Neurochemicals involved in medullary control of common carotid blood flow.

The common carotid artery (CCA) supplies intra- and extra-cranial vascular beds. An area in the medulla controlling CCA blood flow is defined as the dorsal facial area (DFA) by Kuo et al. in 1987.

Serotonin modulates glutamate action in the medulla to regulate cardiovascular functions in cats.

We examined the effects of serotonin (5-HT) on cardiovascular responses and blood flows in the right common carotid artery (RCCA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and right femoral artery (RFA), stimulated by glutamate (Glu) in the dorsomedial medulla (DM), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). Microinjection of Glu into the DM produced increases in systemic arterial pressure (SAP) and flows in the RCCA and RFA, and decrease in flow in the SMA. Microinjection of Glu into the RVLM produced increases in SAP and decreases in flows in the RCCA, SMA and RFA.

Small-molecule anthracene-induced cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species.

A series of anthracene derivatives have been synthesized, and their potential individual cytotoxicity was evaluated using Jurkat T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. These compounds, except for 2l, showed less cytotoxicity in PBMCs than mitoxantrone. We also analyzed the antiproliferative activity of these derivatives using the annexin V/propidium iodide assay.