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Effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation on vascular reactivity of thoracic aorta in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The present study evaluated the effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation (1,000 mg/kg chow) on the alterations in vascular reactivity of streptozotocin-diabetic aorta of Wistar rats. After 12 weeks of treatment, thoracic aortic rings of rats were mounted in organ baths and contractile responses to phenylephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine and relaxant responses to acetylcholine, calcium ionophore and sodium nitroprusside were assessed. Plasma vitamin E concentration as measured by HPLC was markedly decreased in diabetic rats and increased with dietary vitamin E supplementation. Induction of diabetes significantly impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine and calcium ionophore in aortic rings, but did not change endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside. Vitamin E significantly improved the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations, further it decreased the enhanced contractile response to phenylephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in diabetic rings. The mechanical denudation of endothelium or the chemical inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 µmol/l) significantly increased phenylephrine contractility in control rings and the rings of diabetic rats treated with vitamin E; such a difference was not observed in diabetic rats fed with normal diet. Liver and lung malondialdehyde concentrations, as an index of lipid peroxidation, were increased in diabetic rats and significantly decreased with vitamin E supplementation. It is concluded that dietary supplementation of vitamin E improved endothelial dysfunction in insulin-dependent model of uncontrolled diabetes, probably decreasing membranal lipid peroxidation.

Role of Leukotrienes on Coronary Vasoconstriction in Isolated Hearts of Arthritic Rats: Effect of in vivo Treatment with CI-986, a Dual Inhibitor of Cyclooxygenase and Lipoxygenase

In this study, coronary perfusion pressure and force of contraction were investigated in isolated hearts removed from arthritic rats by using the Langendorff method. A strong coronary vasoconstriction was determined in arthritic hearts which was associated with elevated levels of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) products, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and LTC4 in coronary effluents. In vivo treatment with the dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and LOX, CI-986 (2 and 10 mg/kg/day) on days 14– 26 following adjuvant injection, prevented the coronary vasoconstriction and the increased production of LTB4 and LTC4. These results suggest that the coronary vasoconstriction in the isolated arthritic hearts is associated with an increased activity of the LOX system and CI-986 could have a preventive effect on constriction of coronary arteries.

Effect of Nabumetone Treatment on Vascular Responses of the Thoracic Aorta in Rat Experimental Arthritis

Nabumetone is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAI) drug which is known to cause less gastrointestinal damage than other NSAI drugs. This study was performed to evaluate whether nabumetone treatment might alter the vascular aberrations related to inflammation in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Nabumetone treatment (120 or 240 mg·kg–1·day–1, orally) was initiated on the 15th day of adjuvant inoculation and continued for 14 days. Arthritic lesions, vascular contractile and relaxant responses and gastroduodenal histopathological preparations were evaluated 29 days after adjuvant inoculation. The contractile responses of aortic rings to phenylephrine and KCl were increased in grade 2 arthritic rats. In grade 3 arthritis only the phenylephrine contractility was decreased. The relaxant responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were decreased in grades 2 and 3. In healthy rats, nabumetone did not change the vascular responses. After treatment of arthritic rats with nabumetone, both the contractile and relaxant response of the aortic rings returned to normal, and arthritic score and paw swelling were reduced. Gastroduodenal histopathology did not show erosions or ulcers in any of the groups. In conclusion, nabumetone improved the systemic signs and vascular alterations in experimental arthritis without showing any gastrointestinal side effects.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels in rat adjuvant arthritis: effect of vitamin E administration.

We aimed to study the alterations in serum homocysteine levels and endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular relaxant responses in adjuvant-induced arthritis of the rat and to determine the effects of vitamin E administration on these changes. Arthritis was induced by a single intradermal injection of Freunds complete adjuvant into the paw. 26 days after the induction of arthritis, serum homocysteine levels and relaxant responses to acetylcholine and sodiumnitroprusside in thoracic aortas were evaluated. The relaxant responses to acetylcholine were decreased in aortas from arthritic rats, whereas the responses to sodiumnitroprusside were not significantly different when compared to the aortas from control rats. A significant increase was observed in serum homocysteine levels of the arthritic rats in comparison to those of controls. Vitamin E administration (100 mg/kg/day, i.m. for 26 days) to arthritic rats resulted in a significant increase in endothelium-dependent aortic responses to acetylcholine and a significant decrease in serum homocysteine levels with respect to the non-treated arthritic rats. However, in healthy rats, vitamin E treatment significantly decreased the acetylcholine-induced relaxant responses. We conclude that adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat is associated with increased serum homocysteine levels and this is accompanied by a reduction in endothelium-dependent vascular responses in the thoracic aortas. Vitamin E treatment leads to normalization of the increased serum homocysteine levels and improves the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses in this experimental model.

Effects of MK-886, a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor, in a rabbit model of endotoxic shock

Leukotrienes are one of the biological mediators that play a role in endotoxic shock. In this study, we investigated the effects of a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor, MK-886, in a rabbit model of endotoxic shock. Lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli serotype 055:B5) infusion (1 mg kg(-1) h(-1)) to rabbits caused a biphasic decline in arterial blood pressure and decreased the vasoresponsiveness to phenylephrine, potassium chloride, sodium nitroprusside and acetylcholine in abdominal aortic rings. Oral administration of MK-886 (3-(1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-t-butyl-thio-5-isopropylindol-2-yl(-2,2-+ ++dimethylpropanoic acid) (5 mg/kg) 3 h prior to lipopolysaccharide infusion significantly inhibited the decline in arterial blood pressure and enhanced the responsiveness to phenylephrine and acetylcholine, whereas the changes in sodium nitroprusside and potassium chloride responses were not significant. However, the pD2 (-log EC50) values for sodium nitroprusside in this group were higher than those of the group that received lipopolysaccharide alone. Neither the administration of the vehicle alone to endotoxemic rabbits, nor MK-886 administration to control animals, caused significant changes. These data suggest that MK-886 attenuates the hypotension and partially reverses the impaired vascular responsiveness observed in endotoxic shock.

Effect of Vitamin E on Vascular Responses of Thoracic Aorta in Rat Experimental Arthritis

1. Vascular contractile and relaxant responses were evaluated in isolated aortic rings of adjuvant-induced arthritic rats in comparison with control rats, and the effect of an antioxidant treatment on the development of the arthritis was investigated by vitamin E administration (100 mg/kg/day, i.m., for 26 days). 2. Arthritis was induced by an intradermal injection of Freunds complete adjuvant into rat paw. Vascular responses, arthritic lesions and serum copper levels were evaluated after 26 days from adjuvant inoculation. 3. Serum copper levels were significantly lower in arthritic rats than in the control. 4. The contractile response of aortic rings to phenylephrine (PE), but not to KCl, was increased in preparations from arthritic rats, which could be explained by an enhancement of intracellular calcium contents. 5. Acetylcholine (Ach)-mediated endothelium-dependent and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-mediated endothelium-independent relaxations were not changed significantly in vascular preparations from arthritic rats. 6. In arthritic rats, vitamin E treatment improved arthritic lesions with an increase in copper levels. Despite this ameliorating effect, vitamin E treatment caused an increase in contractile response to PE and a decrease in the relaxant response to Ach and SNP in arthritic rats. 7. These data show that vitamin E provides ameliorating effects in improving systemic signs of experimental arthritis, but it fails to restore abnormalities in vascular function, indicating that adjuvant-induced alterations in vascular function may include mechanisms other than oxygen-free radical formation.

The antinociceptive effect of leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist, MK-571, in mice : Possible involvement of opioidergic mechanism

The effect of a leukotriene D(4) receptor antagonist, (3-(3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethenyl)phenyl(3-dimethyl amino-3-oxo propyl)thio)methyl)thio) propanoic acid (L-660,711; MK-571), was investigated on nociceptive responses in mice using three different assays: acetic-acid-induced abdominal constrictions, formalin response and tail-flick test. MK-571 (8-32 mg/kg, i.v.) produced dose-dependent protection against acetic-acid-induced abdominal constriction (ED(50)=30 mg/kg). The compound (10-80 mg/kg, i.p.) was also effective, in a dose-dependent manner, on the second phase of the formalin response (ED(50)=26 mg/kg). However, it had no effect on the first phase of the formalin response and in the tail-flick test. Naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.v.), an opioid antagonist, almost completely blocked the antinociceptive effect of MK-571 in both acetic-acid-induced abdominal constriction and the second phase of the formalin test. These results provide evidence for an antinociceptive action of MK-571 at peripheral sites and suggest that opioid mechanisms are involved.

Therapeutic concentrations of tacrolimus do not interfere with endothelial nitric oxide synthesis in rat thoracic aortas and coronary arteries

This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of in vivo administration of immunosuppressive agent FK-506 (tacrolimus) on the endothelial function of rat thoracic aortas with respect to nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. In vitro effect of the drug on NO synthesis in cultured rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) was also studied. In vivo administration of tacrolimus (1 mg/kg/d, intramuscular) to rats for 14 days resulted in decreased relaxant responses to the higher concentrations (1 to 30 μM) of acetylcholine in the aortas; however, responses to calcium ionophore A23187, sodium nitroprusside, L-arginine, and L-NAME did not change significantly. No changes were observed in phenylephrine-induced contractions in endothelium-denuded or -intact preparations. Administration of the vehicle for 14 days did not affect these parameters. In order to evaluate the in vitro effect of tacrolimus on NO release, CMEC isolated from rat hearts were incubated with either tacrolimus (0.01, 0.1 μM) or the vehicle. Basal, calcium ionophore-stimulated, or interleukin-1β-induced NO synthesis was determined by measuring total nitrite in the media. Neither tacrolimus nor the vehicle changed nitrite accumulation. It has been concluded that therapeutic concentrations of tacrolimus do not alter NO production in rat thoracic aorta or cultured CMEC; however, it impairs relaxant responses of rat aorta induced by higher concentrations of acetylcholine, possibly through changes in the downstream of receptor activation or through an imbalance between endothelium-dependent relaxant and contracting factors within the endothelium in favor of the contracting factor(s).

Platelet aggregation and atrial natriuretic peptide

1. Isolated human platelets were used to investigate the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on in vitro platelet aggregation induced by epinephrine, ADP, collagen and 5-hydroxytryptamine. As a direct stimulant of particulate guanylate cyclase, ANP is known to have no direct effect on platelets which contain soluble guanylate cyclase. 2. In our experiments ANP inhibited epinephrine- and partially ADP-induced aggregation in vitro and this effect was suggested to be the result of an interaction of the peptide with adenylate cyclase in platelets. However, the concentrations required to produce this effect were higher than those expected to be found in the circulation both physiologically and pathologically. 3. We therefore conclude that though the peptide may inhibit-aggregation via adenylate cyclase activation, it is unlikely that ANP may play a direct role in preventing platelets aggregating.

Possible Contribution of Leukotrienes in the Arrhythmogenic Effects of Digoxin on Isolated Guinea-Pig Hearts

The effect of a leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor antagonist, L-648,051, was investigated in digoxin-induced cardiac toxicity in isolated guinea-pig hearts (Langendorff preparation). Digoxin infusion (25 µg·ml–1, 0.5 ml·min–1) increased perfusion pressure and contractile force initially, but decreased them later. The onset of first ventricular premature beats (VPBs) matched the increase phase, but the decrease phase was accompanied by ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF). In the presence of L-648,051 (5 µmol·l–1), the initial phase was similar to that observed with digoxin alone, but the marked reduction was inhibited. This drug increased the concentration of digoxin required for VBSs and cardiac arrest, but it could not prevent the formation of VT and VF. The duration of VT was significantly decreased by L-648,051. It is concluded that the leukotriene receptor antagonist might have beneficial effects on digoxin-induced arrhythmias. Whether this effect depends on direct or indirect actions is uncertain.