Epicatechin alleviates inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The p38 MAPK signaling pathway plays a key role in lung inflammation and the development of acute lung injury (ALI). We previously reported that the phenolic compound procyanidin B1 inhibits inflammation by suppressing the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Here, we asked whether the monomer of procyanidin B1, epicatechin (EC), can alleviate LPS-induced ALI in mice, and if so, whether EC acts by inhibiting p38 MAPK.

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Induces the Long-Term Facilitation of Genioglossus Corticomotor Activity.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by the repetitive collapse of the upper airway and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) during sleep. It has been reported that CIH can increase the EMG activity of genioglossus in rats, which may be related to the neuromuscular compensation of OSA patients. This study aimed to explore whether CIH could induce the long-term facilitation (LTF) of genioglossus corticomotor activity.

Curcumin attenuates chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced brain injuries by inhibiting AQP4 and p38 MAPK pathway.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is one of the main features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is also commonly associated with neurocognitive impairments. The present study aimed to elucidate the beneficial effect of curcumin on CIH-induced brain injuries. Male balb/c mice (6 ∼ 8 weeks) were exposed to normoxia or a pattern of CIH (8 h/day, cycles of 180 s each, hypoxia: 5% O for 50 s, reoxygenation: 21% O for 50 s) for 10 weeks, along with daily curcumin treatment (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, intragastrically) or its vehicle.

The influence of 5-HT receptors in the dorsal raphé nucleus on genioglossus activity.

Genioglossus activity maintains the patency of the upper airway. 5-HT neurons in the raphe nucleus regulate genioglossus activity. In order to study the influence of 5-HT receptors in dorsal raphé nucleus (DRN) on genioglossus EMG during normoxia, adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the artificial cerebrospinal fluid group (ACSF group), the low-concentration of 5-HT receptors agonist 8-OH-DPAT group (0.

Noradrenergic Activation of Hypoglossal Nucleus Modulates the Central Regulation of Genioglossus in Chronic Intermittent Hypoxic Rats.

Neuromuscular compensation of the genioglossus muscle can be induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in obstructive sleep apnea to maintain upper airway stability. Noradrenergic activation of hypoglossal nucleus plays a critical role in the central control of the genioglossus. However, it remains unknown whether norepinephrine takes part in the central regulation of the genioglossus during CIH.