Alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators are involved in microvascular dysfunction in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Evidence has shown that women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a greater risk of cardiovascular complications compared with men, but this sex difference is not clearly understood. This study assessed the microvascular function and circulatory biomarkers in postmenopausal women (PMW) with T2DM compared with diabetic men and their non-diabetic counterparts. Sixty participants were divided into nondiabetic PMW, PMW with T2DM, non-diabetic men, and diabetic men. Microvascular function was assessed using non-invasive equipment (EndoPAT^®) and reported as reactive hyperemia index (RHI). Anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters were also measured. Two-way ANOVA was performed using sex (women or men) and T2DM (non-diabetic and diabetic) as the two factors. RHI impairment (1.97±0.14) was detected in diabetic PMW compared with women without T2DM (2.5±0.13) accompanied by lower adiponectin levels (T2DM: 9.3±1.2 and CTL: 13.8±1.8 ug/mL, P<0.05). An increase in the Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), nitrate/nitrite, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were observed in diabetic PMW compared to the other groups. Although a poor glycemia control was seen in diabetic men, neither RHI nor circulatory biomarkers were affected by T2DM. Multiple linear regression stratified by sex and T2DM identified some variables with RHI only in PMW with T2DM: HbA1c (P=0.003), body mass index (P=0.029), CML (P=0.032), and CRP (P=0.006). Diabetic PMW were more susceptible to the deleterious effects of hyperglycemia than men, showing microvascular dysfunction with high levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (CML and CRP) and a lower adiponectin concentration.

A Smartphone App for Individual Xylazine/Ketamine Calculation Decreased Anesthesia-Related Mortality in Mice

Currently, experimental animals are widely used in biological and medical research. However, the scientific community has raised several bioethical concerns, such as the number of animals required to achieve reproducible and statistically relevant results. These concerns involve aspects related to pain, discomfort, and unwanted animal loss. Retrospectively, we compare two different approaches for anesthesia dosage: a mobile app for dose calculation and a standard dose calculation. A total of 939 C57BL/6J and Swiss mice were analyzed. We collected data on intraoperative and anesthesia-related mortality as described in electronic or physical handwritten records. Our results showed that the mobile app approach significantly reduces anesthetic-related deaths upon using doses of ketamine and xylazine. The results suggest that anesthesia-related mortality can be minimized even more using information technology approaches, helping to solve an old but transversal challenge for researchers working with experimental mice. The mobile app is a free and open code which could be implemented worldwide as an essential requirement for all anesthetic procedures in mice using xylazine and ketamine combination. As an open code app, the Labinsane initiative could also represent the starting point to unify and validate other anesthetic procedures in different species and strains.

Interaction between physical exercise and APOE gene polymorphism on cognitive function in older people

We aimed to present an overview of the literature regarding the interaction between physical exercise and APOE gene polymorphism on cognitive function, particularly in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Firstly, this review focused on the effect of the physical exercise on cognitive function, regardless of APOE gene polymorphism. Some studies have shown that a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with less neuronal damage with an improvement in memory score tests whereas other studies failed to detect any association between physical exercise and cognitive improvement either in healthy individuals or patients with AD. Taken together, standardized protocols and more longitudinal studies are required to provide a better insight into the effects of physical exercise on cognitive function. Although there is no agreement in the literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on cognitive function, it is well established that it improves social interaction and the feeling of well-being, thereby positively contributing to the quality of life of the elderly. Regarding the influence of physical exercise on cognitive function in APOE ε4 allele carriers, the data trend shows that the carriers of allele ε4 for APOE gene were more responsive to the beneficial effects of physical exercise on cognitive function compared with non-carriers. Nevertheless, studies with larger sample sizes will provide more accuracy about this relationship.

Influence of eNOS gene polymorphism on cardiometabolic parameters in response to physical training in postmenopausal women

The health-promoting effects of exercise training (ET) are related to nitric oxide (NO) production and/or its bioavailability. The objective of this study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphism of the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene at positions -786T>C, G894T (Glu298Asp) and at the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) Intron 4b/a would interfere with the cardiometabolic responses of postmenopausal women submitted to physical training. Forty-nine postmenopausal women were trained in sessions of 30-40 min, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Genotypes, oxidative stress status and cardiometabolic parameters were then evaluated in a double-blind design. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly reduced after ET, which was genotype-independent. However, women without eNOS gene polymorphism at position -786T>C (TT genotype) and Intron 4b/a (bb genotype) presented a better reduction of total cholesterol levels (-786T>C: before = 213 ± 12.1, after = 159.8 ± 14.4, Δ = -24.9% and Intron 4b/a: before = 211.8 ± 7.4, after = 180.12 ± 6.4 mg/dL, Δ = -15%), and LDL cholesterol (-786T>C: before = 146.1 ± 13.3, after = 82.8 ± 9.2, Δ = -43.3% and Intron 4b/a: before = 143.2 ± 8, after = 102.7 ± 5.8 mg/dL, Δ = -28.3%) in response to ET compared to those who carried the mutant allele. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in trained women whereas no changes were observed in malondialdehyde levels. Women without eNOS gene polymorphism at position -786T>C and Intron 4b/a showed a greater reduction of plasma cholesterol levels in response to ET. Furthermore, no genotype influence was observed on arterial blood pressure or oxidative stress status in this population.

Obesity enhances eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Obesity is associated with deterioration in asthma outcomes. Although airways eosinophil accumulation is characteristic of lung allergic diseases, little is known about the influence of obesity on the allergic eosinophil trafficking from bone marrow to lung tissues, and recruitment to airways lumen. Here, we have assessed the effects of diet-induced obesity on allergic eosinophilic inflammation in mice, examining eosinophil trafficking from bone marrow to airways, and production of T(H)1/T(H)2 cytokines.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

C57BL/6 mice fed for 10 weeks with standard chow or high-fat diet were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. At 24-96 h post-ovalbumin challenge, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, lung tissue and bone marrow were examined.

KEY RESULTS

The high-fat-fed mice exhibited increased body weight and epididymal fat, glucose intolerance and alterations in lipid profile compared with the lean mice. Obesity markedly elevated serum leptin and lowered adiponectin levels. Ovalbumin challenge in obese mice promoted a markedly higher eosinophil accumulation in bone marrow and connective tissue surrounding the bronchial and bronchiolar segments. Eosinophil number in BAL fluid of obese mice was lower at 24 and 48 h. Levels of interleukin (IL)-5, eotaxin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-10 in BAL fluid of obese mice were significantly higher than in lean mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Diet-induced obesity enhanced eosinophil trafficking from bone marrow to lung tissues, and delayed their transit through the airway epithelium into the airway lumen. Consequently, eosinophils remain longer in lung peribronchiolar segments due to overproduction of T(H)1/T(H)2 cytokines and chemokines.

Long-term nitric oxide deficiency causes muscarinic supersensitivity and reduces beta(3)-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation, causing rat detrusor overactivity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Overactive bladder is a complex and widely prevalent condition, but little is known about its physiopathology. We have carried out morphological, biochemical and functional assays to investigate the effects of long-term nitric oxide (NO) deficiency on muscarinic receptor and beta-adrenoceptor modulation leading to overactivity of rat detrusor muscle.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Male Wistar rats received N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in drinking water for 7-30 days. Functional responses to muscarinic and beta-adrenoceptor agonists were measured in detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) strips in Krebs-Henseleit solution. Measurements of [(3)H]inositol phosphate, NO synthase (NOS) activity, [(3)H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([(3)H]QNB) binding and bladder morphology were also performed.

KEY RESULTS

Long-term L-NAME treatment significantly increased carbachol-induced DSM contractile responses after 15 and 30 days; relaxing responses to the beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist BRL 37-344 were significantly reduced at 30 days. Constitutive NOS activity in bladder was reduced by 86% after 7 days and maintained up to 30 days of L-NAME treatment. Carbachol increased sixfold the [(3)H]inositol phosphate in bladder tissue from rats treated with L-NAME. [(3)H]QNB was bound with an apparent K(D) twofold higher in bladder membranes after L-NAME treatment compared with that in control. No morphological alterations in DSM were found.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Long-term NO deficiency increased rat DSM contractile responses to a muscarinic agonist, accompanied by significantly enhanced K(D) values for muscarinic receptors and [(3)H]inositol phosphate accumulation in bladder. This supersensitivity for muscarinic agonists along with reductions of beta(3)-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxations indicated that overactive DSM resulted from chronic NO deficiency.

Exercise training reduces pulmonary ischaemia-reperfusion-induced inflammatory responses

Physical exercise reduces the deleterious effects of cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of physical training on the inflammatory responses following lung ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into sham-operated animals and sedentary and trained animals submitted to lung IR. The run training programme consisted of 5 sessions.week(-1), each lasting 60 min.day(-1), at 66% of maximal oxygen consumption for 8 weeks. The left pulmonary artery, bronchus and pulmonary vein were occluded for 90 min and reperfused for 2 h. Lung protein extravasation was measured as (125)I-human albumin accumulation, whereas lung neutrophil infiltration was measured as myeloperoxidase activity. Lung IR in sedentary rats resulted in marked increases in protein extravasation and neutrophil influx, and in significant elevations of serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta levels. Physical preconditioning attenuated the increased IR-induced protein leakage without affecting neutrophil influx. It also reduced serum TNF-alpha (and IL-1beta) levels, but had no effect on IL-10 levels. Plasma superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in trained IR rats. The present data show that physical preconditioning protects the rat lung from ischaemia-reperfusion injury by attenuating the pulmonary vascular permeability that may be a consequence of reduced levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta and elevated superoxide dismutase activity.

Protective effect of prior physical conditioning on relaxing response of corpus cavernosum from rats made hypertensive by nitric oxide inhibition

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of run training on the responsiveness of corpus cavernosum (CC) from rats made hypertensive by treatment with nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor. Wistar rats were divided into sedentary control (C-SD), exercise training (C-TR), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) sedentary (LN-SD) and L-NAME trained (LN-TR) groups. The run training program consisted in 8 weeks in a treadmill, 5 days/week, each session lasted 60 min. L-NAME treatment (2 and 10 mg/rat/day) started after 4 weeks of prior physical conditioning and lasted 4 weeks. Concentration-response curves were obtained for acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), sildenafil and BAY 41-2272. The effect of electrical field stimulation (EFS) on the relaxations responses of CC was evaluated. Run training prevented the arterial hypertension induced by L-NAME treatment (LN-SD: 135+/-2 and 141+/-2 mm Hg for both doses of L-NAME) compared to LN-SD groups (154+/-1 and 175+/-2 mm Hg, for 2 and 10 mg of L-NAME, respectively). Run training produced an increase in the maximal responses (E(max)) of CC for ACh (C-SD: 47+/-3; C-TR: 52+/-1; and LN-TR: 53+/-3%) and SNP (C-SD: 89+/-1; C-TR: 98+/-1; and LN-TR: 95+/-1%). Both potency and E(max) for ACh were reduced in a dose of 10 mg of L-NAME, and run training restored the reduction of E(max) for ACh. No changes were found for BAY 41-2271 and sildenafil. Relaxing responses to EFS was reduced by L-NAME treatment that was restored by prior physical conditioning. In conclusion, our study shows a beneficial effect of prior physical conditioning on the impaired CC relaxing responses in rats made hypertensive by chronic NO blockade.

Long-term nitric oxide inhibition and chronotropic responses in rat isolated right atria

The long-term administration of nitric oxide synthesis inhibitors induces arterial hypertension accompanied by left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial ischemic lesions. Because the enhancement of sympathetic drive has been implicated in these phenomena, the current study was performed to determine the potency of beta-adrenoceptor agonists and muscarinic agonists on the spontaneous rate of isolated right atria from rats given long-term treatment with the nitric oxide inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Atrial lesions induced by long-term treatment with L-NAME were also evaluated. Long-term L-NAME treatment caused a time-dependent, significant (P<0.05) increase in tail-cuff pressure compared with control animals. Our results showed that the potency of isoproterenol, norepinephrine, carbachol, and pilocarpine in isolated right atria from rats given long-term treatment with L-NAME for 7, 15, 30, and 60 days was not affected as compared with control animals. Addition of L-NAME in vitro (100 microl/L) affected neither basal rate nor chronotropic response for isoproterenol and norepinephrine in rat heart. Stereological analysis of the right atria at 15 and 30 days revealed a significant increase on amount of fibrous tissues in L-NAME-treated groups (27+/-2.3% and 28+/-1.3% for 15 and 30 days, respectively; P<0.05) as compared with the control group (22+/-1.1%). Our results indicate that nitric oxide does not to interfere with beta-adrenoceptor-mediated and muscarinic receptor-mediated chronotropic responses.

Modulation of coronary flow and cardiomyocyte size by sensory fibers

Cardiac tissue is densely innervated by sensory neurons that are believed to play important modulatory roles in cardiac functions. In this study, pretreatment of neonate rats with capsaicin was performed. In adult rats, cardiomyocyte size and amount of fibrous tissue in left ventricles as well as in vitro coronary flow were evaluated. The chronotropic and inotropic responses to beta-adrenoceptor agonists (norepinephrine and isoproterenol), muscarinic agonists (carbachol and pilocarpine), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were also investigated with the use of the isolated right atria preparation. Capsaicin pretreatment significantly (P<0.05) reduced both basal coronary flow (18% reduction) and cardiomyocyte size (34% reduction) without affecting the amount of fibrous tissues in the left ventricles. The positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in response to norepinephrine in the isolated rat heart did not significantly differ between control and capsaicin-treated rats. Similarly, the positive chronotropic effects in response to norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and CGRP as well as the negative chronotropic responses to carbachol and pilocarpine in the isolated right atria were not affected by capsaicin pretreatment. Our data are consistent with the suggestion that reductions of both basal coronary flow and cardiomyocyte size seen in hearts from capsaicin-pretreated rats may be consequences of CGRP depletion. The cardiomyocyte size reduction produced by capsaicin treatment may be related to a modulatory role of CGRP as a growth factor.

Activation by Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom of autonomic nerve fibers in the isolated rat heart

In the isolated rat heart, Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom (10-100 microg) produced a dose-dependent and reversible rise in left ventricular developed pressure. A low dose (10 microg) of venom induced a short-lasting, positive inotropic effect (P < 0.05) with no change in heart rate or coronary flow. At a dose of 50 microg, the venom caused significant positive inotropic and chronotropic responses associated with occasional ventricular arrhythmia, whereas coronary flow was not significantly affected within 10 min after venom administration. The highest dose of venom (100 microg) caused bradycardia, transient cardiac arrest, rhythm disturbances and an increase in end diastolic pressure followed by a reduction in coronary flow. Hearts treated with the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (3 microM) and the selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist CGP-20712A (10 microM) were protected against all the cardiac actions of the venom. The selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist butoxamine (10 microM) slightly reduced the cardiac response to 50 microg, but not to 100 microg of venom. Butoxamine also prevented the reduction in coronary flow induced by 100 microg of venom. Hearts from reserpine-treated rats (5 mg kg(-1) day(-1), i.p., for 2 days) showed a marked decrease in all venom (< or = 100 microg)-induced cardiac responses. The muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (1 microM) slightly potentiated the response to 50 microg of venom but had little or no effect on the responses to 100 microg of venom. The cardiac responses to venom (50-100 microg) were unaltered in hearts from rats treated with 8-methyl N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide (capsaicin; 50 mg/kg, s.c.). These findings indicate that P. nigriventer venom releases norepinephrine from cardiac sympathetic nerve endings and this may explain the observed increase in contractile force and heart rate.

Sino-aortic denervation causes right atrial beta adrenoceptor down-regulation

Rat isolated right atria obtained 1 wk after sinoaortic denervation were less sensitive to the chronotropic actions of beta-agonists than were tissues obtained from animals that underwent sham surgery or no surgery at all. The potencies, but not the maximal responses for two high efficacy agonists, norepinephrine and isoproterenol, were reduced about 3- to 4-fold. Sino-aortic denervation (SAD) caused about a 3-fold decrease in potency and about a 60% decrease in maximal response for a low efficacy agonist, prenalterol. The changes in the actions of these agonists occurred in the absence of any changes in the subtype of beta receptor mediating the chronotropic response. The results of analyses of the data for prenalterol showed that SAD caused a decrease in the operational efficacy of this agonist without any changes in its KD value for beta-1 adrenoceptors. SAD had no effect on the responses of the tissue to blockade of uptake 1 and uptake 2, suggesting no compensatory changes in the removal processes caused the decreased potency. The results of radioligand binding assays showed that SAD caused a decrease in the maximal binding of 125I-cyanopindolol without altering its KD. Also, the results of competition binding assays confirmed the lack of effect of SAD on the KD for prenalterol. The SAD-induced changes in the actions of agonists acting at right atrial beta-1 receptors were caused by a down-regulation of beta-1 adrenoceptors, which probably occurred in response to SAD-induced increases in sympathetic tone.