[Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide mediated the lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiac negative inotropic role].

Aim: To investigate the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced myocardial dysfunction, and explore the related underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Experimental septic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg x kg(-1)). The study was carried out on the isolated rat hearts to determine the roles of ET-1 and NO in the effect of LPS on the cardiac contractility and on the isolated rat ventricular myocytes model to observe the [Ca2+]i homeostasis in cardiac myocytes.

Epithelial K⁺ channels: driving force generation and K⁺ recycling for epithelial transport with physiological and clinical implications.

K(+) channels form a large family of membrane proteins that are expressed in a polarized fashion in any epithelial cell. Based on the transmembrane gradient for K(+) that is maintained by the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, these channels serve two principal functions for transepithelial transport: generation of membrane voltage and recycling of K(+). In this brief review, we will outline the importance of this ancient principle by examples of epithelial transport in the renal proximal tubule and gastric parietal cells.

[The alterations of nitric oxide synthase activity of ventricular cardiac muscle of rats in two septic shock models].

Aim: To observe the differences of hemodynamics and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity of ventricular cardiac muscle in two septic shock models and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: Two rat models of septic shock[lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic shock] were used. The hemodynamic parameters and nitric oxide synthase activity of ventricular cardiac muscle were measured.

[Effect of cinobufacini on vascular contractile of rat thoracic aorta].

Objective: To examine the effect of cinobufacini on rat thoracic aorta and its mechanism.

Methods: Isolated rat thoracic aorta was perfused and isometric tension was recorded by organ bath technique before and after cinobufacini treatment.

Result: Cinobufacini induced contraction of isolated thoracic aorta with or without endothelium in a concentration-dependent manner (at concentration of 2.

Diphasic effects of Astragalus membranaceus BUNGE (Leguminosae) on vascular tone in rat thoracic aorta.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of the aqueous ethanol extract of Astragalus membranaceus BUNGE (Leguminosae) on rat thoracic aorta. Isometric tension was recorded in response to drugs in organ bath. In endothelium-intact aortic rings, A.

[Relaxant effect of Astragalus membranaceus on smooth muscle cells of rat thoracic aorta].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus(AM) on vascular circles and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The study was performed with the model of isolate rat thoracic aorta rings in organ bath. When the endothelium of rat thoracic aorta was removed,the effect of accumulated AM on aorta rings in resting tension, or pre-constricted with KCl, or pre-constricted with phenylephrine (PE) was observed.

[Endothelium-independent vasorelaxant effect of puerarin on rat thoracic aorta].

Objective: To investigate the vasorelaxant effect of puerarin in rat aortic rings and the mechanism.

Method: The isolated thoracic aortic rings of male Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted on the organ bath and the contractile responses of the vessel were recorded.

Result: Puerarin completely relaxed the contractions induced by phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rat aorta, but it had no effect on those preconstricted by a high concentration of potassium chloride (KCl, 60 mmol x L(-1)).

[NO/cGMP signal pathway involved in the disturbance of calcium homeostasis in vascular smooth muscle during the late phase of sepsis].

Objective: To evaluate the alterations in calcium metabolism of the vascular smooth muscle of rat thoracic aorta in the late phase of sepsis and to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic-GMP(cGMP) signal transduction pathway in the sepsis-induced vascular hyporeactivity.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Eighteen hours post CLP, rat aortic rings were removed for measurement of contractile responses to vasoconstrictors by using organ bath technique.

[Treatment of interferon-alpha in reducing the endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat thoracic aorta].

Objective: To investigate the vascular effect of acute and chronic treatment of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in rat aortic rings.

Methods: Isolated thoracic aortic rings were mounted on the organ bath and the tension of the vessel was recorded.

Results: IFN-alpha(10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 U/ml) caused concentration -dependent relaxation of endothelium-intact aorta rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (PE,10(-6)mol/L), to(90.

[Modulation of iron on the vasodilating effect of interleukin-2 in the isolated aortic ring].

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of iron on the vasodilating effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the isolated aortic ring.

Methods: Isometric tension was recorded in response to drugs in organ bath. Ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) was added to the bath 30 min before phenylephrine (1 micromol/L), which was followed by IL-2 in a cumulative fashion.