Lipoic acid attenuates the expression of adhesion molecules by increasing endothelial nitric-oxide synthase activity.

We tried to study the possible effects of lipoic acid (LA) on adhesion molecule expression and its underlying mechanism in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity were determined after endothelial cells were exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of LA. Coincubation of endothelial cells with high glucose for 24 h resulted in a significant increase of monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and the expression of ICAM-1 (P < 0.

Protective roles of quercetin in acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) is associated with an intense inflammatory reaction, which may lead to myocyte injury. In this study, we investigated the effect of quercetin, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase on ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts. Rat models of MI/R were induced by coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion, treatment of rats with quercetin (1.

Nitric oxide modulated the expression of DREAM/calsenilin/KChIP3 in inflammatory pain of rats.

Downstream regulatory element antagonistic modulator (DREAM) is a critical transcriptional repressor for pain modulation. The role of nitric oxide (NO) plays in modulating DREAM pain pathway in the periphery is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of the NO in modulation of the expression of DREAM in formalin-induced rat inflammatory pain models.

[Inhibition of N/OFQ on transient outward potassium currents in acutely dissociated rat cerebral parietal cortical neurons].

Aim: To study the effect of Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) on transient outward potassium (I(A)) in rat cerebral cortical neurons and its kinetic mechanism.

Methods: The effects of N/OFQ on I(A) were investigated by using the whole cell patch clamp technique in acutely dissociated rat cerebral cortical neurons.

Results: (1) At the voltage of + 60 mV, 0.

KB-R7943 inhibits high glucose-induced endothelial ICAM-1 expression and monocyte-endothelial adhesion.

Hyperglycemia is the major cause of diabetic angiopathy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of KB-R7943, an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) on cell growth and function of human "diabetic" endothelial cells (EC). Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and NCX activity were determined after EC were exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of KB-R7943.

Sarpogrelate protects against high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of sarpogrelate hydrochloride on impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) induced by high glucose in isolated rat aorta. Both acetylcholine-induced EDR and sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent relaxation (EIR) were measured after the rings were exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of sarpogrelate hydrochloride. Co-incubation of aortic rings with high glucose for 24h resulted in a significant inhibition of EDR, but had no effects on EIR.

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor ameliorates impaired endothelium-dependent Na+ relaxation induced by high glucose in rat aorta.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, on impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) induced by high glucose in rat isolated aorta. Both acetylcholine (ACh)-induced EDR and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation (EIR) were measured after aortic rings had been exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of KB-R7943. Coincubation of aortic rings with high glucose (25 mmol/L) for 24 h resulted in a significant inhibition of EDR, but had no effect on EIR.

[Effects of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the fertilizing capacity of human sperm and their mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-gamma) on the sperm acrosin activity and the rate of acrosome reaction and to probe into their mechanisms.

Methods: Thirty-six nearly normal semen samples were treated with IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha after isolated by 75% Percoll. The sperm acrosin activity was tested by the method of BAEE/ADH Unity, the rate of acrosome reaction observed by Triple-stain technique, the NO concentration measured by HPLC and the activities of Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase and SOD assayed by kit method.

[Inhibition of ACh on the delayed rectifier-like potassium current in acutely isolated cerebral cortical neurons of rats].

The modulation of ACh on delayed rectifier-like potassium currents (I(K)) was studied in freshly dissociated cerebral cortical neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Wistar rats between 10- and 14-day old of both sexes were used. After rats were decapitated, their brains were quickly removed, iced, and then manually cut into 400 mum slices.