0000000000217188

AUTHOR

Teresa Jover-mengual

Relaxant Effects of the Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Bazedoxifene, and Estrogen Receptor Agonists in Isolated Rabbit Basilar Artery

We have previously shown that the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, improves the consequences of ischemic stroke. Now we aimed to characterize the effects and mechanisms of action of bazedoxifene in cerebral arteries. Male rabbit isolated basilar arteries were used for isometric tension recording and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bazedoxifene relaxed cerebral arteries, as 17-β-estradiol, 4,4',4″-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol [estrogen receptor (ER) α agonist], and G1 [G protein-coupled ER (GPER) agonist] did it (4,4',4″-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol > bazedoxifene = G1 > 17-β-estradiol). 2,3-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (E…

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Mechanisms underlying the diabetes-induced hyporeactivity of the rabbit carotid artery to atrial natriuretic peptide

Abstract Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of the vascular complications in diabetes. The working hypothesis was that diabetes might modify the vascular actions of ANP in isolated rabbit carotid arteries and the mechanisms involved in these actions. ANP (10 −12 –10 −7  M) induced a relaxation of precontracted carotid arteries, which was lower in diabetic than in control rabbits. In arteries from both groups of animals, endothelium removal increased the ANP-induced relaxation. Isatin inhibited the relaxation to ANP both in arteries with and without endothelium. Carotid arteries from diabetic rabbits showed a decreased natriuretic peptide receptor…

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Mechanisms involved in the relaxant action of testosterone in the renal artery from male normoglycemic and diabetic rabbits.

Kidney disease is a frequent complication in diabetes, and significant differences have been reported between male and female patients. Our working hypothesis was that diabetes might modify the vascular actions of testosterone in isolated rabbit renal arteries and the mechanisms involved in these actions. Testosterone (10(-8) to 10(-4)M) induced relaxation of precontracted arteries, without significant differences between control and diabetic rabbits. Both in control and diabetic rabbits endothelium removal inhibited testosterone relaxant action. In arteries with endothelium, incubation with indomethacin (10(-5)M), N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (10(-5)M) or tetraethylammonium (10(-5)M) did not modi…

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Role of K+ and Ca2+ fluxes in the cerebroarterial vasoactive effects of sildenafil

The aim of this study was to assess the role of K(+) and Ca(2+) fluxes in the cerebroarterial vasoactive effects of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil. We used isolated rabbit basilar arteries to assess the effects of extracellular K(+) raising on sildenafil-induced vasodilatation, and studied the pharmacological interaction of sildenafil with selective modulators of membrane K(+) and Ca(2+) channels. Expression of Kv1 subunits of K(+) channels was assessed at messenger and protein levels. Parallel experiments were carried out with zaprinast for comparison. Sildenafil (10 nM-0.1 mM) induced concentration-dependent relaxation of endothelin-1 (10 nM)-precontracted arteries, which wa…

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Emergent Uric Acid Treatment is Synergistic with Mechanical Recanalization in Improving Stroke Outcomes in Male and Female Rats.

Preclinical and clinical studies support a promising, albeit not definitive, neuroprotective effect of emergent uric acid (UA) administration in ischemic stroke. We assessed the effects of UA in an ischemic stroke model relevant to the current treatment paradigm of mechanical thrombectomy within the STAIR/RIGOR recommendations. A cohort of male and female Wistar rats was subjected to ischemic stroke with mechanical recanalization under physiological monitoring. The effects of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) with adjunctive UA (IV, 16 mg/kg) or vehicle treatment were assessed at 24 h and 7 days. Outcomes included neurofunctional impairment, brain infarct (TTC staining, MRI…

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Potassium channels contribute to the increased sensitivity of the rabbit carotid artery to hydrogen sulfide in diabetes

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a potential endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and adventitium- or adipocyte-derived relaxing factor (ADRF) which vasorelaxant action is mediated by potassium channels. H2S could also play an important role in the pathophysiology of diabetic cardiovascular complications. The present study has investigated the influence of alloxan-induced diabetes on the role of potassium channels mediating the relaxant response of the rabbit carotid artery to NaHS, a donor of H2S. NaHS (10−8-3 × 10−5 M) relaxed phenylephrine-precontracted carotid arteries, with higher potency in diabetic than in control rabbits. The selective blockers of potassium channels c…

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The selective oestrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, mimics the neuroprotective effect of 17β‐oestradiol in diabetic ischaemic stroke by modulating oestrogen receptor expression and the MAPK / ERK 1/2 signalling pathway

Because neuroprotection in stroke should be revisited in the era of recanalisation, the present study analysed the potential neuroprotective effect of the selective oestrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene acetate (BZA), in an animal model of diabetic ischaemic stroke that mimics thrombectomy combined with adjuvant administration of a putative neuroprotectant. Four weeks after induction of diabetes (40 mg kg-1 streptozotocin, i.p.), male Wistar rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (intraluminal thread technique, 60 minutes) and assigned to one of three groups treated with either: vehicle, BZA (3 mg kg-1  day-1 , i.p.) or 17β-oestradiol (E2 ) (100 μg kg-1  day-…

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Neuroprotective Actions of Estradiol and Novel Estrogen Analogs in Ischemia: Translational Implications

This review highlights our investigations into the neuroprotective efficacy of estradiol and other estrogenic agents in a clinically relevant animal model of transient global ischemia, which causes selective, delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons and associated cognitive deficits. We find that estradiol rescues a significant number of CA1 pyramidal neurons that would otherwise die in response to global ischemia, and this is true when hormone is provided as a long-term pretreatment at physiological doses or as an acute treatment at the time of reperfusion. In addition to enhancing neuronal survival, both forms of estradiol treatment induce measurable cognitive benefit in young animals. Mo…

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Mechanisms involved in the increased sensitivity of the rabbit basilar artery to atrial natriuretic peptide in diabetes.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a vasodilator with significant regional differences and controversial effects in the cerebral circulation, a vascular bed particularly prone to diabetes-induced complications. The present study has investigated how alloxan-induced diabetes modifies the mechanisms involved in the response of the rabbit basilar artery to ANP. ANP (10(-12) -10(-7) M) relaxed precontracted basilar arteries, with higher potency in diabetic than in control rabbits. In arteries from both groups of animals, endothelium removal reduced ANP-induced relaxations. Inhibition of NO-synthesis attenuated ANP-induced relaxation but this attenuation was lower in diabetic than in control ra…

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Acute estradiol protects CA1 neurons from ischemia-induced apoptotic cell death via the PI3K/Akt pathway

Global ischemia arising during cardiac arrest or cardiac surgery causes highly selective, delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons. Exogenous estradiol ameliorates global ischemia-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairment in male and female rodents. However, the molecular mechanisms by which a single acute injection of estradiol administered after the ischemic event intervenes in global ischemia-induced apoptotic cell death are unclear. Here we show that acute estradiol acts via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling cascade to protect CA1 neurons in ovariectomized female rats. We demonstrate that global ischemia promotes early activation of glycogen syn…

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Molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective role of atrial natriuretic peptide in experimental acute ischemic stroke

Abstract Along with its role in regulating blood pressure and fluid homeostasis, the natriuretic peptide system could be also part of an endogenous protective mechanism against brain damage. We aimed to assess the possibility that exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) could protect against acute ischemic stroke, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved. Three groups of rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO, intraluminal filament technique, 60 min) received intracerebroventricular vehicle, low-dose ANP (0.5 nmol) or high-dose ANP (2.5 nmol), at 30 min reperfusion. Neurofunctional condition, and brain infarct and edema volumes were measured at 24 h after…

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Diabetes impairs the atrial natriuretic peptide relaxant action mediated by potassium channels and prostacyclin in the rabbit renal artery.

Diabetes is associated with increased prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular and renal disease. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays an important role in cardiovascular pathophysiology and is claimed to have cardioprotective and renoprotective effect in diabetic patients. The working hypothesis was that alloxan-induced diabetes might modify the vascular effects of ANP in isolated rabbit renal arteries and the mechanisms involved in such actions. Plasma ANP levels were higher in diabetic rabbits than in control rabbits. ANP (10(-12)-10(-7)M) induced a relaxation of precontracted renal arteries, which was lower in diabetic than in control rabbits. In arteries from both groups of animals…

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Soy-derived phytoestrogens as preventive and acute neuroprotectors in experimental ischemic stroke: Influence of rat strain

The ability of a soy-based high-phytoestrogen diet (nutritional intervention) or genistein (pharmacological intervention), to limit ischemic brain damage in Wistar, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats, has been assessed. As to the nutritional intervention, two groups from each strain received either a phytoestrogen-free (PE-0) or a high-phytoestrogen (PE-600) diet from weaning to adulthood. As to the pharmacological intervention, all animals were fed the standard soy-free AIN-93G diet and subsequently separated into two groups from each strain to receive either pure genistein (aglycone form, 1mg/kg/day intraperitoneal) or vehicle at 30 min reperfusion. After an epis…

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Involvement of prostacyclin and potassium channels in the diabetes-induced hyporeactivity of the rabbit carotid artery to B-type natriuretic peptide

The relation between diabetes and stroke is bidirectional: diabetes is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke, and acute stroke frequently induces hyperglycemia. On the other hand, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are raised in diabetes and stroke. The purpose was to study how alloxan-induced diabetes might modify the effects of BNP in rabbit carotid arteries and the mechanisms involved in such actions. To do this, isometric tension in isolated rabbit carotid artery was recorded and prostanoids release and plasma NT-proBNP were measured by enzyme immunoassay. BNP induced a relaxation of phenylephrine-precontracted carotid arteries, and this relaxation was lower in diabet…

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Role of NO-synthases and cyclooxygenases in the hyperreactivity of male rabbit carotid artery to testosterone under experimental diabetes.

Abstract Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients, which in turn is also associated with low levels of serum testosterone. The working hypothesis was that diabetes might modify the mechanisms involved in the vascular actions of testosterone in isolated rabbit carotid arteries. Testosterone (10 −8 –3 × 10 −4  M) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of precontracted carotid arteries, which was higher in diabetic than in control rabbits. In control rabbits neither endothelium removal nor the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N G -nitro- l -arginine ( l -NOArg, 10 −5  M) modified the relaxant action of testosterone, and the cyclooxyge…

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The Role of NF-κB Triggered Inflammation in Cerebral Ischemia

Cerebral ischemia is a devastating disease that affects many people worldwide every year. The neurodegenerative damage as a consequence of oxygen and energy deprivation, to date, has no known effective treatment. The ischemic insult is followed by an inflammatory response that involves a complex interaction between inflammatory cells and molecules which play a role in the progression towards cell death. However, there is presently a matter of controversy over whether inflammation could either be involved in brain damage or be a necessary part of brain repair. The inflammatory response is triggered by inflammasomes, key multiprotein complexes that promote secretion of pro-inflammatory cytoki…

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Molecular mechanisms mediating the neuroprotective role of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, in acute ischemic stroke: A comparative study with 17β-estradiol

As the knowledge on the estrogenic system in the brain grows, the possibilities to modulate it in order to afford further neuroprotection in brain damaging disorders so do it. We have previously demonstrated the ability of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene (BZA), to reduce experimental ischemic brain damage. The present study has been designed to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in such a neuroprotective action by investigating: 1) stroke-induced apoptotic cell death; 2) expression of estrogen receptors (ER) ERα, ERβ and the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER); and 3) modulation of MAPK/ ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. For comparison, …

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The MDM2-p53 pathway is involved in preconditioning-induced neuronal tolerance to ischemia

Brain preconditioning (PC) refers to a state of transient tolerance against a lethal insult that can be evoked by a prior mild event. It is thought that PC may induce different pathways responsible for neuroprotection, which may involve the attenuation of cell damage pathways, including the apoptotic cell death. In this context, p53 is a stress sensor that accumulates during brain ischemia leading to neuronal death. The murine double minute 2 gene (MDM2), a p53-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase, is the main cellular antagonist of p53, mediating its degradation by the proteasome. Here, we study the role of MDM2-p53 pathway on PC-induced neuroprotection both in cultured neurons (in vitro) and rat …

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