Mitochondrial dysfunction has been shown to contribute to the pathophysiology of airway diseases. Therefore, mitochondria are targeted in the development of new therapeutic approaches. Hydrogen sulfide (HS) has been shown to be involved in the pathophysiological processes of airway inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe contribution of the endocannabinoid system to both physiology and pathological processes in the respiratory system makes it a promising target for inflammatory airway diseases. Previously, we have shown that increasing the tissue endocannabinoid levels by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors can prevent airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. In this study, the changes in the levels of major metabolites of endocannabinoids by systemic and local FAAH or MAGL inhibitor treatments were evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe aimed to investigate and compare the effects of rapid (NaHS) and slow (GYY4137 and AP39) hydrogen sulfide (H S) releasing donors on LPS-induced tracheal hyperreactivity and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in lung tissues of mice. Tissues were isolated from male BALB/c mice and incubated with LPS (10 µg/mL) in tissue culture. The subgroups were incubated with NaHS, GYY4137 and mitochondria-targeted donor AP39.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system significantly contributes to the airway inflammation. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) are two main enzymes responsible for the metabolism of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachydonoyl glycerol (2-AG), respectively. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of local and systemic FAAH and MAGL inhibitor treatments in experimental airway inflammation and tracheal hyperreactivity in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterstitial cystitis is a syndrome characterized by detrusor overactivity and chronic inflammation of the bladder. The mechanisms responsible for the altered smooth muscle contractility remain poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of intracellular signalling pathways in carbachol-induced detrusor contraction in a rat model of interstitial cystitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterstitial cystitis is a chronic disease characterized by lower abdominal pain and some nonspecific symptoms including an increase in urinary frequency and urgency. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that controls smooth muscle tone via G-protein coupled receptors (S1P receptors). S1P production is known to take place both in physiological states and some pathological situations, such as in overactive bladder syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have investigated the effects of slow (GYY4137) and rapid (NaHS) hydrogen sulfide (HS) releasing donors in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced airway inflammation in mice. LPS (0.1 mg/ml) in 60 μl PBS was administered by the intranasal (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study reports a microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of twelve novel tricyclic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in which dimethyl-substituted cyclohexane and / or tetrahydrothiophene rings are fused to the DHP ring. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by spectral methods and elemental analysis. The potassium channel opening effects of the compounds were determined on rat mesenteric arteries and urinary bladders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRespir Physiol Neurobiol
September 2016
Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects and can produce bronchodilation in the airways. We have investigated the effects of cannabinoids on tracheal hyperreactivity and airway inflammation in dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced experimental non-atopic asthma in mice. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced contraction response was enhanced while carbachol- and electrical field stimulation-induced contractions, and isoprenaline-induced relaxation responses were remained unchanged in DNFB group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAging alters bladder functions where a decrease in filling, storage and emptying is observed. These changes cause urinary incontinence, especially in women. The aim of this study is to examine how aging affects the intracellular calcium movements due to agonist-induced contractions in permeabilized female rat bladder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe leaves and flowers of Verbascum species are used to treat respiratory disorders, haemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, and wounds as well as for the treatment of eczema and other types of inflammatory skin conditions in traditional Turkish medicine. We examined the effect of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Verbascum latisepalum Hub.-Mor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
May 2011
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous gas which has potent relaxant effect in vascular and nonvascular smooth muscles. In the present study, we have investigated how streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes affected the relaxant effect of H₂S in rat isolated thoracic aorta and mesenteric and pulmonary arteries. Diabetes was induced by IV injection of STZ (35 mg/kg).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) is an endogenous mediator producing a potent relaxation response in vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles. While ATP-sensitive potassium channels are mainly involved in this relaxant effect in vascular smooth muscle, the mechanism in other smooth muscles has not been revealed yet. In the present study, we investigated how H(2)S relaxes non-vascular smooth muscle by using intact and β-escin permeabilized guinea-pig taenia caecum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, we investigated the mediators involved in the potentiation of antigen-induced contractions by indomethacin in tracheas isolated from ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized guinea-pigs. Indomethacin-induced potentiation of OA contraction was mimicked by prostaglandin DP/EP(1) /EP(2) receptor antagonist, AH-6809 but not by phospholipase A(2) enzyme inhibitor mepacrine. The lipoxygenase inhibitor AA-861 did not affect the contraction response to OA but prevented its potentiation by indomethacin, while the leukotriene receptor antagonist cinalukast inhibited both the OA response and its potentiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have investigated the muscarinic receptor subtype(s) mediating the release of urinary bladder-derived relaxant factor that is demonstrated by a coaxial bioassay system. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of a precontracted anococcygeus muscle mounted within the bladder was considered as an evidence for the release of this factor. M(1)-muscarinic agonist McN-A-343 and the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine also elicited relaxation responses in the coaxial bioassay besides acetylcholine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
December 2008
The effect of reactive oxygen species on contractions in beta-escin permeabilized rat detrusor was investigated. Cumulative calcium contractions were inhibited by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and hydroxyl (*OH) but not by superoxide (O(2) *). The sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and the mitochondrial blocker carbonyl cyanide p-trifluromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) decreased the calcium contractions, however in their presence, H(2)O(2) and *OH did not have further effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study was designed to characterize the urinary bladder-derived relaxant factor that was demonstrated by acetylcholine-induced relaxation response in a coaxial bioassay system consisting of rat bladder as the donor organ and rat anococcygeus muscle as the assay tissue. The concentration-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (10 nM-1 mM) was inhibited by atropine but was not altered by the antagonists of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP 8-37), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP 6-28), tachykinin NK1 (L-732138), tachykinin NK2 (MEN-10376), tachykinin NK3 (SB-218795), purinergic P2 (PPADS) and adenosine (CGS 15943) receptors as well as alpha-chymotrypsin. Adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ-22536 and protein kinase A inhibitor KT-5720 significantly inhibited the acetylcholine response while guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ, and protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 did not have any effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe release of bladder-derived relaxant factor in a coaxial bioassay system and the effects of reactive oxygen species were studied. After precontraction with phenylephrine (10(-6)-3x10(-6)) or 50 mM K+, acetylcholine (10(-8)-10(-3) M) induced relaxation in rat anococcygeus muscle mounted within rat bladder in a tissue bath. This relaxation was not altered by the removal of the urothelium or incubation with tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a mediator of inflammation in human and animal renal disease. Pentoxiphylline (PTX) is an inhibitor of TNF-alpha. In this study we examined the effects of PTX on TNF-alpha, proteinuria, nitrite production, and apoptosis in an experimental model of Adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy in rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the effects of airway inflammation elicited by intraperitoneal and intratracheal lipopolysaccharide administration to guinea pigs on the activity of tracheal epithelium-derived relaxant factor (EpDRF). Acetylcholine induced epithelium-dependent relaxation in precontracted rat anococygeus muscle placed in guinea pig trachea (coaxial bioassay). Indomethacin, N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, aminoguanidine and l-canavanine did not alter this relaxation excluding the role of prostaglandins and nitric oxide (NO).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFundam Clin Pharmacol
October 2003
The effect of L-arginine on nitrergic transmission and its alteration with reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated. L-arginine potentiated the relaxation response induced by electrical field stimulation in rat anococygeus muscle. This effect was inhibited by L-lysine, a cationic amino acid using y+ L and y+ transport systems in a similar way with L-arginine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effects of L-arginine, the precursor in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), were investigated in the penile bulb isolated from saline (control) or lipopolysaccharide (20 mg/kg, i.p.)-treated rats.
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