Discriminating and continuous measurement of photosynthesis and respiration by monitoring 13CO2 and 12CO2 as tracers

The simultaneous and discriminative measurement of the photosynthesis and the respiration of the plant was attained by simultaneous monitoring of 13CO2 and 12CO2 by artificial control of 13CO2 abundance of ambient air. The principle of the measurement is based on the following physiological processes. 6CO2 + 12H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O, 6(13C)O2 + 12H2O --> (13C6)H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O, 6CO2 + 12H2(18O) --> C6H12O6 + 6(18O)18O + 6H20. Assuming that respiratory consumption of the new born carbon substrate fixed by photosynthesis is negligible during the measurement, the photosynthetic CO2 consumption VPCO2 and the respiratory CO2 production VRCO2 are measured according to the estimation (1) or (2), (1) for closed method, VPCO2 = k(V0 - V t)¿ F13CO2 + (F12CO2/F13CO2)F13CO2 ¿, VRCO2 = k(V0 - V t)¿ F12CO2 - (F12CO2/F13CO2)F13CO2 ¿, (2) for open method, VPCO2 = kVE ¿ (FI13CO2 - FE13CO2) + (F12CO2/F13CO2)(FI13CO2 - FE13CO2) ¿, VRCO2 = kVE ¿ (FI12CO2 - FE12CO2) - (F12CO2/F13CO2)(FI13CO2 - FE13CO2) ¿ where V0 is initial volume of growth chamber including attached flexible bag, FICO2 is the inlet or initial gas concentration of CO2 and FECO2 is the ambient gas concentration of CO2 in the chamber, V and VE are the sampling rate of mass spectrometer and the ventilation rate of the growth chamber respectively, k is the STPD conversion factor = ¿273(PB-PH2O)/760(273+tE)¿, tE(degrees C) is the ambient gas temperature. In the closed method, the gas container of the growth chamber is circulated, resulting FECO2 is varied according to the balance of consumption and production of CO2, while in the open method VE is controlled to keep FECO2 at a constant value. Both (1) and (2) methods were examined and evaluated on the measurements of komatsuna and maize.

Ethanol-induced leukocyte adherence and albumin leakage in rat mesenteric venules: role of CD18/intercellular adhesion molecule-1

The adherence and emigration of leukocytes have been implicated as a rate-limiting step in the microvascular disturbance in a variety of pathogenic events. The objective of the present study was to investigate leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and endothelial barrier function in rat mesenteric microvessels exposed to ethanol, which is known to cause inflammation and injury in various organs. Mesentery of male Wistar rats was used for intravital microscopic observations. Leukocyte adherence and albumin leakage were monitored in single postcapillary venules using the intravital fluorescence microscope. Superfusion of 50 mM ethanol elicited the leukocyte adherence and albumin leakage within 60 min. Pretreatment with a monoclonal antibody directed against either CD18 or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) significantly prevented the ethanol-induced increase in leukocyte adherence and decrease in barrier function of endothelium. These results suggest that ethanol-induced leukocyte adherence is mediated by CD18 on leukocytes and ICAM-1 on endothelial cells. The present study further supports that CD18/ ICAM-1-dependent leukocyte-endothelial adhesive interactions lead to macromolecular leakage in the postcapillary venules exposed to ethanol.

Ionic current model of bipolar cells in the lower vertebrate retina

We propose an ionic current model of bipolar cells based on the published experimental data. Five types of ionic currents identified in bipolar cell bodies, Ih, IKv, IA, ICa and IK(Ca) were described by a mathematical formulation similar to the Hodgkin and Huxley (Journal of Physiology, 117, 500-544, 1952) equations. The model parameters were estimated from the voltage clamp data. In simulation, we demonstrate that the present model reproduces not only the voltage clamp responses but also the current clamp responses of the bipolar cells. As a result, the model provides a better understanding of the functional role of the ionic currents in bipolar cells in generating the electrical responses.

IL-1 is an important mediator for microcirculatory changes in endotoxin-induced intestinal mucosal damage

Although small intestine is frequently injured in endotoxin shock, the exact pathological sequence has not been fully understood. The major objective of this study is to elucidate the role of interleukin (IL)-1 in endotoxin-induced microcirculatory disturbance of rat small intestine. Mucosal and submucosal microvessels of the rat ileum were observed by intravital microscope with a high speed video camera system and the attenuating effect of E5090, an inhibitor of IL-1 generation, on endotoxin-induced intestinal microcirculatory disturbances was investigated. Endotoxin infusion produced significant mucosal damage, but before these morphological changes became significant, microvascular stasis in villi, decreased red blood cell velocity, and increased leukocyte adherence to venular walls were observed in intestinal microcirculatory beds 30 min after endotoxin administration. Intestinal IL-1alpha levels were also significantly increased at that time. Endotoxin treatment enhanced chemiluminescence activity from neurophils and rapidly mobilized CD18 on leukocytes. E5090, which suppressed the IL-1 production in intestinal mucosa, attenuated the microcirculatory disturbances induced by endotoxin, and significantly reduced the subsequent mucosal damage. E5090 also attenuated the increased chemiluminescence activity and CD18 expression on leukocytes. In conclusion, the production of IL-1alpha is enhanced in the intestinal mucosa during endotoxin infusion. IL-1 may be an important mediator of microcirculatory changes, including decreased red blood cell velocity and increased leukocyte sticking and its activation, leading to the mucosal damage.

Adenosine A2-receptor mediates ethanol-induced arteriolar dilation in rat stomach

Topical application of ethanol to the gastrointestinal mucosa induces vasodilation. Using an in vivo microscopy technique, we studied the effect of topical ethanol on the submucosal microvessels that control mucosal blood flow in the rat stomach and identified vasoactive substances and receptors that mediate the ethanol vasoaction. Topical ethanol (1-20%) dilated submucosal arterioles dose dependently, but did not change venular diameters. An inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, 1 mM 4-methylpyrazole, did not alter the ethanol vasoaction. Ethanol-induced arteriolar dilation was eliminated by adenosine deaminase, but other vasodilator inhibitors such as atropine, pyrilamine, indomethacin, human calcitonin gene-related peptide-(8-37), and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester did not prevent it. Ethanol-induced arteriolar dilation was inhibited by an adenosine A2-receptor antagonist, but not by an A1-receptor antagonist, whereas an A2-agonist, but not an A1-agonist, dose dependently dilated arterioles. Exogenous adenosine (10(-5)-10(-3) M) dilated arterioles to a similar extent as ethanol. This response was inhibited by an A2-antagonist. We conclude that nonmetabolized ethanol increases gastric mucosal blood flow via A2-receptors in submucosal arterioles.

Genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and the risk for alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in Japanese alcoholics

Genetic predisposition to alcoholism and alcoholic liver disease has been reported. However, genetic susceptibility to alcoholic pancreatitis is still a matter of debate. To determine it, we examined genotype patterns of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2 and ADH3), and cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1) in alcoholic pancreatitis patients. In 296 alcoholic patients, 52 cases showed findings of chronic pancreatitis by ultrasonography and x-ray computed tomography and/or had a history of pancreatitis (P+). The remaining 244 patients had neither abnormal findings of the image examinations nor a history of pancreatitis (P-). As for the ADH2 genotype, distribution of 2(1)/2(1), 2(1)/2(2), and 2(2)/2(2) was 22, 37, and 42% in P+ patients, whereas 34, 35, and 30% in P- patients, respectively. The frequency of ADH2(2)/2(2) genotype was significantly higher in P+ patients, compared with that in P- patients. There were no significant differences in the distribution of ADH3, ALDH2, and CYP2E1 genotypes between P+ and P- patients. In 14 alcoholic patients who showed low contents of fecal chymotrypsin, which suggests dysfunction of pancreatic exocrine, the rate of ADH2(2)/2(2) genotype also tended to be higher (50%) than in 74 controls who showed normal contents of the fecal chymotrypsin (28%). No differences were observed in genotypes of ADH3, ALDH2, and CYP2E1. Moreover, the frequency of ADH2(2)/2(2) genotype was significantly higher in autopsy cases with interlobular fibrosis in the pancreas, which suggests alcoholic pancreatic damage, than in cases with only intralobular pancreatic fibrosis. These data suggest that the risk of alcoholic pancreatitis seems to be associated with the presence of ADH2(2)/2(2) genotype.

Cancer screening of upper aerodigestive tract in Japanese alcoholics with reference to drinking and smoking habits and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genotype

In this study, 1,000 Japanese male alcoholics were consecutively screened by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with esophageal iodine staining. Associations among cancer-detection rates, drinking and smoking habits, and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) genotypes were evaluated. A total of 53 patients (5.3%) had histologically confirmed cancer. Esophageal cancer was diagnosed in 36, gastric cancer in 17, and oropharyngolaryngeal cancer in 9 patients: 8 of the esophageal-cancer patients were multiple-cancer patients, with additional cancer(s) in the stomach and/or oropharyngolaryngeal region. Multiple logistic regression revealed that use of stronger alcoholic beverages (whisky or shochu) in contrast with lighter beverages (sake or beer) and smoking of 50 pack-years or more increased the risks for esophageal (odds ratio 3.2 and 2.8 respectively), oropharyngolaryngeal (4.8 and 5.1 respectively) and multiple cancer (10.5 and 11.8 respectively). The inactive form of ALDH2, encoded by the gene ALDH2*1/2*2 prevalent in Orientals, exposes them to higher blood levels of acetaldehyde, a recognized animal carcinogen, after drinking. This inactive ALDH2 was detected in 19/36 (52.8%) patients with esophageal cancer, in 5/9 (55.6%) patients with oropharyngolaryngeal cancer, and in 7/8 (87.5%) patients with multiple cancer. All of these gene frequencies far exceeded that in a large alcoholic cohort (80/655, 12.2%). The triple combination of the risk factors of the inactive ALDH2, stronger alcoholic beverages and heavy smoking was more commonly associated with multiple-cancer patients than with patients with esophageal cancer alone (62.5% vs. 7.1%). These results show that the 3 risk factors are important for the development of upper-aerodigestive-tract cancer in Japanese alcoholics. For these high-risk drinkers, regimented screening appears to be indicated.

Characterization of vascular endothelial growth factor's effect on the activation of protein kinase C, its isoforms, and endothelial cell growth

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell mitogen which mediates its effects by binding to tyrosine kinase receptors. We have characterized the VEGF-activated intracellular signal transduction pathway in bovine aortic endothelial cells and correlated this to its mitogenic effects. VEGF induced concentration- and time-dependent increases in protein kinase C (PKC) activation with a maximum of 2.2-fold above the basal level at 5 x 10(-10) M within 10 min as measured both by in situ and translocation assays. Immunoblotting analysis of PKC isoforms in cytosolic and membrane fractions indicated that after VEGF stimulation the content of Ca(2+)-sensitive PKC isoforms (alpha and betaII) was increased in the membrane fractions, whereas no changes were observed for PKC isoforms delta and epsilon. The stimulation of PKC activity by VEGF was preceded by the activation of phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma). This was demonstrated by parallel increases in PLCgamma tyrosine phosphorylation, [3H]inositol phosphate production, and [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled diacylglycerol formation in bovine aortic endothelial cells. In addition, VEGF increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity 2.1-fold which was inhibited by wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, without decreasing the VEGF-induced increase in PKC activity or endothelial cell growth. Interestingly, genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and GFX or H-7, PKC inhibitors, abolished both VEGF-induced PKC activation and endothelial cell proliferation. VEGF's mitogenic effect was inhibited by a PKC isoform beta-selective inhibitor, LY333531, in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, antisense PKC-alpha oligonucleotides enhanced VEGF-stimulated cell growth with a simultaneous decrease of 70% in PKC-alpha protein content. Thus, VEGF appears to mediate its mitogenic effects partly through the activation of the PLCgamma and PKC pathway, involving predominately PKC-beta isoform activation in endothelial cells.

Increased nitric oxide synthase activity as a cause of mitochondrial dysfunction in rat hepatocytes: roles for tumor necrosis factor alpha

Kupffer cells have been implicated in playing an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxemia-associated liver injury. The present study was designed to investigate whether Kupffer cell-derived mediators alter the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation of hepatocytes in the endotoxemic condition. Liver cells were isolated from male Wistar rats. Oxidative phosphorylation was monitored as the fluorescence of rhodamine 123 (Rh123), which is the fluorescent cationic dye used to indicate mitochondrial energy synthesis. Two hours after coculture of hepatocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-pretreated Kupffer cells, a marked decrease in hepatocyte rhodamine 123 fluorescence was observed. The hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction was attenuated by the addition of either N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, or aminoguanidine, an inducible-type of NO synthase inhibitor, to the culture medium of cocultures, to the pretreatment of LPS-activated Kupffer cells with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA), or to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA. Four hours after the coculture, hepatocyte Rh123 fluorescence further decreased, and an iNOS induction as well as an increased NO production were observed in hepatocytes that were cocultured with LPS-pretreated Kupffer cells. The membrane barrier dysfunction of hepatocytes, indicated by propidium iodide staining, was also induced by a 4-hour coculture with LPS-pretreated Kupffer cells. These late-phase changes were inhibited either by the pretreatment of hepatocytes with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against iNOS mRNA or by treatments that are effective in the early phase (within 2 hours). Incubation with recombinant rat TNF-alpha decreased hepatocyte Rh123 fluorescence within 2 hours. Thus, the present study suggests that NO and TNF-alpha released from LPS-pretreated Kupffer cells directly inhibit the hepatocyte mitochondrial function in the early phase, and then NO synthesized by TNF-alpha-induced hepatocyte iNOS causes lethal hepatocyte injury, characterized by diminished mitochondrial energization and membrane barrier function in the late phase.

Subcloning of three osteoblastic cell lines with distinct differentiation phenotypes from the mouse osteoblastic cell line KS-4

Three distinct osteoblastic cell lines (KS418, KS460, and KS483) were subcloned from the mouse osteoblastic KS-4 cells, which possessed the abilities not only to differentiate into mature osteoblasts, but also to support osteoclast differentiation in coculture with spleen cells. The order of the magnitude of the basal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was KS483 > KS418 > KS460. KS483 cells were also more differentiated than KS418 and KS460 in terms of ALP activity and osteocalcin production, when cultured in growth medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. In long-term culture, KS418 and KS483 apparently differentiated into mature osteoblasts and formed calcified nodules without addition of beta-glycerophosphate. Electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that calcification occurring in the nodules was initiated in the matrix vesicles as observed in bone formation in vivo. Nodule formation and mineral deposition occurred simultaneously in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate, but the former always preceded the latter without addition of beta-glycerophosphate. In contrast, KS460 cells did not show time-dependent increases of ALP activity, type I collagen expression and osteocalcin production, which were induced by treatment with recombinant osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1). The three cell lines similarly supported osteoclast differentiation in coculture with spleen cells in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These results indicate that the three cell lines subcloned from the original KS-4 cells represent phenotypically distinct osteoblasts during osteoblast differentiation, but are equipped similarly with the capacity to support osteoclast differentiation. The subcloned cells of the KS-4 series may provide useful systems in which to study osteoblast differentiation and function.

[The clinicopathological characters and prognostic factors of small peripheral lung cancer measuring 3 cm or less in diameter]

Of the 183 patients with primary lung cancer treated at our hospital with small peripheral lung cancers of 3 cm or less in diameter: 16 had tumors up to 1 cm, 23 had tumors of 1-1.5 cm, 43 had tumors of 1.5-2 cm, and 101 had tumors of 2-3 cm in diameter. These tumors comprised 134 adenocarcinomas, 31 squamous cell carcinomas, 6 adenosquamous carcinomas, 4 small cell carcinomas, 2 large cell carcinomas and 6 carcinoids. The tumor classification was 134 n0, 20 n1, and 29 n2 tumors. As tumor size is smaller, n0 tumors, p0 + p1 tumors and ly0 tumors are significantly increased. All tumors of up to 1 cm in diameter exhibited no node or intrapulmonary metastases and never resulted in the death of the patients due to lung cancer: thus good prognoses may be expected in such cases. In tumors larger than 1 cm in diameter, node or intrapulmonary metastases are increased and 5-year survival rates are decreased. In multivariate analysis the most effective factor on prognosis is node metastasis. For better post-operative prognosis, we may have to detect and resect peripheral lung cancers in the stage of tumor size of up to 1.5 cm in diameter, because node metastases are rare in these small tumors.

A case of advanced gastric cancer complicated by severe toxicity induced by a combination of tegafur, uracil and mitomycin C, and associated with abnormal pharmacokinetics

A 60-year-old female patient with gastric cancer and lymph node and liver metastases was treated with a combination of tegafur and uracil (UFT) (375 mg/m2/day) and mitomycin C (MMC) (5 mg/m2 once weekly). On day 15, when diarrhea appeared, chemotherapy was stopped immediately. On day 21, the WBC decreased to 900/microl and high fever developed. Despite treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and antibiotics, leukopenia persisted and the patient went into septic shock on day 26. On day 34, WBC increased to 5,400/microl and she recovered, with reduction in the size of the lymph node and liver metastases. Pharmacokinetic examination after intravenous injection of low-dose MMC (0.5 mg/m2) showed a markedly high peak plasma concentration (PPC), a large area under the time-versus-concentration curve (AUC) and reduced clearance. Similarly, oral administration of UFT (tegafur 300 mg/body) produced a relatively higher PPC and a larger AUC of 5-fluorouracil (FU). The activity of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of FU, in peripheral mononuclear cells was within the normal range (0.265 nmol/min/mg). MMC is believed to have played a large part in inducing the severe toxicity observed in this patient. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of severe toxicity during treatment with UFT and MMC, although details of its incidence and mechanism are unclear.

Effect of ethanol on mouse hepatitis virus-induced cytotoxicity

The effect of ethanol on cells infected with mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was investigated. After MHV infection of competent cells, NCTC1469, ethanol was added to the culture at various concentrations, and the viability of cells was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. To examine the possible involvement of the ethanol metabolite, acetaldehyde, alcohol dehydrogenase activity was measured in NCTC1469 cells. Ethanol alone did not show cytotoxicity against NCTC1469 cells at concentrations from 0.125% to 2%. After infection with MHV, the viability of cells decreased, and this decrease was further enhanced, dose-dependently, by the addition of ethanol. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in the cells was below the detectable level. The same phenomena were also demonstrated in cells infected with influenza virus and Herpes simplex virus. These results demonstrate that ethanol enhances MHV-mediated cytotoxicity; this exacerbation of cytotoxicity by ethanol is suggested to be an effect common to cytopathic virus-infected cells.

Rat Kupffer cell-derived nitric oxide suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of syngeneic hepatoma cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Evidence increasingly indicates that nitric oxide plays an important role in antitumor mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NO in the mechanisms regulating the proliferation and death of hepatoma cells cocultured with Kupffer cells.

METHODS

Kupffer cells were isolated from male Wistar rats and cocultured with rat hepatoma AH70 cells. Proliferation was determined by calculating the number of total and 5-bromodeoxyuridine-positive AH70 cells. Apoptosis was assessed by electron-microscopic and fluorescence-microscopic observations and in situ nick end labeling method. Immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization studies were performed to investigate the induction of inducible NO synthase (iNOS).

RESULTS

Kupffer cells reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis of AH70 cells, which were attenuated by the NO synthesis inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and aminoguanidine. Increased inductions of iNOS messenger RNA and iNOS were observed in Kupffer cells cocultured with AH70 cells. Addition of monoclonal antibody directed against either rat CD18 or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 also attenuated the increased NO production of Kupffer cells and the alterations of AH70 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Kupffer cell-derived NO suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of hepatoma cells. The CD18 intercellular adhesion molecule 1-dependent adhesive interaction with hepatoma cells triggers NO production by Kupffer cells.

[Pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in alcoholics]

Glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus are both prevalent not only in alcoholic liver cirrhosis, but also in chronic alcoholics without cirrhosis. Nutritional properties, pharmacological effects, and metabolic alterations produced by alcohol intake due to excessive production of reducing equivalents play significant roles in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced glucose intolerance. Gluconeogenesis from glycogen, fatty acids, amino acids, and lactate are also impaired during ethanol metabolism. Thus, ethanol-induced hypoglycemia is closely related to depressed hepatic gluconeogenesis produced by ethanol, whereas ethanol-induced hyperglycemia or diabetes is due to hepatic and tissue insulin resistance and impairment of pancreatic endocrine system.

Keio multicenter trial in high-dose interferon-alpha 2b treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Keio Interferon-alpha 2b Study Group

The efficacy of two different high-dose treatment of IFN-alpha 2b was evaluated in this study. Serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels were semi-quantified by simplified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Seventy-one patients with chronic hepatitis C received 10 million units of IFN-alpha 2b daily for 2 weeks or twice a week for 24 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels overall normalized in 78.1% and 51.6% of the cases at the end of the therapy and 6 months after that, respectively. HCV RNA disappeared in 71.9% and 35.7% of the patients at the end of the therapy and 6 months after that, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 different regimes. The efficacy of the treatment was fair in cases in which the pretreatment level of the viral amount was low. The results of this study indicate that daily administration of IFN in the first 2 weeks during 6-month course does not increase the efficacy of the therapy in such a high-dose treatment regime.

[Prognosis of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer following arterial infusion chemotherapy--assessment from the percentage of tumor involved area and tumor markers]

Prognosis of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer following arterial infusion chemotherapy was studied from the percentage of tumor involved area (PTIA) and tumor markers. The PTIA was calculated by the following formula: sigma S'/ sigma S, with S' as the tumor area and S as the liver area on each CT slice. The PTIA was 0.76 to 31.1%, and the average was 6.84%. As for the correlation between the PTIA and the prognosis, a statistically significant reverse correlation was found in the cases of death (r = -0.455, p < 0.05, n = 22). In the tumor regression effect of NC cases, the 50% survival time was 24.4 months in cases showing a decrease in CEA or CA19-9 and 18.7 months in the cases showing an increase. Prognosis of the former cases was significantly better than that of the latter cases (p < 0.05). Therefore, PTIA and the decrease in CEA or CA19-9 in the cases of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for metastasis from colorectal cancer seemed important factors reflecting prognosis.

Roles of ET-1 in endotoxin-induced microcirculatory disturbance in rat small intestine

The major objective of this study was to investigate whether endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a significant role in endotoxin-induced microcirculatory disturbances of the intestinal mucosa. Submucosal microvessels of the rat ileum were observed by intravital microscopy with a high-speed video camera system. Preceding the apparent intestinal mucosal damage, red blood cell (RBC) velocity was significantly decreased 30 min after endotoxin treatment in both arterioles and venules. The number of leukocytes sticking to submucosal venules was significantly increased at 30 min. BQ-123, an ETA-receptor antagonist, significantly attenuated the decrease in RBC velocity and also prevented an increase in leukocyte sticking as well as the subsequent mucosal damage induced by endotoxin. The ET-1 concentrations began to be elevated in plasma at 15 min and in the mucosa at 30 min and subsequently further increased in a time-dependent manner. A significant decrease in calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthase activity and significant increases in the concentration of platelet-activating factor (PAF) were demonstrated in the intestinal mucosa after endotoxin treatment. BQ-123 also significantly attenuated these changes. We concluded that the increased ET-1 production in intestinal mucosa induced by endotoxin stimulation could lead to leukocyte sticking and decreased RBC velocity in the intestinal microcirculatory beds via ETA receptors, which are closely related to increased production of PAF and decreased synthesis of constitutive nitric oxide.