Search results for "Pyridine"
showing 10 items of 2516 documents
Multiple actions of glaucine on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, α1-adrenoceptor and benzothiazepine binding site at the calcium channel
1992
1. In the present study, the properties of glaucine (an aporphine structurally related to papaverine) were compared with those of papaverine, diltiazem, nifedipine and prazosin. The work includes functional studies on rat isolated aorta contracted with noradrenaline, caffeine or KCl, and a determination of the affinity of glaucine at calcium channel binding sites of alpha-adrenoceptors, by use of [3H]-(+)-cis-diltiazem, [3H]-nitrendipine and [3H]-prazosin binding to cerebral cortical membranes. The effects of glaucine on the different molecular forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) isolated from bovine aorta were also determined. 2. Contraction evoked by noradrenaline (1 micro…
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…
Transgenic expression and activation of PGC-1α protect dopaminergic neurons in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
2011
Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress occur in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling these events. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional coactivator that is a master regulator of oxidative stress and mitochondrial metabolism. We show here that transgenic mice overexpressing PGC-1α in dopaminergic neurons are resistant against cell degeneration induced by the neurotoxin MPTP. The increase in neuronal viability was accompanied by elevated levels of mitochondrial antioxidants SOD2 and Trx2 in the substantia nigra of transgenic mice. PGC-1α overexpression also protected against MP…
L-type calcium channel activity in human atrial myocytes as influenced by 5-HT.
1993
5-Hydroxytryptamine (10 mumol/l; 5-HT) exerted a positive inotropic effect associated with an increase in the Ca2+ current (ICa) in the human right atrium. For detailed analysis, L-type Ca2+ channel currents were recorded from cell-attached patches using 100 mmol/l Ba2+ as charge carrier. Ca2+ channel activity was identified, first, by burst-like inwardly directed currents and, second, by the appearance of long channel openings promoted by Bay K 8644 (1 mumol/l) upon repetitive depolarizations from -80 to 0 mV. The unitary conductance of the Ca2+ channel amounted to 25.8 pS. During superfusion with 5-HT, ensemble averaged (mean) current was enhanced by about 60%. The increase in mean curren…
Neuron regeneration reverses 3-acetylpyridine-induced cell loss in the cerebral cortex of adult lizards
1991
Systemic administration of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine to adult lizards results in extensive loss of neurons in the medial cerebral cortex, other brain areas remaining largely unaffected. After the neurotoxic trauma, new cells are produced by mitotic division of cells in the ventricular wall. The new cells migrate along radial glial fibers and replace lost neurons in the medial cortex. Electron microscopic examination of cells labeled with [3H]thymidine confirms that the newly generated cells are neurons. Thus, neuron regeneration can occur in the cerebral cortex of adult lizards.
Acute sodium depletion modifies septo-preoptic neuron sensitivities to neurohormones.
1998
Sodium (Na+) depletion induces sodium appetite to replenish Na+ loss. It appears to be a consequence of enhanced levels of aldosterone (Aldo) and angiotensin II (AII) in the plasma as well as in the brain. Mineralocorticoid pretreatment modifies the sensitivity of septo-preoptic neurons to locally applied AII and Aldo. Therefore, we investigated septo-preoptic neuronal sensitivities to AII and Aldo, as well as to the specific AII type-1 receptor (AT-1) non-peptide antagonist losartan (Los) and to the specific AII type-2 receptor (AT-2) non-peptide antagonist PD123319 after one Na+ depletion without repletion. We found that one Na+ depletion induced increases in the proportion of neurons inh…
Role of K+ and Ca2+ fluxes in the cerebroarterial vasoactive effects of sildenafil
2007
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…
Calcium dependence of the contraction produced by endothelin (ET-1) in isolated guinea-pig trachea.
1990
Endothelin (ET-1, 1 pM to 0.1 microM) produced a concentration-dependent contraction of isolated guinea-pig trachea. BAY K 8644 (1 microM) did not significantly alter the concentration-response curve for ET-1. Incubation with nicardipine (10 microM) partly inhibited responses to low concentrations (10 pM to 1 nM) of ET-1 while verapamil (10 microM) and diltiazem (10 microM) were ineffective. La3+ (10 microM) and Cd2+ (10 microM) preferentially depressed the responses evoked by high concentrations (30 nM-0.1 microM) of ET-1 without affecting the responses evoked by low concentrations of the peptide. Incubation in Ca2(+)-free (with EDTA, 1 mM) medium resulted in suppression of the responses e…
U-46619-induced potentiation of noradrenergic constriction in the human saphenous vein: antagonism by thromboxane receptor blockade.
2001
Objective: We investigated the potentiating effect of U-46619, a synthetic analogue of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), on the adrenergic responses in human saphenous vein. Methods: Saphenous vein rings were obtained from 35 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The rings were suspended in organ bath chambers for isometric recording of tension. Results: U-46619 (10−10–3×10−7 mol/l) produced concentration-dependent and endothelium-independent contractile responses. U-46619 (10−10 mol/l) potentiated the contractions elicited by electrical stimulation and potassium chloride, and produced leftward shifts of the concentration–response curve for noradrenaline. The TXA2 receptor antagonist SQ-…
Anti-inflammatory effects of cerebrocrast in a model of rat paw edema and on mononuclear THP-1 cells.
2002
Cerebrocrast (IOS 1.1212; 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid di(2-propoxyethyl) diester) is a novel derivative of 1,4-dihydropyridine, which does not antagonize Ca(2+) influx in neuronal tissues. Since several classical dihydropyridines possess anti-inflammatory properties, we first studied the effects of cerebrocrast in a model of rat paw edema induced by carrageenan. Cerebrocrast had a preventative effect in this model of inflammation, with maximal activity (32-45% inhibition) in the 0.1-0.25 mg kg(-1) range. It was ineffective when added after the injection of carrageenan. Subsequent in vitro experiments showed that cerebrocrast in the mi…