1. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) of the vasoconstrictor effect of cantharidin in bovine preparations. 2. Catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase type 1 (PP 1) and type 2A (PP 2A) were immunologically identified in coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricular myocardium. 3. The mRNAs coding for catalytic subunits of PP 1alpha, PP 1beta and PP 2Aalpha were identified by hybridization with specific cDNA-probes in total RNA from coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricles. 4. The activities of catalytic subunits of PP 1 and PP 2A separated by column chromatography from coronary arteries, isolated smooth muscle cells and ventricles were inhibited by cantharidin in a concentration-dependent manner. 5. Cantharidin increased the phosphorylation state of smooth muscle proteins including the regulatory light chains of myosin in 32P-labelled intact smooth muscle cells in a concentration-dependent manner. 6. Cantharidin did not affect cytosolic calcium concentrations in aortic smooth muscle cells. 7. It is suggested that cantharidin contracts smooth muscle preparations by increasing the phosphorylation state of regulatory proteins due to inhibition of phosphatase activities. Thus, cantharidin might be a useful tool to study the function of phosphatases in smooth muscle.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1565226PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjp.0701668DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

smooth muscle
36
muscle cells
20
catalytic subunits
12
coronary arteries
12
arteries isolated
12
isolated smooth
12
smooth
9
muscle
9
cells ventricles
8
concentration-dependent manner
8

Similar Publications

Platelet membrane-modified exosomes targeting plaques to activate autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells for atherosclerotic therapy.

Drug Deliv Transl Res

January 2025

Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Rd, Beijing, 100037, China.

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of ischemic cardiovascular disease worldwide. Recent studies indicated that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an indispensable role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated promising clinical applications in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The contribution of sex hormones to cardiovascular disease, including arterial stiffness, is established; however, the role of sex chromosome interaction with sex hormones, particularly in women, is lagging. Arterial structural stiffness depends on the intrinsic properties and transmural wall geometry that comprise a network of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins expressed in a sex-dependent manner. In this study, we used four-core genotype (FCG) mice to determine the relative contribution of sex hormones versus sex chromosomes or their interaction with arterial structural stiffness.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the effects of testosterone (T) treatment, with or without levothyroxine, the most widely used and least effective medication for managing hypothyroidism, on the functional and histological changes in propylthiouracil (PTU)- induced hypothyroid rat bladders.

Methods: Male rats (n=35) were split into control, hypothyroid, hypothyroid rats treated with levothyroxine (20 µg/kg/day, oral, 2-weeks), hypothyroid rats treated with Sustanon (10 mg/kg,iIM, once/week, 2-weeks), and hypothyroid rats treated with combined treatment groups. Hypothyroidism was induced by PTU (0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Bladder tissue models have been developed using smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on various scaffolds to mimic bladder morphology and physiology. This study investigates the effects of co-culturing fetal and adult SMCs on growth properties and protein profiles to understand cellular interactions and population kinetics.

Methods: Bladder tissue samples from 10 adult and 10 fetal New Zealand rabbits were divided into 5 groups: adult SMCs (A), fetal SMCs (F), 50%A+50%F (A+F), 75%A+25%F (3A+F), and 25%A+75%F (A+3F).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tissue fibrosis is a progressive pathological process with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). Myofibroblasts, identified by alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression, play an important role in tissue fibrosis by producing ECM. Here, we found that the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf1 (DKK1) induced gene expressions associated with inflammation and fibrosis in lung fibroblasts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!