Search results for "Muscle Contraction"
showing 10 items of 569 documents
Effects of low temperature and pharmacological interventions on the responses of the isolated guinea-pig trachea
1992
Cooling the guinea-pig isolated trachea from 37°C to 20°C virtually abolished the response to CaCl2 (in K+-depolarized tissues) and depressed that to histamine (about 75% reduction), KCl and 5-hydroxytryptamine (around 50% inhibition) while the response to acetylcholine remained unaffected. A further cooling to 10°C was necessary to inhibit acetylcholine-induced contractions. Hyporesponsiveness to spasmogens by cooling was not associated with subsensitivity (increased EC50) except for 5-hydroxytryptamine. Contractile responses to KCl (50 mmol/l), histamine (1 mmol/l) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (0.1 mmol/l) in a Ca2+-free EGTA (0.1 mmol/l)-containing solution were inhibited by cooling to 20°C b…
A muscarinic receptor different from the M1, M2, M3 and M4 subtypes mediates the contraction of the rabbit iris sphincter
1992
In order to analyse the subtype of muscarinic receptors involved in the methacholine-induced contraction of the rabbit iris sphincter we have determined equilibrium dissociation constants (KB) of various antagonists in the sphincter muscle. The values were compared with those observed at M1 (rabbit vas deferens), M2 (heteroreceptors in rat iris) and M3 receptors (guinea-pig ileum), or at the muscarinic receptors in the guinea-pig uterus. The methacholine-induced contraction of the uterus from immature guinea-pigs was competitively antagonized by pirenzepine (6.64, -log KB), 4-DAMP (8.39), hexahydrodifenidol (HHD; 7.00 for the (R)- and 5.40 for the (S)-enantiomer), p-fluoro-hexahydrosiladife…
Non-specific Hyperreactivity to Pharmacological Stimuli in Tracheal and Lung Parenchymal Strips of Actively Sensitized Guinea-pigs
1989
Abstract The responsiveness of tracheal and lung parenchymal strips isolated from actively sensitized guinea-pigs to CaCl2 (in K+-depolarized tissue), KCl, acetylcholine and histamine was compared with that of strips from unsensitized animals. The concentration-response curves to the mentioned agonists exhibited, in the sensitized group, a left upward displacement (greater maximal effect, lesser effective concentration 50% and a steeper slope) compared with those obtained in the unsensitized group. These results indicate the existence of a non-specific increase in responsiveness in the airway smooth muscle from sensitized animals.
Muscarinic inhibition of acetylcholine release from a novel in vitro preparation of the guinea-pig trachea
1990
An isolated preparation of the guinea-pig trachea is described which allows the simultaneous measurement of acetylcholine release and smooth muscle contraction. Incubation of the epithelium-free preparation with [3H]choline resulted in the formation of [3H]acetylcholine. Electrical stimulation caused the release of [3H]acetylcholine and a contractile response. Tetrodotoxin and omission of calcium from the medium abolished both the evoked release and contractions. The muscarinic agonists oxotremorine, carbachol and pilocarpine concentration-dependently inhibited the electrically evoked acetylcholine release and contracted the tracheal smooth muscle. Pre- and postsynaptic EC50 values for a gi…
A useful muscarinic parameter and the differential recording of atrial and ventricular tension in the perfused rabbit heart
1971
1. A simple method of recording right atrial tension from the Langendorff perfused rabbit has been described; it is based on the “transverse” method of recording cardiac contractions described by Beckett (1970). 2. Right atrial and ventricular tensions were recorded by transducers attached to threads stitched into the right atrium and right ventricle, the heart being retained and prevented from rotating by two threads stitched into the intraventricular septum as described by Beckett. 3. Right ventricular diastolic tension was adjusted to 7.5 g. Interference with the atrial record by ventricular systole was overcome by adjustment of diastolic right atrial tension to its optimal value between…
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…