The endothelin receptor antagonist decreases ischemia/reperfusion-induced tumor necrosis factor production in isolated rat hearts.

Previous studies have shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1) may play a pathophysiological role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. In the present study, BMS-182874 significantly improved the recovery of cardiac function and reduced the release of CK during reperfusion after ischemia and the content of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in myocardial tissues. BMS-182874 also reduced myocardial injury and the increased level of TNF-alpha by exogenous ET-1.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine is not involved in ovariectomy-induced osteopenia in rats.

Previous studies have indicated that the plasma concentration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), was increased in postmenopausal women. In the study reported here, we tested the relationship between the decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) and ADMA concentration in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Ovariectomized rats at 8 months of age were treated with 17beta-estradiol (10 or 30 microg/kg of body weight/day, s.

17beta-estradiol preserves endothelial function by reduction of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor level.

Previous studies have shown that endothelial dysfunction is associated to an increase of endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor level and estrogen reduces impairment of the endothelium due to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of estradiol on endothelial dysfunction and the increased level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, induced by LDL. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single injection of native LDL (4 mg/kg) for 48 h.

Effect of estrogen replacement treatment on ischemic preconditioning in isolated rat hearts.

In the present study, we tested the effects of long-term estrogen replacement treatment on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and on the cardioprotection of ischemic preconditioning in isolated hearts from ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with 17beta-estradiol (30 micro g/kg/d, s.c.