• Toxicological Research
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.195-201
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• 1996

Endotoxic shock causes death in humans and animals via extreme hypoperfusion of peripheral organs. A massive production of nitric oxide (NO) both from the endothelical cells and smooth muscle cells has been proposed as a possible mechanism in this process. Since NO attenuated the contractility to vasoconstricting agents such as norepinephrine (NE) by directly acting on the smooth muscle cells, this mechanism was considered mainly as a postsynaptic mechanism. In this research it was investigated whether NO, thus released, also participates in the presynaptic events for the regulation of vascular tone in endotoxic shock. The role of NO was studied by adding NO donors or NO synthase inhibitor $N^\omega $methyl-L-arginine (NMA) in stimulated sympathetic nerves of the mesenteric vascular bed and the Langendorff heart of rats. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, reduced the pressor responses of isolated mesenteric artery either to electrical stimulation or exogenously administered phenylephrine (PE). In this mesentery, although neither agent influenced NE release, in the presence of the adrenergic $\alpha_2$-receptor antagonist yohimbine, elecrical stimulation-evoked NE release was augumented by SNP. In the heart SNP facilitated the NE release induced by electrical stimulation, while NMA had no effect. From these results it is proposed that there exists a local reflex phenomenon in the junction between the sympathetic nerve terminals and the smooth muscle of resistance blood vessels; by which sympathetic responses are reduced by NO at the postjunctional level while NO facilitates NE release contributing to augumentation of sympathetic tone. All these facts suggest that NO produced during endotoxic shock has dual effects: whereas NO blunts the vasoconstrictive activity of NE at the postsynaptic level, NO presynaptically facilitates the release of NE from sympathetic nerve terminals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of eupatilin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Eupatilin more significantly relaxed fluoride-induced vascular contraction than thromboxane $A_2$ or phorbol ester-induced contraction suggesting as a possible anti-hypertensive on the agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, eupatilin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels. On the other hand, it didn't significantly inhibit phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels suggesting the mechanism involving the primarily inhibition of Rho-kinase activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of eupatilin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2016

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of cardamonin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism(s) involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Cardamonin significantly relaxed fluoride-, phenylephrine-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions, suggesting that it has an anti-hypertensive effect on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, cardamonin significantly inhibited the fluoride-induced increase in pMYPT1 level and phenylephrine-induced increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence that the relaxing effect of cardamonin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function involves inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1382-1386
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• 2004

This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilatory efficacy and its underlying mechanisms of Samhwangsasim-tang(SST), herbal remedy. SST relaxed vascular strips precontracted with phenylephrine or KCI(51 mM), but the magnitude of relaxation was greater in phenylephrine(PE) induced contraction. The relaxation effects of SST was endothelium-independent. L-NAME, iNOS inhibitor, and methyl en blue(MB), cGMP inhibitor, did not attenuate the relaxation responses of SST. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, pre-incubation of the aortic rings with SST significantly reduced the contraction by PE, suggesting that the relaxant action of the SST includes inhibition of Ca/sup 2+/ influx and release of Ca/sup 2+/ from intracellular stores (SR). In addition, the cell death was induced by SST in human aortic smooth muscle cells but not that of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We conclude that in rat thoracic aorta, SST may induce in part vasodilation through inhibition of Ca/sup 2+/ influx and release of Ca/sup 2+/ from intracellular stores.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.309-313
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• 2009

Spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) are an established model of genetic hypertension. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from SHR proliferate faster than those of control rats (Wistar-Kyoto rats; WKY). We tested the hypothesis that induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induced by aprotinin inhibits VSMC proliferation through cell cycle arrest in hypertensive rats. Aprotinin treatment inhibited VSMC proliferation in SHR more than in normotensive rats. These inhibitory effects were associated with cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX) reversed the anti-proliferative effect of aprotinin in VSMC from SHR. The level of cyclin D was higher in VSMC of SHR than those of WKY. Aprotinin treatment downregulated the cell cycle regulator, cyclin D, but upregulated the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21, in VSMC of SHR. Aprotinin induced HO-1 in VSMC of SHR, but not in those of control rats. Furthermore, aprotinin-induced HO-1 inhibited VSMC proliferation of SHR. Consistently, VSMC proliferation in SHR was significantly inhibited by transfection with the HO-1 gene. These results indicate that induction of HO-1 by aprotinin inhibits VSMC proliferation through cell cycle arrest in hypertensive rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.103-109
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• 2003

The cellular mechanisms that contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis in diabetes are poorly understood. Therefore, the potential mechanisms involved in the diabetes-dependent increase in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation was investigated. Using primary culture of VSMC from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat aorta, cell proliferation assay showed two-fold increase in cell number accompanied with enhanced superoxide generation compared to normal VSMC, 2 days after plating. Both the increased superoxide production and cell proliferation in diabetic VSMC were significantly attenuated by not only tiron (1 mM), a superoxide scavenger, but also by diphenyleneiodonium (DPI; $10{\mu}M$), an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor. NAD(P)H oxidase activity in diabetic VSMC was significantly higher than that in control cell, accompanied with increased mRNA expression of p22phox, a membrane subunit of oxidase. Furthermore, inhibition of p22phox expression by transfection of antisense p22phox oligonucleotides into diabetic VSMC resulted in a decrease in superoxide production, which was accompanied by a significant inhibition of cell proliferation. Based on these results, it is suggested that diabetes-associated increase in NAD(P)H oxidase activity via enhanced expression of p22phox contributes to augmented VSMC proliferation in diabetic rats.

• 약학회지
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.156-160
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• 2009

The present study was undertaken to determine whether transgelin participates in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction and, if so, to investigate the mechanism. By PCR homology cloning, the cDNA sequence of ferret transgelin was determined and phosphorothioate antisense and random oligonucleotides were synthesized and introduced into strips of ferret aorta by a chemical loading procedure. Treatment of ferret aorta with transgelin antisense oligonucleotides resulted in a significant decrease in protein levels of transgelin to sham- or random sequence-loaded muscles, but no change in the protein levels of actin. Contraction in response to a phorbol ester was significantly decreased in antisense-treated muscles compared to sham- or random sequence-loaded controls. Neither basal intrinsic tone nor the contraction in response to phenylephrine was significantly affected by the antisense treatment. The data indicate that transgelin plays a significant role in the regulation of contraction and suggest that in a tonically active smooth muscle transgelin may function as a signalling protein to facilitate PKC or ERK-dependent signalling rather than thick filament regulation including $Ca^{2+}$ or calmodulin dependent regulation of myosin light chain kinase.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.50-58
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• 1998

The effects of the Evodiae fructus on the cardiovascular function were assessed in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and isolated preparation of spontaneously hypertensive rats aortic strip. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, intraperitoneal administration of methanol crude extract of Evodiae Fructus (0.5mg/kg) lowered aterial blood pressure which lasted for at least 4 hours. The hypotensive effect of Evodiae Fructus was more stronger with ${\alpha}-adrenoreceptor$ inhibitor(Phentholamine) and it was not affected by ${\beta}-adrenoreceptor$ inhibitor(Propranolol). The hypotensive effect of Evodiae Fructus was abolished by NAME. It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of Evodiae Fructus may be concern with endothelium-derived relaxing factor and it may be mediated through NO synthesis. Evodiae Fructus showed a vasorelaxing effect on denude aortic strip. It is suggested that Evodiae Fructus has a direct relaxing effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. Judging from above results, it was proved that hypotensive effect of Evodiae Fructus. The mechanism of hypotensive action may be concern with endothelium-derived relaxing factor and direct relaxing effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. Therefore, it is suggested that Evodiae Fructus is applicable to hypertension.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2007

To elucidate a potential molecular link between diabetes and atherosclerosis, we investigated the role of Janus tyrosine kinase(JAK) for NAD(P)H oxidase-derived superoxide generation in the enhanced proliferative capacity of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty(OLETF) rat, an animal model of type 2 diabetes. An enhanced proliferative response to 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS) and superoxide generation with an increased NAD(P)H oxidase activity were observed in diabetic(OLETF) VSMC. Both the enhanced proliferation and superoxide generation in diabetic VSMC were significantly attenuated by AG490, JAK2 inhibitor, and PP2, Src kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in diabetic VSMC, especially JAK2, was increased compared to control VSMC. Furthermore, the enhanced NAD(P)H oxidase activity in diabetic VSMC was significantly attenuated by AG490 in a dose-dependent manner. Together, these results indicate that the signal pathway which leads to diabetes-associated activation of Src kinase/JAK is critically involved in the diabetic VSMC proliferation through NAD(P)H oxidase activation and superoxide generation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.597-605
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• 2018

In this study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of the Class Ic antiarrhythmic agent propafenone on voltage-dependent $K^+$ (Kv) channels using freshly isolated coronary artery smooth muscle cells from rabbits. The Kv current amplitude was progressively inhibited by propafenone in a dose-dependent manner, with an apparent $IC_{50}$ value of $5.04{\pm}1.05{\mu}M$ and a Hill coefficient of $0.78{\pm}0.06$. The application of propafenone had no significant effect on the steady-state activation and inactivation curves, indicating that propafenone did not affect the voltage-sensitivity of Kv channels. The application of train pulses at frequencies of 1 or 2 Hz progressively increased the propafenone-induced inhibition of the Kv current. Furthermore, the inactivation recovery time constant was increased after the application of propafenone, suggesting that the inhibitory action of propafenone on Kv current is partially use-dependent. Pretreatment with Kv1.5, Kv2.1 or Kv7 inhibitor did not change the inhibitory effect of propafenone on the Kv current. Together, these results suggest that propafenone inhibits the vascular Kv channels in a dose- and use-dependent manner, regardless of $Na^+$ channel inhibition.