Endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor potentiates the excitability of presympathetic neurons in paraventricular nucleus via activation of its receptor 1 in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

It is well established that increased excitability of the presympathetic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) during hypertension leads to heightened sympathetic outflow and hypertension. However, the mechanism underlying the overactivation of PVN presympathetic neurons remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on the excitability of presympathetic neurons in PVN using Western blot, arterial blood pressure (ABP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) recording, CRISPR/Cas9 technique and patch-clamp technique.

CIHH protects the heart against left ventricular remodelling and myocardial fibrosis by balancing the renin-angiotensin system in SHR.

Aim: The aim of our study was to clarify the cardioprotection of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) and the underlying mechanism in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Main Methods: Adult male rats were divided into normal blood pressure Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) control (WKY-CON), WKY rats with CIHH treatment (WKY-CIHH), SHR control (SHR-CON) and SHR with CIHH treatment (SHR-CIHH) groups. SHR-CIHH and WKY-CIHH rats were subjected to hypobaric hypoxia simulating 4000-m altitude for 35 days, 5 h per day.

Sulfur dioxide reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats.

Introduction: Recent studies suggested that sulfur dioxide (SO2) can be produced endogenously by pulmonary vessels and attenuate acute lung injury (ALI) with vasorelaxant effects. This study was conducted to determine whether SO2 can inhibit lung inflammation and relax pulmonary arteries via inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

Material And Methods: Forty-eight adult male Sprague Dawley rats (250~300 g) were randomly divided into six treatment groups: control (n = 8), control + SO2 (n = 8), control + L-aspartic acid--hydroxamate (HDX) (n = 8), LPS (n = 8), LPS + SO2 (n = 8) and LPS + HDX (n = 8).

Downregulation of Orexin Receptor in Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Decreases Blood Pressure in Obese Zucker Rats.

Background Orexin and its receptors are critical regulating sympathetic vasomotor tone under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Orexin receptor 1 ( OXR 1) is upregulated in the paraventricular nucleus ( PVN ) in the hypothalamus and contributes to increased sympathetic outflow in obese Zucker rats ( OZR s). We hypothesized that silencing OXR 1 expression in the PVN decreases heightened blood pressure and elevated sympathetic outflow in OZR s.

Impaired Hypothalamic Regulation of Sympathetic Outflow in Primary Hypertension.

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a crucial region involved in maintaining homeostasis through the regulation of cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and other functions. The PVN provides a dominant source of excitatory drive to the sympathetic outflow through innervation of the brainstem and spinal cord in hypertension. We discuss current findings on the role of the PVN in the regulation of sympathetic output in both normotensive and hypertensive conditions.

[Mental health of prostatitis patients in China: A statistical analysis of literature].

Objective: To know the basic status of researches on the mental health of prostatitis patients in China by statistical analysis of the literature published in the past two decades and provide some reference for such studies.

Methods: Using the bibliometrics method, we performed statistical analyses on the publication years, journals, and authors of the articles published in the core journals concerning the mental health of prostatitis patients in China as well as on the topics of the identified studies using their titles, key words and abstracts.

Results: Totally, 226 related studies were identified, of which 31 (by 29 authors) were published in the Chinese core journals.

The cardioprotective effect of naringenin against ischemia-reperfusion injury through activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channel in rat.

Naringenin (Nari) has antioxidative and anti-atherosclerosis effects, and activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) can offer cardiac protection. We hypothesized that Nari protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury through activation of KATP. Isolated hearts from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats experienced a 30-min global ischemia followed by 60-min reperfusion (120 min for the infarct size determination).

Anti-diabetes effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia through improving liver insulin resistance in diabetic rats.

Aim: Cumulating evidence demonstrated that chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) had beneficial effects on the body. The present study was to investigate the anti-diabetes effect of CIHH in type-2 diabetic rats for the first time.

Main Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (CON), diabetes mellitus group (DM, induced by high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin), CIHH treatment group (CIHH, simulated 5000-m altitude, 6h per day for 28 days), and diabetes mellitus plus CIHH treatment group (DM+CIHH).

Enhanced vasorelaxation effect of endogenous anandamide on thoracic aorta in renal vascular hypertension rats.

Emerging evidence has indicated that anandamide (AEA) is able to stimulate vasorelaxation in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Yet it remains unknown whether AEA modulates vasomotion of the aorta in renovascular hypertensive (RVH) rats. The aim of present study is to explore the effect of AEA on the relaxation of thoracic aortas in two-kidney one-clip (2K1C)-induced RVH rats.

K(ATP) channels and MPTP are involved in the cardioprotection bestowed by chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in the developing rat.

The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the cardioprotection bestowed by chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in developing rats. Neonatal male rats were subjected to CIHH treatments that simulated an altitude of 3000 m a.s.

The protective effects of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia pretreatment against collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Objective: To explore the immunological mechanisms underlying the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) pretreatment on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rat.

Methods: Fifty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experiment. Arthritis in CIA rats (n=18) was induced by injection of collagen.

Inhibition of carotid sinus baroreflex in neonatal rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) facilitates carotid sinus baroreflex (CSB) in adult rats, but the effect of CIHH on CSB in young rats is not known. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of CIHH on CSB in the young rat treated with CIHH from neonatal age, and the role of nitric oxide (NO) and Ca²⁺ in the effect of CIHH. Neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: 42-day CIHH treatment group (CIHH42), 56-day CIHH treatment group (CIHH56), and an age-matched control group (control).

The anti-arrhythmic effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in rats with metabolic syndrome induced with fructose.

This study investigated the anti-arrhythmic effects from chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) and the cellular mechanisms in rats with metabolic syndrome. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed among the control, fructose-fed (fed with 10% fructose in the drinking water to induce metabolic syndrome), CIHH (42 days of hypobaric hypoxia treatment simulating an altitude of 5000 m a.s.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-induced calcium overload in heart via Na/Ca2+ exchanger in developing rats.

Background/aims: Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study investigated the calcium homeostasis mechanism and the role of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) in the cardiac protective effect of CIHH in developing rats.

Methods: Neonatal male rats received CIHH treatment or no treatment (control) in a hypobaric chamber simulating 3000-meter altitude for 42 days.

[The effect of emodin on the contraction of isolated jejunum smooth muscle of rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of emodin on the contraction of jejunum smooth muscle and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 6): control group, emodin group (1, 5, 10, 20 micromol/L), propranolol (PRO) plus emodin group, glibenclamide (GLI) plus emodin group, NG-Nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) plus emodin group, calcium free control group and calcium free emodin group. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the small intestine was isolated.

Opioid receptors mediate enhancement of ACh-induced aorta relaxation by chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of opioid receptors in the vasorelaxation effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) in thoracic aorta rings and the underlying mechanism in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: CIHH treatment group and control group. The rats in CIHH group were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber (simulated 5 000 m altitude) for 28 days, 6 h per day.

Sulfur dioxide attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury via enhancing polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis.

Aim: We speculated that the enhanced apoptosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) might be responsible for the inhibition of PMN infiltration in the lung. This study was designed to investigate the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) on PMN apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, which may mediate the protective action of SO(2) on pulmonary diseases.

Methods: Acute lung injury (ALI) was induced by intratracheally instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 μg/100 g, in 200 μL saline) in adult male SD rats.

Effects of anandamide on potassium channels in rat ventricular myocytes: a suppression of I(to) and augmentation of K(ATP) channels.

Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that has antiarrhythmic effects through inhibition of L-type Ca(2+) channels in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we investigated the electrophysiological effects of anandamide on K(+) channels in rat ventricular myocytes. Whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record K(+) currents, including transient outward potassium current (I(to)), steady-state outward potassium current (I(ss)), inward rectifier potassium current (I(K1)), and ATP-sensitive potassium current (I(KATP)) in isolated rat cardiac ventricular myocytes.

[Effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on polymorphonuclear neutrophil accumulation in acute lung injury rat induced by lipopolysaccharides and its mechanism].

Objective: To study the effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor, on LPS-induced polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) accumulation and its mechanism.

Methods: The animal model of acute lung injury (ALI) caused by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Adult male Spraguce-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 - 12 per group): Control group (0.

[Influences of Panax notoginsenosid on spontaneous contraction of small intestine smooth muscle of rabbits in vitro].

Objective: To observe the influences of Panax notoginsenosid(a compound of Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the spontaneous contraction of small intestine smooth muscle of rabbits in vitro and explore the mechanism.

Methods: The influences of Panax notoginsenosid on the spontaneous contraction of small intestine in intacted rabbits(male or female) after the isothermal perfuse of small intestine in vitro were observed. Bay K8644 and nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) were added to the normal Tyrode's solution respectively before Panax notoginsenosid.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia decreases beta-adrenoceptor activity in right ventricular papillary muscle.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) has an effective cardiac protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully known. It has been shown that blockade of beta-adrenergic receptor exerts anti-arrhythmic action and improves cardiac remodeling in ischemic myocardium.

Electrophysiological effects of anandamide on rat myocardium.

Background And Purpose: The endocannabinoid, anandamide, has anti-arrhythmic effects. The aim of the present study was to explore the electrophysiological effects of anandamide on rat myocardium.

Experimental Approach: Evoked action potentials (APs) were recorded using intracellular recording technique in rat cardiac papillary muscles.