Search results for "Muscle Relaxation"
showing 10 items of 94 documents
Nitrergic and purinergic interplay in inhibitory transmission in rat gastric fundus.
2007
Summary 1 This study was undertaken to analyse the involvement of ATP in non-adrenergic non- cholinergic (NANC) relaxation and possible interplay between nitrergic and purinergic systems in rat gastric fundus. 2 Experiments were performed in vitro on strips of longitudinal muscle from rat gastric fundus, recording the mechanical activity as changes in isometric force. In addition, NO release induced by different experimental conditions was assayed. 3 Under NANC conditions in serotonin-precontracted strips, electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive relaxation accompanied by nitric oxide (NO) release. This effect was antagonized by pretreatment with the NO …
The nicardipine-isoprenaline interaction in human and guinea-pig isolated airways
1994
Summary— The effects of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist nicardipine on the concentration-response curves of relaxant compounds acting through the adenylate-cyclase/cAMP system (isoprenaline, forskolin, adenosine and theophylline) or by the cGMP pathway (sodium nitroprusside) were studied on human isolated bronchus and guinea-pig isolated trachea. These effects were compared with those of nifedipine (a dihydropyridine derivative) and theophylline (a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor). Nicardipine, in the range of 0.01 to 1 μM, significantly potentiated the relaxant effects of isoprenaline, forskolin, adenosine and theophylline, whereas the effects of sodium nitroprusside were …
Nitric oxide is involved in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory neurotransmission in rat duodenum
1995
1. In rat duodenum, electrical field stimulation (EFS) induced a relaxation due to activation of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory intramural neurones. 2. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), caused a dose-dependent reduction in amplitude of the NANC relaxation. Responses to low frequencies of stimulation were more sensitive to NOS inhibitors than those to high frequencies. 3. Effects induced by NOS inhibitors were stereospecific since D-NNA and D-NAME did not affect NANC relaxation. L-arginine, but not D-arginine, partially prevented the effects induced by NOS inhibitors on NANC relaxati…
Investigations of the dual contractile/relaxant properties showed by antioquine in rat aorta.
1993
1. In the present study we assessed the activity of antioquine, a bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Pseudoxandra sclerocarpa, by examining its effects on the contractile activity of rat isolated aorta, specific binding of [3H]-(+)-cis-diltiazem, [3H]-nitrendipine and [3H]-prazosin to cerebral cortical membranes and the different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) isolated from bovine aorta. 2. Contractions in rat aorta induced by high concentrations of KCl (80 mM) and noradrenaline (1 microM) were inhibited by antioquine in a concentration-dependent manner (0.1 microM- 300 microM). The alkaloid appeared more potent against KCl-induced contract…
Plantar flexor activation capacity and H reflex in older adults: adaptations to strength training.
2002
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the voluntary neural drive and the excitability of the reflex arc could be modulated by training, even in old age. To this aim, the effects of a 16-wk strengthening program on plantar flexor voluntary activation (VA) and on the maximum Hoffman reflex (Hmax)-to-maximum M wave (Mmax) ratio were investigated in 14 elderly men (65–80 yr). After training, isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) increased by 18% ( P < 0.05) and weight-lifting ability by 24% ( P < 0.001). Twitch contraction time decreased by 8% ( P < 0.01), but no changes in half relaxation time and in peak twitch torque were observed. The VA, assessed by twitch …
Complex I dysfunction and tolerance to nitroglycerin: an approach based on mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants.
2006
Nitroglycerin (GTN) tolerance was induced in vivo (rats) and in vitro (rat and human vessels). Electrochemical detection revealed that the incubation dose of GTN (5×10 −6 mol/L) did not release NO or modify O 2 consumption when administered acutely. However, development of tolerance produced a decrease in both mitochondrial O 2 consumption and the K m for O 2 in animal and human vessels and endothelial cells in a noncompetitive action. GTN tolerance has been associated with impairment of GTN biotransformation through inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-2, and with uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration. Feeding rats with mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants (mitoquinone [MQ]) and i…
Interplay between PACAP and NO in mouse ileum
2003
Abstract We investigated the possibility that pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) has a role in the control of contractility in the mouse ileum. PACAP-(1-27) produced tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive, concentration-dependent reduction of the amplitude of the spontaneous contractions of longitudinal muscle up to their complete disappearance. This effect was inhibited by PACAP-(6-38), PACAP receptor antagonist, and by apamin, blocker of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+-channels. Nω-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, reduced the PACAP-inhibitory response, and the joint application of apamin plus L-NAME produced additive effects. …
New bronchodilators selected by molecular topology.
1998
Molecular topology has been applied to find new lead compounds with bronchodilator activity. Among the selected compounds stands out 3-(1H-tetrazol-5yl)-9H-thioxanthene-9 -one-10,10-dioxide, anthrarobin, 9-oxo-9H-thioxantene-3-carboxylic-10,10-dioxide acid, acenocoumarol and griseofulvin, with a percentage of relaxation, at 0.1 mM, of 91, 92, 85, 69, and 74%, respectively. Theophylline shows a correspondent value of 77% (Emax = 100% at 1 mM).
The effect of S-(+)-boldine on the α1-adrenoceptor of the guinea-pig aorta
1996
1. The cardiovascular activity of S-(+)-boldine, an aporphine alkaloid structurally related to papaverine, was determined. The work includes functional studies on guinea-pig isolated aorta contracted with noradrenaline, caffeine, KCl or Ca2+, and on guinea-pig trachea contracted with acetylcholine or histamine. 2. S-(+)-boldine inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the contractile response evoked by noradrenaline (10 microM) in guinea-pig aorta (IC50 = 1.4 +/- 0.2 microM) while the KCl depolarizing solution (60 mM)- or the Ca2+ (1 mM)-induced contractions were only partially affected by boldine up to 300 microM. In contrast, papaverine relaxed noradrenaline (NA), KCl or Ca2+ induced…
Gastric relaxation induced by apigenin and quercetin: Analysis of the mechanism of action
2009
Abstract Aims Recently, flavonoids have been shown to cause murine gastric relaxation. In the present study we examined the mechanism of action underlying gastric relaxation induced by apigenin and quercetin in isolated mouse stomach. Main methods The mechanical activity from the whole stomach was detected as changes in the endoluminal pressure and the response to increasing concentrations of both flavonoids were tested before and after different pharmacological treatments. Key findings Apigenin and quercetin-induced a concentration-dependent gastric relaxation, apigenin being more potent than quercetin. The responses were unaffected by 2′5′dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclas…