Role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in nerve-evoked relaxation of pig terminal bronchioles.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gasotransmitter employed for intra- and inter-cellular communication in almost all organ systems. This study investigates the role of endogenous HS in nerve-evoked relaxation of pig terminal bronchioles with 260 μm medium internal lumen diameter. High expression of the HS synthesis enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) in the bronchiolar muscle layer and strong CSE-immunoreactivity within nerve fibers distributed along smooth muscle bundles were observed.

Hydrogen sulfide plays a key role in the inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig intravesical ureter.

According to previous observations nitric oxide (NO), as well as an unknown nature mediator are involved in the inhibitory neurotransmission to the intravesical ureter. This study investigates the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) role in the neurogenic relaxation of the pig intravesical ureter. We have performed western blot and immunohistochemistry to study the expression of the H2S synthesis enzymes cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), measurement of enzymatic production of H2S and myographic studies for isometric force recording.

Pre- and post-junctional bradykinin B2 receptors regulate smooth muscle tension to the pig intravesical ureter.

Aims: Neuronal and non-neuronal bradykinin (BK) receptors regulate the contractility of the bladder urine outflow region. The current study investigates the role of BK receptors in the regulation of the smooth muscle contractility of the pig intravesical ureter.

Methods: Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to show the expression of BK B1 and B2 receptors and myographs for isometric force recordings.

Powerful relaxation of phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor rolipram in the pig and human bladder neck.

Introduction: Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors act as effective drugs for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS). There is a poor information, however, about the role of the PDE4 inhibitors on the bladder outflow region contractility.

Aim: To investigate PDE4 expression and the relaxation induced by the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram versus that induced by the PDE5 blockers sildenafil and vardenafil, in the pig and human bladder neck.

Cooperation of taurine uptake and dopamine D1 receptor activation facilitates the induction of protein synthesis-dependent late LTP.

Co-activation of NMDA and dopamine receptors is required for the induction of the late phase of LTP (L-LTP) that is dependent on new protein synthesis. Other neuromodulatory substances may also contribute to this process. Here, we examined whether taurine is one of the neuromodulators contributing to L-LTP induction, since it is known that taurine uptake induces a long-lasting synaptic potentiation dependent on protein synthesis, and taurine uptake inhibition blocks L-LTP induced by tetanization.

Neuronal and non-neuronal bradykinin receptors are involved in the contraction and/or relaxation to the pig bladder neck smooth muscle.

Aims: The current study investigates the role played by bradykinin (BK) receptors in the contractility to the pig bladder neck smooth muscle.

Methods: Bladder neck strips were mounted in myographs for isometric force recordings and BK receptors expression was also determined by immunohistochemistry.

Results: B2 receptor expression was observed in the muscular layer and urothelium whereas B1 expression was consistent detected in urothelium.

Hydrogen sulfide mediated inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck: role of KATP channels, sensory nerves and calcium signaling.

Purpose: Because neuronal released endogenous H2S has a key role in relaxation of the bladder outflow region, we investigated the mechanisms involved in H2S dependent inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck.

Materials And Methods: Bladder neck strips were mounted in myographs for isometric force recording and simultaneous measurement of intracellular Ca(2+) and tension.

Results: On phenylephrine contracted preparations electrical field stimulation and the H2S donor GYY4137 evoked frequency and concentration dependent relaxation, which was reduced by desensitizing capsaicin sensitive primary afferents with capsaicin, and the blockade of adenosine 5'-triphosphate dependent K(+) channels, cyclooxygenase and cyclooxygenase-1 with glibenclamide, indomethacin and SC560, respectively.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide has a powerful role in inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck.

Purpose: We investigated the possible involvement of H2S in nitric oxide independent inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck.

Materials And Methods: We used immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of the H2S synthesis enzymes cystathionine γ-lyase and cystathionine β-synthase. We also used electrical field stimulation and myographs for isometric force recordings to study relaxation in response to endogenously released or exogenously applied H2S in urothelium denuded, phenylephrine precontracted bladder neck strips under noradrenergic, noncholinergic, nonnitrergic conditions.

Endothelin ET(B) receptors are involved in the relaxation to the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: The involvement of endothelin receptors in the contraction of the lower urinary tract smooth muscle is well established. There is scarce information, however, about endothelin receptors mediating relaxation of the bladder outlet region. The current study investigates the possible existence of endothelin ET(B) receptors involved in the relaxation of pig bladder neck.

Mechanisms involved in endothelin-1-induced contraction of the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: There is no information about the signaling pathways involved in the endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contraction of bladder neck. The current study investigates the mechanisms involved in the ET-1-elicited contraction in the pig bladder neck.

Methods: Bladder neck strips were mounted in organ baths containing physiological saline solution at 37°C and gassed with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2) , for isometric force recording to endothelin receptor agonists, noradrenaline (NA), and electrical field stimulation.

Mechanisms involved in the nitric oxide-induced vasorelaxation in porcine prostatic small arteries.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy has been known to be related with glandular ischemia processes, and nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator agent. Therefore, the current study investigates the mechanisms underlying the NO-induced vasorelaxation in pig prostatic small arteries. In microvascular myographs, relaxation to electrical field stimulation (EFS), or to exogenous (S)-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and acetylcholine (ACh), was observed on noradrenaline-precontracted prostatic small arterial rings under non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic (NANC) conditions.

Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck.

Purpose: We studied the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmission to the pig bladder neck.

Materials And Methods: We used immunohistochemical techniques to determine the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactive fibers as well as organ baths for isometric force recording. We investigated relaxation due to endogenously released or exogenously applied calcitonin gene-related peptide in urothelium denuded phenylephrine precontracted strips treated with guanethidine, atropine and NG-nitro-L-arginine to block noradrenergic neurotransmission, muscarinic receptors and nitric oxide synthase, respectively.

Mechanisms involved in the adenosine-induced vasorelaxation to the pig prostatic small arteries.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy has been related with glandular ischemia processes and adenosine is a potent vasodilator agent. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the adenosine-induced vasorelaxation in pig prostatic small arteries. Adenosine receptors expression was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and rings were mounted in myographs for isometric force recording.

Mechanisms involved in the nitric oxide independent inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: The current study investigates the mechanisms involved in nitric oxide (NO)-independent, nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmission to the pig urinary bladder neck.

Methods: Urothelium-denuded strips were mounted in organ baths containing physiological saline solution (PSS) at 37°C for isometric force recordings. The relaxations to electrical field stimulation (EFS) were carried out on strips treated with guanethidine, atropine and N(G) -nitro-L-arginine, to block noradrenergic neurotransmission, muscarinic receptors and NO synthase, respectively, and precontracted with phenylephrine.

Mechanisms involved in the effects of endothelin-1 in pig prostatic small arteries.

Since endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in prostatic disorders, the current study investigated the mechanisms underlying the ET-1-induced effects in pig prostatic small arteries. The experiments were performed in rings mounted in microvascular myographs containing physiological saline solution at 37oC for isometric force recordings. On basal tension, ET-1 (0.

Functional evidence of nitrergic neurotransmission in the human urinary bladder neck.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmission of the lower urinary tract. However, functional evidence of this involvement in the human urinary bladder neck has not been consistently demonstrated. Therefore, the current study investigates the relaxations to endogenously released and/or exogenously added NO, in the human bladder neck.

5-hydroxytryptamine induced relaxation in the pig urinary bladder neck.

Background And Purpose: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is one of the inhibitory mediators in the urinary bladder outlet region. Here we investigated mechanisms involved in 5-HT-induced relaxations of the pig bladder neck.

Experimental Approach: Urothelium-denuded strips of pig bladder were mounted in organ baths for isometric force recordings of responses to 5-HT and electrical field stimulation (EFS).

Mechanisms involved in testosterone-induced vasodilatation in pig prostatic small arteries.

Aims: Testosterone is beneficial to the cardiovascular system due to its direct coronary vasodilatory action and its circulatory deficiency is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), which has been proposed as an extrinsic risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Therefore, the current study investigated the mechanisms involved in the testosterone-induced vasodilatation in pig prostatic small arteries.

Main Methods: The testosterone vasoactive effects were assessed in small arterial rings mounted in microvascular myographs for isometric force recordings.

Role of neuronal voltage-gated K(+) channels in the modulation of the nitrergic neurotransmission of the pig urinary bladder neck.

Background And Purpose: As nitric oxide (NO) plays an essential role in the inhibitory neurotransmission of the bladder neck of several species, the current study investigates the mechanisms underlying the NO-induced relaxations in the pig urinary bladder neck.

Experimental Approach: Urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were dissected and mounted in isolated organ baths containing a physiological saline solution at 37 degrees C and continuously gassed with 5% CO(2) and 95% O(2), for isometric force recording. The relaxations to transmural nerve stimulation (EFS), or to exogenously applied acidified NaNO(2) solution were carried out on strips pre-contracted with phenylephrine, and treated with guanethidine and atropine, to block noradrenergic neurotransmission and muscarinic receptors, respectively.

Noradrenergic vasoconstriction of pig prostatic small arteries.

The current study investigated the distribution of adrenergic nerves and the action induced by noradrenaline (NA) in pig prostatic small arteries. Noradrenergic innervation was visualized using an antibody against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and the NA effect was studied in small arterial rings mounted in microvascular myographs for isometric force recordings. DBH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were located at the adventitia and the adventitia-media border of the vascular wall.

Pre-junctional alpha2-adrenoceptors modulation of the nitrergic transmission in the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: To investigate the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated nerve relaxation and its possible modulation by pre-junctional alpha2-adrenoceptors in the pig urinary bladder neck.

Methods: Urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were dissected, and mounted in isolated organ baths containing a physiological saline solution (PSS) at 37 degrees C and continuously gassed with 5% CO2 and 95% O2, for isometric force recording. The relaxations to transmural nerve stimulation (electrical field stimulation [EFS]) or exogenously applied NO were carried out on strips pre-contracted with 1 microM phenylephrine (PhE) and treated with guanethidine (10 microM) and atropine (0.

Neuronal and smooth muscle receptors involved in the PACAP- and VIP-induced relaxations of the pig urinary bladder neck.

Background And Purpose: As pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide 38 (PACAP 38)- and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are widely distributed in the urinary tract, the current study investigated the receptors and mechanisms involved in relaxations induced by these peptides in the pig bladder neck.

Experimental Approach: Urothelium-denuded strips were suspended in organ baths for isometric force recordings and the relaxations to VIP and PACAP analogues were investigated.

Key Results: VIP, PACAP 38, PACAP 27 and [Ala(11,22,28)]-VIP produced similar relaxations.

PACAP 38 is involved in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission in the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: To investigate the role played by pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide 38 (PACAP 38) in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission of the pig urinary bladder neck.

Methods: Urothelium-denuded bladder neck strips were dissected and mounted in organ baths containing a physiological saline solution (PSS) at 37 degrees C and gassed with 5% CO(2) and 95% O(2), for isometric force recording. The relaxations to transmural nerve stimulation (EFS) or PACAP 38 were performed on strips precontracted with 1 microM phenylephrine (PhE).

Study of plasma antioxidant status in Alzheimer's disease.

To examine the plasma antioxidant status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and to evaluate the influence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. There are reasons to suspect involvement of the free hydroxyl radical in the pathogenesis of AD. In contrast, studies in plasma of AD patients for the evaluation of levels of biomarkers of oxidation are controversial.

New V272A presenilin 1 mutation with very early onset subcortical dementia and parkinsonism.

In this report, we present the clinical and pathological details of a kindred of four individuals with a novel missense mutation (V272A) of the presenilin 1 gene (PSEN1) that experienced a subcortical dementia. The age of onset of symptoms ranged 26-36-year old, with an age at death of 36-46 years. Initial symptom was a marked mood disorder, with prominent parkinsonism in one case.