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Circulation. 2001 Jan 2;103(1):155-60.
Reduction in myocardial collagen cross-linking parallels left ventricular dilatation in rat models of systolic chamber dysfunction.

Woodiwiss AJ, Tsotetsi OJ, Sprott S, Lancaster EJ, Mela T, Chung ES, Meyer TE, Norton GR.

Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The transition from compensated left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to heart failure is associated with alterations in the myocardial interstitium. We hypothesized that LV dilatation is associated with modifications in collagen cross-linking. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 2 rat models of LV dilatation: (1) pressure-overload hypertrophy with heart failure (POH-F) induced by suprarenal abdominal aortic banding and (2) LVH induced by 7 months of isoproterenol (ISO, 0.04 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) administration. In POH-F rats and in rats receiving ISO, LV dilatation and a reduced systolic chamber performance were noted. Myocardial hydroxyproline concentrations ([HPRO]) were increased in the POH-F rats, whereas in rats receiving ISO, [HPRO] was decreased. In POH-F rats, the ratio of myocardial collagen type I to type III was increased, but in rats receiving ISO, myocardial collagen I/III was unchanged. In contrast to the diverse changes in myocardial collagen concentrations and phenotypes observed in the 2 models of LV dilatation, the ratio of myocardial insoluble to soluble (relationship between cross-linked and non-cross-linked) collagen was decreased in both the POH-F and ISO groups. Moreover, administration of captopril (0.22 mmol x kg(-1) x d(-1)), which inhibited the ISO-induced reduction in myocardial insoluble/soluble collagen but not the reduction in [HPRO], prevented the ISO-induced alterations in LV dimensions and performance. CONCLUSIONS: Because decreases in the ratio of myocardial insoluble to soluble collagen parallel LV dilatation in rats, reductions in myocardial collagen cross-linking may be an important mechanism contributing to LV dilatation in heart disease.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11136701&dopt=Abstract




Toxicon. 2001 Jun;39(6):825-30.
Pharmacological characterization of the rat paw edema induced by Bothrops lanceolatus (Fer de lance) venom.

de Faria L, Antunes E, Bon C, de Araujo AL.

Departamento de Farmacologia, FCM, UNICAMP, CP 6111, 13081-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

The inflammatory response induced by Bothrops lanceolatus venom (BLV) in the rat hind-paw was studied measuring paw edema. Non-heated BLV (75microg/paw) caused a marked paw edema accompanied by intense haemorrhage whereas heated venom (97 degrees C, 30s; 12.5-100microg/paw) produced a dose- and time-dependent non-haemorrhagic edema. The response with heated BLV was maximal within 15min disappearing over 24h. Heated venom was then routinely used at the dose of 75microg/paw. The prostacyclin analogue iloprost (0.1microg/paw) potentiated by 125% the venom-induced edema. The histamine H(1) receptor antagonist mepyramine (6mg/kg) or the serotonin/histamine receptor antagonist cyproheptadine (6mg/kg) partially inhibited BLV-induced edema whereas the combination of both compounds virtually abolished the edema. The lipoxygenase inhibitor BWA4C (10mg/kg), but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10mg/kg), significantly inhibited the edema (35% reduction; P<0.05). Dexamethasone (1mg/kg) also markedly (P<0.001) reduced venom-induced edema. The bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist Hoe 140 (0.6mg/kg) reduced by 30% (P<0.05) the venom induced edema, whereas the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (300microg/paw) potentiated by 42% (P<0.05) the edema. Bothrops lanceolatus antivenon (anti-BLV) reduced by 28% (P<0.05) the venom-induced edema while intravenous administration of antivenom failed to affect the edema. In conclusion, BLV-induced rat paw edema involves mast cell degranulation causing local release of histamine and serotonin, a phenomenon mediated mainly by kinins and lipoxygenase metabolites. Additionally, the use of a specific Bothrops lanceolatus antivenom, given subplantarily or intravenously, revealed to be little effective to prevent BLV-induced edema.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11137542&dopt=Abstract

ac.shoyaku.ac.jp

To examine whether angiotensin II and endothelins produced in vascular smooth muscle cells can play roles in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, we measured the activity of MAP kinases in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, and determined effects of renin-angiotensin and endothelin systems activators and inhibitors. Angiotensin II and endothelin-1 produced an activation of MAP kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas the angiotensin receptor antagonist, losartan and the endothelin receptor antagonist, cyclo (D-alpha-aspartyl-L-prolyl-D-valyl-L-leucyl-D-tryptophyl, BQ123) inhibited the enzyme activity. MAP kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells was also inhibited either by the renin inhibitor pepstatin A or by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. The degree of the inhibition of MAP kinase activity by pepstatin A, captopril and losartan was almost the same. Renin produced a considerable increase in MAP kinase activity and the renin-induced MAP kinase activation was inhibited by pepstatin A. The endothelin precursor big endothelin-1 produced an increase of MAP kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas the endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor phosphoramidon inhibited the enzyme activity. These findings suggest that functional renin-angiotensin system and endothelin system are present in vascular smooth muscle cells and these systems tonically serve to increase MAP kinase activity. It appears that renin or renin-like substances play the determining role in the regulation of renin-angiotensin system in vascular smooth muscle cells.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11137855&dopt=Abstract













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