Sexual differences of the inhibitory effect of ethanol on gastrointestinal motility: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Female brain is more sensitive to the acute exposure of ethanol. This study aimed to investigate the sexual difference of the ethanol-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Wistar rats were fasted and allowed drinking water only 12 - 18 h before the experiments.

[Caspase-3 plays a required role in PC12 cell apoptotic death induced by roscovitine].

Roscovitine is a specific inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) cdc2/cyclin B, cdk2/cyclin A, cdk2/cyclin E and cdk5/p35. The studies on the enzyme inhibitory properties and cellular effects of roscovitine revealed that it arrests cells in G(2)/M and G(1)/S phase, inhibits the proliferation of mammalian cells and induces cell death. However, the characteristics of cell death and exact mechanism by which this cdk inhibitor kills transformed cells are unknown.

Oxytocin microinjected into dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus excites gallbladder motility via NMDA receptor-NO-cGMP pathway.

Our recent study indicated that, in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor-nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway participated in the regulation of gallbladder motility in rabbits. Oxytocin (OT) is involved as a neurotransmitter in autonomic regulation. The aim of the present experiments is to investigate the effect of OT microinjected into DMV on the gallbladder motility and the involvement of NMDA receptor-NO-cGMP pathway.

Arecoline excites the colonic smooth muscle motility via M3 receptor in rabbits.

Arecoline is an effective component of areca (betel nuts, a Chinese medicine named pinang or binglang). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of arecoline on the motility of distal colon in rabbits and its mechanisms involved. Strips of colonic smooth muscle were suspended in organ baths containing Krebs solution, and their isometric contractions were examined.

Effect of oxytocin on contraction of rabbit proximal colon in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the effects of oxytocin (OT) on isolated rabbit proximal colon and its mechanism.

Methods: Both longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) were suspended in a tissue chamber containing 5 mL Krebs solution (37 degrees ), bubbled continuously with 950 mL x L(-1) O(2) and 50 mL x L(-1) CO(2). Isometric spontaneous contractile responses to oxytocin or other drugs were recorded in circular and longitudinal muscle strips.

Effects of octreotide on gallbladder pressure and myoelectric activity of Oddi sphincter in rabbits.

AIM:To observe the effect of octreotide (OT) and somatostatin (SS) on gallbladder pressure and myoelectric activity of SO in rabbits.METHODS:Male rabbits fasted for 15h-18h and anesthetized with urethane. The mean gallbladder pressure (GP) and myoelectric activity of SO were simutaneously measured with a frog bladder connected to a transducer and a pair of copper electrodes.

TRH microinjection into DVC enhances motility of rabbits gallbladder via vagus nerve.

AIM:To investigate the effects of TRH in DVC on motility of the gallbladder in rabbits.METHODS:fter fasted for 15h-18h, rabbits were anesthetized with urethane (1.0g/kg).