Vasoactivity of the gasotransmitters hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide in the chicken ductus arteriosus.

Besides nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is a third gaseous messenger that may play a role in controlling vascular tone and has been proposed to serve as an O(2) sensor. However, whether H(2)S is vasoactive in the ductus arteriosus (DA) has not yet been studied. We investigated, using wire myography, the mechanical responses induced by Na(2)S (1 μM-1 mM), which forms H(2)S and HS(-) in solution, and by authentic CO (0.

Contractile effects of 15-E2t-isoprostane and 15-F2t-isoprostane on chicken embryo ductus arteriosus.

Isoprostanes (IsoPs) are prostaglandin (PG)-like compounds produced nonenzymatically by free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonate. Cyclooxygenase-derived PGs play a major role in ductus arteriosus (DA) homeostasis but the putative role of IsoPs has not been studied so far. We investigated, using wire myography, the vasoactive effects of 15-E(2t)-IsoP and 15-F(2t)-IsoP in the chicken embryo DA, pulmonary artery (PA) and femoral artery (FA).

Prenatal cardiovascular shunts in amniotic vertebrates.

During amniotic vertebrate development, the embryo and fetus employ a number of cardiovascular shunts. These shunts provide a right-to-left shunt of blood and are essential components of embryonic life ensuring proper blood circulation to developing organs and fetal gas exchanger, as well as bypassing the pulmonary circuit and the unventilated, fluid filled lungs. In this review we examine and compare the embryonic shunts available for fetal mammals and embryonic reptiles, including lizards, crocodilians, and birds.

Effects of sex and estrogen on chicken ductus arteriosus reactivity.

Sex hormones have an important influence on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and sex differences in vascular reactivity have been widely demonstrated. In the present study we hypothesized 1) the presence of sexual dimorphism in chicken ductus arteriosus (DA) responsiveness to contractile and relaxant stimuli and 2) that estrogens are vasoactive in the chicken DA. In vitro contractions (assessed with a wire myograph) induced by normoxia, KCl, 4-aminopyridine, norepinephrine, phenylephrine, U46619, or endothelin-1, as well as relaxations induced by ACh, sodium nitroprusside, BAY 41-2272, PGE(2), isoproterenol, forskolin,Y-27632, and hydroxyfasudil were not significantly different between males and females.

Maturation of O2 sensing and signaling in the chicken ductus arteriosus.

The increase in O(2) tension after birth is a major factor stimulating ductus arteriosus (DA) constriction and closure. Here we studied the role of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) as sensor, H(2)O(2) as mediator, and voltage-gated potassium (K(V)) channels and Rho kinase as effectors of O(2)-induced contraction in the chicken DA during fetal development. Switching from 0% to 21% O(2) contracted the pulmonary side of the mature DA (mature pDA) but had no effect in immature pDA and relaxed the aortic side of the mature DA (mature aDA).

Morphological and functional alterations of the ductus arteriosus in a chicken model of hypoxia-induced fetal growth retardation.

The hypoxic conditions in which children with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) develop are hypothesized to alter the development of the ductus arteriosus (DA). We aimed to evaluate the effects of in ovo hypoxia on chicken DA morphometry and reactivity. Hypoxia (15% O2 from day 6 to 19 of the 21-d incubation period) produced a reduction in the body mass of the 19-d fetuses and a shortening of right and left DAs.

Developmental changes in the effects of prostaglandin E2 in the chicken ductus arteriosus.

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is the major vasodilator prostanoid of the mammalian ductus arteriosus (DA). In the present study we analyzed the response of isolated DA rings from 15-, 19- and 21-day-old chicken embryos to PGE(2) and other vascular smooth muscle relaxing agents acting through the cyclic AMP signaling pathway. PGE(2) exhibited a relaxant response in the 15-day DA, but not in the 19- and 21-day DA.