Hypothermia suppresses nitric oxide elevation during reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

We aimed to investigate effect of temperature on the jugular levels of nitric oxide (NO) at reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia. Both nitrosyl hemoglobin (HbNO) (2.5 +/- 0.4 microM) and plasma nitrite plus nitrate levels (61 +/- 5 microM) in rats under normothermia (approximately 37 degrees C) after 30 min of reperfusion following 2 h of left middle cerebral artery occlusion were significantly high, compared with sham operated rats (1.3 +/- 0.1 microM, 40 +/- 4 microM, respectively). Both HbNO (1.5 +/- 0.3 microM) and nitrite plus nitrate levels (43 +/- 7 microM) under moderate hypothermia (approximately 32 degrees C) were significantly low, compared with normothermic rats. HbNO (2.8 +/- 0.8 microM) and nitrite plus nitrate levels (65 +/- 8 microM) under mild hyperthermia (approximately 39 degrees C) were not significantly high. These results firstly demonstrated that hypothermia suppresses the elevation in intrajugular NO after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

Involvement of ICE family proteases in apoptosis induced by reoxygenation of hypoxic hepatocytes

Cell death due to reoxygenation after hypoxia was characterized in primary cultured hepatocytes. Fluorescence and electron microscopic analyses of reoxygenated hepatocytes revealed morphological characteristics of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Few necrotic hepatocytes, defined by loss of plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial swelling, and formation of large vacuoles, were observed. Activation of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like and CPP32/Yama-like proteases, which are known to drive apoptosis, was observed during reoxygenation, and addition of their respective inhibitors inhibited the induction of apoptosis, indicating the involvement of ICE family proteases in apoptosis by reoxygenation. Production of oxygen radicals was enhanced by reoxygenation of hypoxic cells, and reoxygenation-induced apoptosis was inhibited by oxygen radical scavengers, suggesting a role for reactive oxygen species as a triggering factor in cell death. Electrophoretic analysis revealed the presence of 50-kb DNA fragments but not oligonucleosomal DNA fragments in reoxygenation-induced apoptotic hepatocytes.

Cardiovascular effects of an ultra-short-acting nitric oxide-releasing compound, zwitterionic diamine/NO adduct, in dogs

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to clarify the cardiovascular effects of a new NO-releasing compound, NOC-7, and to compare it with other nitrovasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nitroglycerin, in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A bolus injection of NOC-7 decreased mean aortic blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The onset was rapid and the recovery quick. Continuous infusion of NOC-7 decreased mean aortic pressure from 115 +/- 3.9 to 84 +/- 2.9 mm Hg and infusion of SNP, from 118 +/- 3.8 to 87 +/- 3.1 mm Hg. The optimum doses of NOC-7 and SNP were determined to be 2.73 +/- 0.77 and 11.5 +/- 6.1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. During infusion of NOC-7, heart rate and cardiac output were increased (P < .05), pulmonary artery pressure was not changed, and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances were decreased (P < .05). Electromagnetic flowmetry showed that portal venous and internal carotid arterial blood flow were increased (P < .05) and that hepatic and renal arterial blood flows were not changed. These hemodynamic changes during NOC-7 infusion were similar to those with SNP. The plasma level of NO2-/NO3 did not change, but methemoglobin increased slightly (P < .05). Comparison between hypotensive responses before and after a 3.5-hour infusion of NOC-7 or nitroglycerin showed that acute tolerance developed to nitroglycerin but not to NOC-7.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that NOC-7 may be useful as an ultra-short-acting nitrovasodilator that has no major adverse effect or tolerance.

Detection of nitric oxide production and its role in pancreatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Partial ischemia of rat pancreas body and tail was obtained by occlusion of the celiac axis for 1 h after gastrectomy. The plasma level of nitrite plus nitrate in both systemic and portal venous blood after reperfusion was significantly higher than that after sham operation and ischemia alone. The elevation after reperfusion was significantly decreased by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Simultaneous administration of L-arginine counteracted the L-NAME-induced decrease in the level of nitric oxide (NO) end products. Generation of NO was further demonstrated by nitrosylhemoglobin detection by electron spin resonance in the blood after reperfusion. On the other hand, the plasma level of lipase, a marker of damage to pancreatic exocrine tissue, was significantly increased after ischemia-reperfusion and further increased by administration of L-NAME. This increase in lipase correlated with a decrease in tissue blood flow in the pancreas. These results suggest that NO is generated during and may have a protective role in ischemia-reperfusion of the rat pancreas.

Constitutive class I-restricted exogenous presentation of self antigens in vivo

Ovalbumin (OVA)-specific CD8+ T cells from the T cell receptor-transgenic line OT-I (OT-I cells) were injected into unirradiated transgenic RIP-mOVA mice, which express a membrane-bound form of OVA (mOVA) in the pancreatic islet beta cells and the renal proximal tubular cells. OT-I cells accumulated in the draining lymph nodes (LN) of the kidneys and pancreas and in no other LN. They displayed an activated phenotype and a proportion entered cell cycle. Unilateral nephrectomy 7-13 d before inoculation of OT-I cells into RIP-mOVA mice allowed the injected T cells to home only to the regional LN of the remaining kidney (and pancreas), but when the operation was performed 4 h before injecting the T cells, homing to the LN of the excised kidney was evident. When the bone marrow of RIP-mOVA mice was replaced with one of a major histocompatibility haplotype incapable of presenting OVA to OT-I cells, no homing or activation was detectable. Therefore, OT-I cells were activated by OVA presented by short-lived antigen-presenting cells of bone marrow origin present in the draining LN of OVA-expressing tissue. These results provide the first evidence that tissue-associated "self" antigens can be presented in the context of class I via an exogenous processing pathway. This offers a constitutive mechanism whereby T cells can be primed to antigens that are present in nonlymphoid tissues, which are not normally surveyed by recirculating naive T cells.

Load on the low back of teachers in nursery schools

In order to evaluate the load on the low back of teachers in nursery schools, basic activity, working posture, child-lifting, and desk-lifting were analyzed for eight nursery teachers using video recording. The trunk inclination angle (TIA) was also measured continuously during full workshifts for 20 nursery teachers using an inclination monitor. The nursery teachers in the 0-1 (year) age class more often adopted low working postures, "sitting on the floor" and "kneeling," while teachers in the 4-5 age class more frequently adopted high working postures, "standing" and "sitting on a chair." The mean of TIA among all subjects was 20 degrees. The time spent at a TIA of more than 20 degrees represented 43% of the workshift. The mean and time distribution of TIA did not differ between the age classes. The frequency of trunk-lifting from severe bending forward (TIA > 45 degrees) was 86 times/hour on average. The frequency of trunk-lifting was highest in the 0-1 age class. The number of times of child-lifting was 46 in the 0-1 age class, while it was 1 in the 4-5 age class.

Effect of ACh and calmodulin inhibitor on O2 transfer from exocrine pancreatic microvessels of rats

Effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride (W-7), on the rate of O2 release (Ro2) from single exocrine pancreatic microvessels of anesthetized rats were investigated with dual-spot microspectroscopy. The surface of the pancreas was superfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing various concentrations of ACh and/or W-7. Superfusion of ACh (> or = 20 microM) elevated Ro2 as well as pancreatic secretion approximately 2.5 times higher than that of control level, whereas superfusion of W-7 (> or = 100 microM) reduced approximately 50%. In both cases, O2 inflow in single microvessels, as quantified by oxyhemoglobin inflow into the microvessels, was maintained at control level. On the other hand, superfusion of both ACh and W-7 did not modify Ro2 and pancreatic secretion, despite significant reduction in O2 inflow. These results indicate that 1) the ACh-induced elevation of O2 release from single microvessels is accomplished by increased O2 extraction instead of increased O2 inflow in the microvessels, and 2) the activity of a W-7-sensitive Ca2+ binding protein, most likely CaM, is responsible for half of the microvascular O2 transfer and of the pancreatic exocrine secretion.

Correlation between lead in plasma and other indicators of lead exposure among lead-exposed workers

In order to clarify the bioavailability of lead in plasma (PbP), we performed a study on five workers in a Japanese factory manufacturing lead glass-based paints. Blood and urine samples were obtained over a period of 15 months, during which time the workers took it in turns to perform sifting work (with the highest level of lead exposure) for 1-month periods. A total of 75 sets of blood and urine samples were thus obtained. We determined whole blood lead (PbB), PbP, Urinary coproporphyrin (CPU), urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), urinary lead (PbU) and ALA in plasma (ALAP). In the 15 sets of samples obtained at the end of the period with a high level of lead exposure, PbP correlated significantly with ALAU, CPU, PbU and ALAP, but PbB correlated significantly only with PbU. In the 60 sets of samples obtained following a low level of lead exposure, correlation coefficients between the concentrations of PbP and of ALAU, CPU and PbU exceeded those between the concentrations of PbB and of ALAU, CPU and PbU. These findings indicate that PbP is a better dose indicator of lead biochemically available for heme synthesis and that PbU has a closer correlation with PbP than with PbB.

Renal handling of urate in a patient with familial juvenile gouty nephropathy

We encountered a case of familial juvenile gouty nephropathy (FJGN) with an autosomal dominant transmission pattern. Hyperuricemia in the propositus was caused by renal underexcretion of urate although his erythrocyte purine enzyme was normal. A renal biopsy specimen from the propositus showed interstitial fibrosis with tubular atrophy. On pyrazinamide and probenecid tests, the tubular secretion of urate selectively decreased without changes in either presecretory or postsecretory reabsorption of urate when his renal function was normal. Probenecid increased the urinary urate excretion and Cur/Ccr. The serum urate concentration was poorly controlled by allopurinol. When his renal function deteriorated, the uricosuric effects of both probenecid and benzbromarone were attenuated. However, the combined administration of probenecid with allopurinol decreased the serum urate concentration. These data suggest that the tubular secretion of urate is selectively impaired in FJGN and at the stage of renal failure, the combination of an uricosuric agent with allopurinol might be effective in treating hyperuricemia in FJGN.

Role of nitric oxide in regulation of coronary blood flow during myocardial ischemia in dogs

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to examine whether nitric oxide released in ischemic myocardium decreases the coronary vascular resistance and attenuates the severity of contractile and metabolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor, recently identified as nitric oxide, is a potent relaxant of coronary smooth muscle.

METHODS

The left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused through an extracorporeal bypass tube placed in the carotid artery in 56 open chest dogs. After hemodynamic stabilization, we occluded this bypass tube to decrease coronary blood flow to one third of the control flow. Thereafter, we maintained a constant coronary perfusion pressure (40.9 +/- 3.1 mm Hg).

RESULTS

Under ischemic conditions, the coronary arteriovenous differences in nitrate and nitrite (end products of nitric oxide) increased (from 3.5 +/- 0.4 [mean +/- SEM] to 12.9 +/- 2.1 mumol/liter, p < 0.01). NG-Monomethyl L-arginine (3 micrograms/kg body weight per min, intracoronary) decreased the coronary arteriovenous differences in nitrate and nitrite (5.0 +/- 0.9 mumol/liter, p < 0.05) and coronary blood flow (from 29.8 +/- 0.5 to 18.1 +/- 1.1 ml/100 g per min, p < 0.001). Fractional shortening (from 3.7 +/- 1.0 to -1.3 +/- 0.7%, p < 0.001) and lactate extraction ratio (from -44.0 +/- 4.1 to -59.2 +/- 4.9%, p < 0.005) of the perfused area also decreased. These values were restored by the concomitant administration of L-arginine. Blood flow to the endomyocardium was decreased relative to the epimyocardium. A reduction in coronary blood flow and worsening of myocardial contractile and metabolic functions due to the administration of NG-monomethyl L-arginine during ischemia were observed in denervated hearts. A reduction in coronary blood flow in ischemic myocardium was observed with the administration of NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester as well, although neither NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester nor NG-monomethyl L-arginine changed coronary blood flow and myocardial contractile and metabolic functions in the nonischemic myocardium. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate content of epicardial coronary artery increased due to myocardial ischemia; this increase was attenuated with NG-monomethyl L-arginine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that endogenous nitric oxide predominantly decreases the coronary vascular resistance of ischemic endomyocardium, thereby improving myocardial contractility and metabolic function.

Effect of hypothermia on skeletal muscle metabolism in perfused rat hindlimb

Temperature-induced metabolic change was studied with isolated rat hindlimb muscle to elucidate how tissue viability is maintained under hypothermia. The hindlimb was perfused with Krebs-bicarbonate buffer containing 4% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-40T) in a flowthrough mode at 35-8 degrees C. When the temperature was lowered, the following results were observed: (i) Vascular resistance (defined as perfusion pressure divided by flow rate) increased proportionally with elevation of the viscosity of the perfused medium, suggesting that the capillary bed in the perfused muscle is maintained under a similar condition under these temperatures; (ii) the Arrhenius plot of the O2 uptake rate showed a break at ca. 20 degrees C; (iii) the rates of O2 uptake and lactate release decreased, but the lactate/pyruvate ratio increased even under aerobic conditions; (iv) oxygenation of myoglobin and oxidation of cytochromes increased, suggesting a reduced electron-transfer rate in spite of improved or sufficient oxygenation of the tissue. Based on these results, we concluded that oxidative phosphorylation is more affected by temperature than glycolysis, and thus under hypothermia, the role of glycolysis in energy production increases in rat skeletal muscle, especially below 20 degrees C.

Dual function of Drosophila cells as APCs for naive CD8+ T cells: implications for tumor immunotherapy

With unseparated mouse spleen cells as responders, Drosophila cells expressing MHC class I (L(d)) molecules alone lead to peptide-specific responses of CD8+ cells in the absence of exogenous cytokines. Under these conditions, DNA released from dying cells stimulates the B cells in spleen to up-regulate costimulatory molecules; these activated B cells then provide bystander costimulation for CD8+ cells responding to class I-peptide complexes on the Drosophila APCs. By stimulating B cells and presenting antigen to T cells, Drosophila cells thus serve two different functions in promoting primary responses of CD8+ cells in vitro. With this system, we show that Ld-transfected Drosophila cells are able to induce autologous spleen cells to respond to a tumor-specific peptide in vitro and, after transfer, cause tumor rejection in vivo.

O2 transfer from single microvessels to acinar cells in secretin-stimulated pancreas of rat

O2 transfer from the inside to the outside of single microvessels in the resting and secretin-stimulated exocrine pancreas of rats was investigated by dual-spot microspectroscopy. Measurements of intravascular hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, O2 saturation of Hb, and velocity of flowing red blood cells were carried out in single microvessels at the edge of the exocrine pancreas of anesthetized rats. The rate of O2 release (Ro2) from a single microvessel wall was constant [approximately 2 nmol.cm-2.s-1] over a wide range of oxyhemoglobin inflow ([HbO2] inflow; 200-700 fmol/s) but decreased almost linearly with an [HbO2] inflow < 200 fmol/s, where [HbO2] inflow is defined as the product of inflowing oxyhemoglobin concentration ([HbO2]) and blood flow rate. When the exocrine pancreas was stimulated with secretin either by superfusion (> or = 0.3 nM) or by intravenous infusion (> or = 0.5 microgram.kg-1.h-1), the Ro2 as well as the pancreatic secretion increased about two times higher than the basal values. With secretin administration, it was found that 1) an inverse relationship between red blood cell velocity and intravascular Hb concentration held and thus 2) [HbO2] inflow was maintained within the basal level (i.e., 200-700 fmol/s). Furthermore, 3) the elevation of Ro2 from single microvessels was accomplished by the increased O2 extraction instead of the increased O2 supply in the microvessels.

[Biochemical markers of bone formation in osteoporosis]

We measured circulating bone Gla-protein(BGP) changes following short-term(2 weeks) active vitamin D treatment in elderly men with osteoporosis (73.0 +/- 9.4 years, n = 9) to evaluate osteoblastic function. We also measured serum levels of BGP(n = 245) and bone specific ALP(B-ALP) in women (n = 113) with normal lumbar bone mineral density, and evaluated the difference in clinical significance between these markers of bone formation. Serum BGP was significantly increased at the end of the first and 2nd week of daily oral 2 micrograms of 1 alpha(OH)D3 administration. BGP measurement is a clinically useful method to detect osteoblastic function after active vitamin D3 treatment. Significant positive correlations were found between age and BGP (r = 0.402, p < 0.01) or B-ALP (r = 0.494, p < 0.01). These markers were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared with age-matched premenopausal women. The z-score of the difference in B-ALP was 1.47 and that of BGP was 0.7. Although B-ALP and P1CP in sera remained stable even at room temperature for at least 4 hours, the BGP level was significantly lower when the blood sample was kept at room temperature for more than 1 hour. These findings suggest that B-ALP is a more sensitive and stable marker than BGP in evaluating bone formation, although both markers have significant correlations with each other, and BGP is useful to detect the active vitamin D3 effect on osteoblastic function.

Generation of nitric oxide and superoxide during reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

We investigated the levels of nitrosyl hemoglobin (HbNO) in rat jugular blood by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy during and after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The levels of plasma nitric oxide (NO) end products, nitrate plus nitrate, were compared with the levels of HbNO. Small amounts of HbNO were detected in sham-operated rats (n=4) and those subjected to 2 h of occlusion (n=4), whereas nitrite plus nitrate was increased only in the latter (P<0.01; vs.sham). Upon reperfusion after 2 h of occlusion both HbNO and nitrite plus nitrate clearly increased after 15 min (n=4) and 30 min (n=6) reperfusion (P<0.01; vs.occlusion). Administration of superoxide dismutase (5 mg/kg) significantly increased HbNO (P<0.05) but not plasma nitrate plus nitrate (n=5). The increase in HbNO suppressed by administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (20mg/kg; n=4,P<0.01), and this suppression could be reversed by L-arginine (200 mg/kg) (n=4). The present study clearly showed that the L-arginine-NO synthase pathway was activated during reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia and indicated the involvement of a reaction between NO and superoxide during early reperfusion.

Physiological role of nitric oxide as an enhancer of oxygen transfer from erythrocytes to tissues

The present study revealed the physiological role of NO as an enhancer of oxygen release from erythrocytes to peripheral tissue by breaking or stretching the heme iron-proximal histidine bond in the alpha subunit of hemoglobin (Hb), while maintaining oxygen binding capacity by restoring the bond in the lungs. Oxygen affinity was significantly decreased in blood containing NO-bound Hb alpha. The results may partly explain nitrosothiols in blood as an NO reservoir for an emergency and why cytokines induce NO synthase in the vascular system during such events as inflammation.

Increased release of NO during ischemia reduces myocardial contractility and improves metabolic dysfunction

BACKGROUND

We have reported that myocardial ischemia increases nitric oxide (NO) production. Several lines of evidence suggest that NO reduces myocardial contraction. Therefore, we tested whether endogenous NO decreases the inotropic response of the ischemic myocardium and whether endogenous NO is beneficial in the metabolic function of ischemic myocardium.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused with blood from the left carotid artery in 72 dogs. An infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthase, did not affect fractional shortening (FS) under nonischemic conditions. After reduction of perfusion pressure so that coronary blood flow decreased to 60% of the control value, FS of the perfused area decreased, and intravenous infusion of isoproterenol increased FS. Before and during intravenous infusion of isoproterenol under conditions of coronary hypoperfusion, FS was significantly increased in the L-NAME group compared with the untreated group. Both lactate extraction ratio and the pH in coronary venous blood were significantly lower in the L-NAME-treated group than in the untreated group during coronary hypoperfusion. Infusion of L-arginine prevented the effects of L-NAME in the ischemic myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that endogenous NO reduces myocardial contractile function and improves myocardial metabolic function in the ischemic heart. The myocardial energy-sparing effect as well as coronary vasodilation due to NO may be beneficial to the ischemic myocardium.

Cytotoxic actions of cytokines on cultured mouse luteal cells are independent of nitric oxide

We investigated the cytotoxic effects of various cytokines secreted by macrophages or T lymphocytes on luteal cells, and the role of nitric oxide (NO) produced by luteal cells in cytotoxic actions of cytokines. Mouse luteal cells were cultured in serum-free medium with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) alone, or with various combinations of these cytokines for 6 days. Cytotoxic actions of cytokines and NO production by luteal cells were evaluated by number of viable cells and the amount of nitrite and nitrate (stable metabolites of NO) in medium, respectively. IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml), TNF-alpha (3000 U/ml), or IL-1 beta (30 U/ml) alone, and the combination of TFN-alpha and IL-1 beta (10 U/ml) did not decrease number of viable cells and was without effects on NO production. The combination of IFN-gamma and IL-1 beta (10 U/ml) also did not decrease the number of viable cells, while it increased NO production a little but significantly. Combinations of INF-gamma and TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta (10 U/ml) markedly decreased number of viable cells. The combination of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha increased NO production a little but significantly, and the combination of three cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta) caused a greater increase in NO production. An NO synthase inhibitor, L-NG-monomethy-L-arginine (0.5 mM) or aminoguanidine (0.5 mM) abolished increases in NO production induced by combinations of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta completely without effects on number of viable cells. The present results indicate that combinations of cytokines including IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha induce death of cultured mouse luteal cells, and that the cytotoxic actions of these cytokines are independent of NO production by luteal cells.

Effects of superoxide dismutase on nitric oxide production during reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia is rats

To assess the interaction of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia, we studied the dose effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the levels of nitrosyl hemoglobin and plasma nitrite + nitrate which were increased at 30 min reperfusion after 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. SOD was administered at 10 min before reperfusion. With 1, 5 and 10 mg/Kg of SOD, plasma nitrite + nitrate level was decreased by 25 mg/kg of SOD. The same amount of apo enzyme was without effect. These results suggest effect of superoxide in the NO level released during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia.

Marked increase in urinary excretion of nitrate and N-nitrosothioproline in the osteogenic disordered syndrome rats, lacking ascorbic acid biosynthesis, by administration of lipopolysaccharide and thioproline

Urinary excretions of nitrate and N-nitrosothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (N-nitrosothioproline; NTPRO) were determined in rats with osteogenic disordered syndrome (ODS, od/od), lacking L-ascorbic acid (ASC) biosynthesis, after i.p. administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) followed by thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (thioproline, 20 mg/rat). L-Ascorbic acid-sufficient ODS rats showed the excretion of nitrate and NTPRO at the levels of 20.3 +/- 7.9 mumol/24h and 369 +/- 111 pmol/24 h respectively, whereas the levels of nitrate and NTPRO in ASC-deficient (scorbutic) rats increased to 54.7 +/- 5.6 mumol/24 h (P < 0.01) and 796 +/- 367 pmol/24 h (P < 0.05) respectively. Administration of L-arginine further increased urinary excretion of nitrate and NTPRO while D-arginine showed no effect. NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine, a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), strongly inhibited endogenous formation of both nitrate and NTPRO. These results indicate that increased excretion of NTPRO in ODS rats stimulated by LPS involves induction of NOS leading to an increase in endogenous formation of reactive nitrogen oxides such as N2O3, a potent nitrosating agent at physiological pH conditions. Increased NOS activities in the plasma and various tissues of ODS rats were observed 5 h after treatment with LPS. The possibility of extragastric N-nitroso compound formation in inflammation sites is discussed.

Generation of nitric oxide as a rejection marker in rat pancreas transplantation

In clinical pancreas transplantation, no reliable marker for the early diagnosis of acute rejection has been reported. This is one reason why the graft survival rate of pancreas transplantation alone is much lower than that of other organs, such as hearts, livers, and kidneys. We designed an experiment to investigate acute rejection of pancreas allografts in hyperglycemic rats by measurement of blood glucose levels and nitric oxide (NO) products (nitrite plus nitrate, and nitrosyl hemoglobin). As recipients, Lewis rats were rendered hyperglycemic by intravenous injection of streptozotocin before transplantation. F344 rats were used as donors of pancreas allografts. Lewis rats were also used as donors of syngeneic pancreas grafts. After transplantation, the blood glucose level returned to a normal level and rejection was defined as the recurrence of hyperglycemia. The mean survival time of pancreas allografts was 14 +/- 0.7 days. The plasma level of nitrite plus nitrate in allografted rats peaked on postoperative day 7. Electron spin resonance spectra of NO bound to hemoglobin were detected in the blood from allografted rats with a peak on postoperative day 7, whereas NO bound to hemoglobin was not detected in the blood from recipients of syngeneic grafts at any sampling time. The results show that NO was synthesized in the earlier period than the elevation of the blood glucose level during rejection after pancreas transplantation in rats.

Beneficial effects of inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme on ischemic myocardium during coronary hypoperfusion in dogs

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) produces angiotensin II, causing vasoconstriction of coronary arteries and reduction of coronary blood flow. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an ACE inhibitor increases coronary blood flow and improves myocardial metabolic and contractile functions of ischemic myocardium.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 65 open-chest dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused through an extracorporeal bypass tube from the left carotid artery. When cilazaprilat (3 micrograms/kg per minute) was infused into the bypass tube for 10 minutes after reduction of coronary blood flow due to partial occlusion of the bypass tube, coronary blood flow increased from 30 +/- 1 to 43 +/- 2 mL/100 g per minute despite there being no changes in coronary perfusion pressure (43 +/- 1 mm Hg). The ratio of myocardial endocardial flow to epicardial flow increased during an infusion of cilazaprilat. Both fractional shortening and lactate extraction ratio of the perfused area were increased (fractional shortening: 4.1 +/- 0.6% to 8.9 +/- 0.6%, P < .001; lactate extraction ratio: -55.7 +/- 3.3% to -36.7 +/- 3.9%, P < .001). During an infusion of cilazaprilat, the bradykinin concentration of coronary venous blood was markedly increased. The increased coronary blood flow due to cilazaprilat was attenuated by HOE-140 (an inhibitor of bradykinin receptors; coronary blood flow: 35 +/- 2 mL/100 g per minute), and by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase; coronary blood flow: 34 +/- 2 mL/100 g per minute). Intracoronary administration of bradykinin mimicked the beneficial effects of cilazaprilat. Cyclic GMP content of the coronary artery was increased by cilazaprilat compared with the untreated condition in the ischemic myocardium. In the denervated hearts, the increased coronary blood flow due to cilazaprilat was not attenuated. On the other hand, CV11974, an inhibitor of angiotensin II receptors, slightly increased coronary blood flow to 34 +/- 2 from 30 +/- 1 mL/100 g per minute.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that an inhibitor of ACE can increase coronary blood flow and ameliorate myocardial ischemia, primarily due to accumulation of bradykinin and production of nitric oxide from the ischemic myocardium. Inhibition of angiotensin II production due to inhibition of ACE partially contributes to coronary vasodilation in the ischemic myocardium.

Roles of alpha 1-adrenoceptor activity in the release of nitric oxide during ischemia of the canine heart

The difference in end-products of the nitric oxide, i.e., nitrate-plus-nitrite, in the coronary arterial and venous blood was increased during coronary hypoperfusion of the canine heart (12.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.2 microM at the baseline). Norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve endings in the heart is released due to ischemic stress, however the relation of norepinephrine with nitric oxide is unknown during ischemia. Neither beta- or alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists attenuated the release of nitric oxide during coronary hypoperfusion. An intracoronary infusion of an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist attenuated the release of nitric oxide during coronary hypoperfusion (5.3 +/- 0.4 microM), and the attenuation of alpha 1-adrenoceptor activity further decreased coronary blood flow during hypoperfusion. These findings suggest that alpha 1-adrenoceptor activity contributes to the mechanisms whereby nitric oxide is released from the ischemic myocardium.

Increase in plasma nitric oxide end products following rat cortical injury

The changes in plasma nitric oxide (NO) end products, nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-), were studied following cortical injury in rats. At 3 days after stereotactic cortical injury (day 3), plasma NO end products were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and decreased by day 7. This increase on day 3 was inhibited by a selective inhibitor of inducible NO synthase (NOS), aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1 and 2, P < 0.001). The present study first demonstrated the temporary increase in plasma NO end products, which is attributable to the inducible NOS activation after cerebral injury.