This study investigated the effects of chronic crowding-induced social stress and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on borderline hypertensive rats, focusing on the transcription nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) gene , on the expression of selected NFR2-mediated gene expressions in the heart, and on vascular function. Rats were exposed to chronic crowding, DMF treatment (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of a 10-day-long treatment with taxifolin (TAX, 20 mg/kg/day p.o.) was investigated on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) with a focus on the vascular functions of isolated femoral arteries and thoracic aortas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 6.5 million deaths worldwide yet. Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a reliable way out of the pandemic, however, vaccination rate reaches only 58% in the Slovak Republic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the top cause of death worldwide, and arterial hypertension per se remains the major preventable cause of CVDs [...
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects host cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Concurrently, the product of ACE2 action, angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7), binds to Mas receptors within the cardiovascular system and provides protective effects. Therefore, it is crucial to reveal the role of ACE2 inhibition, especially within pre-existing cardiovascular pathologies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigate the distribution and biological effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated magnetite (FeO@PEG) nanoparticles (~30 nm core size, ~51 nm hydrodynamic size, 2 mg Fe/kg/day, intravenously, for two days) in the aorta and liver of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). FeO@PEG had no effect on open-field behaviour but reduced the blood pressure (BP) of FeO@PEG-treated SHR (SHRu) significantly, compared to both FeO@PEG-treated WKY (WKYu) and saline-treated control SHR (SHRc). The FeO@PEG content was significantly elevated in the aorta and liver of SHRu vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, magnetite nanoparticles were prepared and coated with poly(ethylene glycol) terminated by alendronate to ensure firm binding to the iron oxide surface. Magnetic nanoparticles, designated as magnetite coated with poly(ethylene glycol)-alendronate (FeO@PEG-Ale), were characterized in terms of number-average () and hydrodynamic () size, ζ-potential, saturation magnetization, and composition. The effect of particles on blood pressure, vascular functions, nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide production in the tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats, as well as the effect on red blood cell (RBC) parameters, was investigated after intravenous administration (1 mg FeO/kg of body weight).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVarious studies have shown that certain flavonoids, flavonoid-containing plant extracts, and foods can improve human health. Experimental studies showed that flavonoids have the capacity to alter physiological processes as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with their antioxidant properties. An important function of flavonoids was determined in the cardiovascular system, namely their capacity to lower blood pressure and to improve endothelial function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActivation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) might induce transcription and expression of different antioxidant enzymes and also of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Thus, we aimed at studying the effect of NF-κB inhibition, caused by JSH-23 (4-methyl-N (1)-(3-phenyl-propyl)-benzene-1,2-diamine) injection, on ROS and NO generation in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) rats. 12-week-old, male Wistar and HTG rats were treated with JSH-23 (bolus, 10 μmol, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels during norepinephrine-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle was suggested to depolarize cell membrane and to increase Ca(2+) entry. Hypertension and ageing are associated with altered Ca(2+) handling including possible activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels. Our study was aimed to determine Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels contribution to norepinephrine-induced contraction during hypertension and ageing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Calcium entry through nifedipine-sensitive L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCC) is augmented in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) characterized by enhanced sympathetic vasoconstriction. However, the changes of calcium sensitization mediated by RhoA/Rho kinase pathway are less understood.
Methods And Results: The participation of calcium entry and calcium sensitization in the control of blood pressure (BP) and vascular contraction was studied in SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.
Endothelium-dependent contraction elicited by high concentrations of acetylcholine was described in hypertensive as well as in aged normotensive rats. The contribution of endothelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF) to norepinephrine-induced contraction is still unknown. We aimed to compare EDCF participation to norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and aged normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch in the Department of Pharmacology started to focus intensively on fetal circulation in the 60s. Results of experiments contributed to clarification of the conversion of fetal circulation type to the adult type: the mechanism of the ductus arteriosus closure, examination of fetal and neonatal pulmonary vessel responses. In the early 80s, increased attention was dedicated to fetal vascular endothelium, later on to vascular reactivity in relation to the endothelium in adult animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Melatonin is suggested to be beneficial in several pathological conditions including arterial hypertension. One of the mechanisms proposed for its antihypertensive action is the protection against endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether melatonin can accelerate the recovery from N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension after the cessation of L-NAME administration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels (BK(Ca)) leads to the attenuation of vascular contraction. Our study aimed to evaluate BK(Ca) influence on norepinephrine (NE)-induced femoral artery contraction in two forms of genetic hypertension. NE dose-response curves were studied before and after BK(Ca) blockade or after combined blockade of BK(Ca) and NO synthase (NOS) in femoral arteries with intact endothelium from normotensive Wistar (WIS), hypertensive hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HTG), or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
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