The pig is a better model than the rabbit or rat for studying the pathophysiology of human mesenteric arteries.

Aims: Animal models are essential to investigate cardiovascular pathophysiology and pharmacology, but phylogenetic diversity makes it necessary to identify the model with vasculature most similar to that of humans.

Methods And Results: In this study, we compared the mesenteric arteries of humans, pigs, rabbits and rats in terms of the i) evolutionary changes in the amino acid sequences of α and β2 adrenoceptors; M, M, and M muscarinic receptors; and bradykinin (BKR) and thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptors, through bioinformatics tools; ii) expression of α, β, M1, M3 and TP receptors in each tunica, as assessed by immunofluorescence; and iii) reactivity to receptor-dependent and independent contractile agonists and relaxants, by performing organ bath assays. Phylogenetically, pigs showed the highest degree of evolutionary closeness to humans for all receptors, and with the exception of BKR, rabbits presented the greatest evolutionary difference compared to humans, pigs and rats.

Vascular adaptation to cancer beyond angiogenesis: The role of PTEN.

Cancer is a public health problem, and it needs blood vessels to grow. Knowing more about the processes of vascular adaptation to cancer improves our chances of attacking it, since the tumor for its extension needs such adaptation to satisfy its progressive demand for nutrients. The main objective of this review is to present the reader with some fundamental molecular pathways for vascular adaptation to cancer, highlighting within them the regulatory role of homologous tensin and phosphatase protein (PTEN).

Increased receptor expression supports vascular reactivity of the rabbit aorta during preservation.

Objectives: The mechanistic understanding of vascular functional impairment during preservation time helps determine the optimal time frame in which explanted arteries can be used. The method of choice is to measure vascular reactivity and receptor expression. Our goal was to study the influence of preservation for 24 and 48 h on vascular reactivity and receptor expression in rabbit aorta.

Centruroides margaritatus scorpion complete venom exerts cardiovascular effects through alpha-1 adrenergic receptors.

Unlabelled: Centruroides margaritatus scorpion stings are common in Colombia. However, the cardiovascular toxicity of the venom has not been clarified.

Aim: To study the effect and mechanisms of action of the complete venom of C.

Influence of Ageing on Vascular Reactivity and Receptor Expression in Rabbit Aorta: A Complement to Elastocalcinosis and Smooth Muscle Mechanisms.

Aim: To contribute to the knowledge about the mechanisms involved in aortic stiffness due to ageing.

Materials And Methods: Aortic rings from young (1.5±0.

A Compound Isolated from Phyllanthus tenellus Demonstrates Metabolic and Vascular Effects In Vitro.

Common chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes are increasingly associated to metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Although leaves have been used in decoctions as a popular remedy to control blood glucose levels and hypertension, its use needs a scientific basis. This study was therefore undertaken to report a phytochemical analysis of leaves and to test if the main active compound has potential to simultaneously tackle several pathophysiological features of metabolic syndrome and diabetes-related metabolic and vascular disorders such as hyperglycaemia, increased platelet activation, and endothelial dysfunction.

Intraspecific variation of centruroides edwardsii venom from two regions of Colombia.

We report the first description studies, partial characterization, and intraspecific difference of Centruroides edwardsii, Gervais 1843, venom. C. edwardsii from two Colombian regions (Antioquia and Tolima) were evaluated.