Search results for "Contraction"
showing 10 items of 1092 documents
Inhibitory effects of indicaxanthin on mouse ileal contractility: analysis of the mechanism of action.
2011
Recently, we have showed that indicaxanthin, the yellow betalain pigment abundant in the fruit of Opuntia ficus indica, has remarkable spasmolytic effects on the intestinal contractility in vitro. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of action underlying the observed response. We used organ bath technique to record the mechanical activity of the mouse ileum longitudinal muscle and ELISA to measure the levels of cAMP. Indicaxanthin induced inhibitory effects on spontaneous mechanical activity, which were unaffected by indomethacin, a non-selective inhibitor of cycloxygenase; 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide-…
Responses to histamine and selective H2-receptor agonists in lung parenchymal strips from normal and sensitized guinea-pigs.
1989
Histamine produces concentration-dependent contractions of lung parenchyma strips obtained from normal and sensitized guinea-pigs. The responsiveness of the sensitized lung strips to histamine was significantly increased compared to normal tissues. Clemizole (0.1 microM) was equally effective as an H1-antagonist in normal (dose-ratio 9.12) and sensitized (dose-ratio 9.77) tissues. The concentration-response curves to histamine were displaced to the left by cimetidine (0.1 microM to 0.1 mM) with similar dose-ratios in normal and sensitized tissues. Cimetidine enhanced maximal responses to histamine only in normal lung strips. The effects of submaximal equieffective concentrations of histamin…
Nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase inhibits acetylcholine release and excitatory motor transmission in the guinea-pig ileum
1997
Abstract This study examined the mechanism through which nitric oxide inhibits the release of acetylcholine and excitatory motor neurotransmission in the guinea-pig ileum. The selective inhibitor of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase, 1 H -[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3- a ]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), concentration-dependently enhanced both basal release (−log EC 50 : 6.8) and electrically (10 Hz) -evoked release (−log EC 50 : 6.0) of [ 3 H]acetylcholine from longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations preincubated with [ 3 H]choline. The increase by ODQ of basal release appeared to be exocytotic since it was prevented by tetrodotoxin (300 nM) and absence of calcium from the superfusion mediu…
Differential effects of isoliquiritigenin and YC-1 in rat aortic smooth muscle.
1997
We investigated the effects of isoliquiritigenin and YC-1 (3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole) on tension in endothelial-free rat aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (3 microM). Both compounds induced a concentration-dependent relaxation (EC50 of YC-1 1.9 microM and of isoliquiritigenin 9.4 microM). The effects developed faster with YC-1 than with isoliquiritigenin, and the effects of YC-1 were potentiated by isoliquiritigenin (10 microM). 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (30 microM) inhibited the effect of YC-1, but not of isoliquiritigenin. These results suggest that the effects of YC-1 are due to stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase activity, whereas …
Increased calcium influx is responsible for the sustained mechanical tone in colon from dystrophic (mdx) mice
2001
Abstract Background & Aims: Proximal colon from dystrophic mice develops spontaneous tone increment, but the mechanisms involved in its development have not been investigated. This study examined whether alterations in the properties of cell membrane calcium channels and/or sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca 2+ -adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) contribute to tone development. Methods: Effects of calcium-free solution, nifedipine, pinaverium (calcium channel blockers), and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA; SR Ca 2+ -ATPase inhibitor) on the contractile activity of colon from mdx and control mice were determined. Results Calcium-free solution abolished spontaneous contractions in both preparations, but d…
Characterization of two different Ca2+ entry pathways dependent on depletion of internal Ca2+ pools in rat aorta
1998
Ryanodine (10 microM), thapsigargin (1 microM) and cyclopiazonic acid (10 microM) produced a slow, sustained contractile response in rat aorta that only can be observed in Ca2+-containing solution. In Ca2+-free medium, no response to the drugs was obtained, which suggests that the contraction elicited in presence of Ca2+ is mainly due to the contribution of extracellular influx. This Ca2+ entry does not depend on the opening of dihydropyridine-dependent Ca2+-channels for nimodipine does not affect this. Noradrenaline (1 microM) induced a biphasic response in Ca2+-free medium that was mediated by two different Ca2+ compartments, one of which is common to caffeine (10 mM), and is also deplete…
The effects of LSD in the guinea-pig ileum
1985
The effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on acetylcholine release and on smooth muscle tone were studied in the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation of the guinea pig. LSD (0.01-10 microM) depressed in a concentration-dependent manner the electrically-evoked [3H]-acetylcholine outflow from strips preincubated with [3H]-choline. The maximal effect was a 45% inhibition by 1 microM LSD. The spontaneous outflow was not affected. Metitepine competitively antagonized (pA2 8.0) the LSD-induced reduction of the evoked outflow. Tolazoline and mepyramine did not affect the inhibitory action of LSD. The contractions in response to electrical stimulation were enhanced by 34% in the p…
Sex Differences in the Velocity of Muscle Contraction of the Hamstring and Quadriceps Among Recreationally Active Young Adults
2019
Martin-San Agustin, R, Medina-Mirapeix, F, Alakhdar, Y, and Benitez-Martinez, JC. Sex differences in the velocity of muscle contraction of the hamstring and quadriceps among recreationally active young adults. J Strength Cond Res 33(5): 1252-1257, 2019-This study determines sex differences in the velocity of contraction (VC) of 5 isolated muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis) and in the relationships between them. Thirty-six female and 34 male recreationally active young adults participated in the study. The VC was measured by tensiomyography using normalized response velocity (Vrn) to perform comparisons. Sex comparisons were adjust…
Lower-Limb Pain, Disease, and Injury Burden as Determinants of Muscle Strength Deficit After Hip Fracture
2009
Background: Hip fracture may result in an asymmetrical lower-limb strength deficit. The deficit may be related to the trauma, surgical treatment, pain, or disuse of the fractured limb. However, disease and injury burden or musculoskeletal pain in the other limb may reduce muscle strength on that side, reducing the asymmetrical deficit. The aim of our study was to explore the asymmetrical strength deficit and to determine the potential underlying factors in patients from six months to seven years after a hip fracture. Methods: The asymmetrical deficit was calculated ([fractured limb/sum of both lower limbs] x 100%) for isometric knee extension torque, rate of force development during isometr…
Muscarinic receptors, leukotriene B4 production and neutrophilic inflammation in COPD patients.
2005
Background: Acetylcholine (ACh) plays an important role in smooth muscle contraction and in the development of airway narrowing; preliminary evidences led us to hypothesize that ACh might also play a role in the development of airways inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: We evaluated the concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in induced sputum, and the expression of Ach M1, M2, and M3 receptors in sputum cells (SC) obtained from 16 patients with COPD, 11 smokers, and 14 control subjects. The SC were also treated with ACh and the production of LTB4 assessed in the presence or absence of a muscarinic antagonist (oxitropium). In blood monocytes, we evaluate…