Search results for "toxin"
showing 10 items of 1434 documents
Relaxant Effects of the Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Bazedoxifene, and Estrogen Receptor Agonists in Isolated Rabbit Basilar Artery
2016
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…
Evidence that neuronally released vasoactive intestinal polypeptide inhibits the release of serotonin from enterochromaffin cells of the guinea pig s…
1991
Abstract. Isolated small intestinal segments of the guinea pig were arterially perfused and the release of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid into the portal venous effluent was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Test substances were intra-arterially applied. The muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine (1 μmol/l inhibited the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine by about 50%. In the presence of the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, oxotremorine enhanced the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine by 145%, indicating that the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine was mediated by the release of a neurotransmitter. Exogenous vasoactive intestinal polypeptide ( 1-100 pmol/l inhi…
Adrenergic modulation of the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine from the vascularly perfused ileum of the guinea-pig
1988
1. Isolated segments of the guinea-pig ileum were vascularly perfused and the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) into the portal venous effluent was determined by h.p.l.c. with electrochemical detection. Test substances were applied via the arterial perfusion medium. 2. Isoprenaline (0.1 microM) increased the outflow of 5-HT and 5-HIAA maximally by about 75% and this was antagonized by propranolol (0.1 microM). Forskolin (1-10 microM) increased the outflow of 5-HT by approximately 105% and that of 5-HIAA by approximately 55%. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor AH 21-132 (0.1-1 microM) increased the outflow of 5-HT and 5-HIAA by about 70%. Isoprenaline…
Cisplatin increases the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from the isolated vascularly perfused small intestine of the guinea-pig: Involvement of…
1991
Isolated segments of the guinea-pig small intestine were vascularly perfused and the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) into the portal venous effluent determined by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Release of acetylcholine from isolated superfused intestinal segments was determined as outflow of [3H]radioactivity from preparations preincubated with [3H]choline. Cisplatin (3 microM) increased the outflow of 5-HT and 5-HIAA by about 90%. At 30 and 100 microM cisplatin decreased the outflow of 5-HT and its metabolite by 40%-50%. The stimulatory effect of cisplatin was consistently observed only when the bicarbonate-…
Inhibition of phospholipase A2 activities and some inflammatory responses by the marine product ircinin
1996
The marine product ircinin has been tested for its effects on secretory and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities in vitro as well as for inhibition of cellular functions in human neutrophils and inflammatory responses in mice. Ircinin inhibited Naja naja venom, human synovial recombinant, bee venom and zymosan-injected rat air pouch PLA2 with IC50 values in the microM range, similar to those of the known inhibitor scalaradial. On the other hand, ircinin was less active on cytosolic PLA2 from human monocytes and decreased potently the release of LTB4 in human neutrophils. This marine product affected weakly human neutrophil functions like superoxide generation and degranulation. In t…
Assessment of humoral and cell-mediated immunity against Bordetella pertussis in adolescent, adult, and senior subjects in Italy
2008
SUMMARYHumoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) againstB. pertussiswas assessed in a sample of adolescent, adult and senior subjects distributed in five different geographical areas in Italy. Most (99·1%) subjects had IgG anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibodies exceeding the minimum detection level [⩾2 ELISA units (EU)/ml]. There were no significant differences between the genders; 6·2% samples recorded titres ⩾100 EU/ml. CMI was positive [stimulation index (SI) ⩾5] against PT in 39·0% of all samples. This study suggests thatB. pertussiscontinues to circulate in age groups that have been previously considered to be uninvolved in the circulation of this pathogen and that adolescent and adult pe…
Endothelial function and serum concentration of toxic metals in frequent consumers of fish.
2014
BACKGROUND:Endothelial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Consumption of fish is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, but there is paucity of data concerning its effect on endothelial function. Furthermore, investigation of the effects of fish consumption on health must take into account the ingestion of contaminants, including transition metals and some metalloids, which may have unfavorable effects on health, including those on the cardiovascular system. We investigated the association between fish consumption, endothelial function (flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery), and serum concentration of some toxic metals in apparently healthy people…
Simvastatin Inhibits Inflammatory Properties ofStaphylococcus aureusα-Toxin
2002
Background—Simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, has been shown to lower serum cholesterol levels in clinical use. Moreover, statins exert beneficial effects in vascular diseases by inhibition of leukocyte rolling, adherence, and transmigration. The aim of this study was to determine if pretreatment with simvastatin attenuatesStaphylococcus aureusα-toxin–induced increase in leukocyte-endothelial interactions during exotoxemia.Methods and Results—The effects of simvastatin on leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions were observed by intravital microscopy in the rat mesenteric microcirculation. Simvastatin (50 or 100 μg/kg) was administered 18 hours before the…
Determination of microcystins in fish by solvent extraction and liquid chromatography
2005
A liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS) method has been developed to identify and quantify microcystins in fish liver and intestine. Microcystins (MCs) were extracted from 500 mg sample with methanol-water (85:25, v/v) and the extracts concentrated to 250 microl. The parameters were optimized by a full factorial 2(3) design. Neither laborious pre-treatment nor clean up were necessary. MCs were separated using conventional C18 column and an acetonitrile-acidified water (pH 3) gradient. Negative samples (without MCs) were discriminated by liquid chromatography diode array detection (LC/DAD). The limits of detection (LOD) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) result…
Regulation of phospholipase D activity in synaptosomes permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin.
1998
In order to investigate the regulation of presynaptic phospholipase D (PLD) activity by calcium and G proteins, we established a permeabilization procedure for rat cortical synaptosomes using Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin (30-100 microg/ml). In permeabilized synaptosomes, PLD activity was significantly stimulated when the concentration of free calcium was increased from 0.1 microM to 1 microM. This activation was inhibited in the presence of KN-62 (1 microM), an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), but not by the protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-8220 (1-10 microM). Synaptosomal PLD activity was also stimulated in the presence of 1 microM GTPgammaS. When Rho pro…