duodenum.

Methods: The effects of thiol-modulating agents, ethacrynic acid (100 μM), a non-specific sulfhydryl alkylator, and diamide (100 μM), an alkylating agent that oxidizes protein sulfhydryl groups and depletes intracellular glutathione, on relaxations to nitrergic stimulation (electrical field stimulation, EFS;10 Hz, 25 V, 1 ms, 15 s-train), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO; 5 μM), S-nitroso-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP; 5 μM), and S-nitrosocysteine (CysNO; 10 μM) were investigated. Moreover, the effects of buthionine sulfoximine (100 μM), an inhibitor of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and sulfobromophthalein (100 μM), an inhibitor of glutathione-S-transferase, were studied on relaxant responses to EFS and S-nitrosothiols in mouse duodenum.

Comparative study of the quercetin, ascorbic acid, glutathione and superoxide dismutase for nitric oxide protecting effects in mouse gastric fundus.

The aim of this work was to compare the preventing capacity of quercetin with Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), ascorbic acid and glutathione on nitric oxide (NO)-induced relaxation in mouse gastric fundus. Furthermore, the effects of the quercetin on the tissue level of total oxidant and antioxidant was investigated. Nitrergic stimulation (4Hz, 25V, 0.

Rosuvastatin prevents angiotensin II-induced vascular changes by inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase and COX-1.

Background And Purpose: NAD(P)H oxidase and COX-1 participate in vascular damage induced by angiotensin II. We investigated the effect of rosuvastatin on endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodelling, changes in extracellular matrix components and mechanical properties of small mesenteric arteries from angiotensin II-infused rats.

Experimental Approach: Male rats received angiotensin II (120 ng·kg⁻¹ ·min⁻¹ , subcutaneously) for 14 days with or without rosuvastatin (10 mg·kg⁻¹ ·day⁻¹ , oral gavage) or vehicle.

Resistance artery mechanics and composition in angiotensin II-infused mice: effects of cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 on vascular alterations in structure, mechanics, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components induced by angiotensin (Ang) II in mesenteric arteries from wild-type (WT) and COX-1 knockout (COX-1(-/-)) mice.

Methods And Results: Animals were infused with vehicle or Ang II (400 ng/kg/min, s.c.

Effects of ethanol treatment on the neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in the mouse.

The relaxation of cavernous smooth muscle is critical for inducing and maintaining a penile erection. The neurogenic- and endothelium-dependent relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and the degenerative effect of subacute ethanol treatment on the endothelial cells of corpus cavernosum was investigated in mice. In the cavernous strips contracted with phenylephrine, electrical field stimulation (EFS), acetylcholine and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) induced relaxations in the control group.