Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene expression in the heart and blood pressure response to oxytocin treatment in rats exposed to voluntary wheel running.

This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of cardiovascular regulation associated with repeated exercise by evaluating untraditional parameters in the model of voluntary wheel running. Possible changes in cardiac phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) gene expression were evaluated using running for 3 weeks in four rat strains, and the hypothesis that voluntary wheel running modifies mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to oxytocin administration was verified. Running activity increased gradually and was high in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Sprague-Dawley rats, while low in Wistar rats.

Gastroprotective role of glucocorticoid hormones.

Gastric ulcer disease remains widespread; a stressful lifestyle and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) make significant contributions to this pathological situation. The findings overviewed here support the idea that glucocorticoid hormones released in response to acute stress or NSAIDs act as gastroprotective substances and exert many of the same actions in the stomach as prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) as well as capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons. Glucocorticoids exert a gastroprotective effect by both maintaining local defensive factors (mucosal blood flow and mucus production) and inhibiting pathogenic elements (gastric motility and microvascular permeability).