Alterations in relaxation to lactate and H(2)O(2) in human placental vessels from gestational diabetic pregnancies.

We determined whether alterations in the mechanism of relaxation to H(2)O(2) potentially contribute to the enhanced prostaglandin-mediated contractile response to H(2)O(2) and posthypoxic reoxygenation seen in human placental vessels of pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Isolated placental arteries and veins from GDM and uncomplicated full-term pregnancies were precontracted with prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PO(2) 35-38 Torr) and then exposed to lactate (1-10 mM), arachidonic acid (0.01-10 microM), nitroglycerin (1 nM-1 microM), forskolin (0.

Oxidant--nitric oxide signalling mechanisms in vascular tissue.

Nitric oxide has several signalling mechanisms that can potentially control force generation by vascular smooth muscle. Some of these mechanisms include the stimulation of cGMP production by the soluble heme-containing form of guanylate cyclase (sGC), inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, and the modulation of vasoactive mediator release by the endothelium. Reactive O2 species (ROS) can also regulate force generation by vascular smooth muscle through mechanisms including the stimulation of production of vasoactive prostaglandins, the stimulation of sGC by catalase-mediated metabolism of H2O2 and inhibition of sGC activation by superoxide, the activation of protein kinase C, and the modulation of mediator release from the endothelium.

Peripheral hypertension and alterations in pulmonary vascular regulation.

We have recently reported in normal isolated-perfused rat lungs that low basal tone appears to be regulated by nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and -independent mechanisms of soluble guanylate cyclase activation. In this study, we examined the role of NO in the regulation of pulmonary artery (PA) tone from rats with renin-dependent hypertension. Rats were made hypertensive by ligating the abdominal aorta above the left and below the right renal artery (aortic coarctation, AC).

Nitric oxide inhibits pulmonary artery catalase and H2O2-associated relaxation.

Our previous studies on the mechanism of relaxation of calf pulmonary arteries to H2O2 detected a role for increased formation of guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate as a result of a catalase-elicited activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. We have also shown that lactate elicits relaxation through increasing H2O2 produced from NADH oxidase-derived superoxide anion (O2-.).

Modulation by atrial natriuretic factor of receptor-mediated cyclic AMP-dependent responses in canine pulmonary artery during heart failure.

1. Pacing-induced congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs is associated with increased plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and inhibition of receptor-mediated cyclic AMP-dependent relaxation in isolated pulmonary arteries (PA). Since ANF is known to be negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, we studied cyclic AMP-mediated relaxation to isoprenaline (Iso) and arachidonic acid (AA) in PA from control dogs (C), dogs with pacing-induced CHF (CHF) and dogs with bilateral atrial appendectomy and CHF (ATR APP+CHF).