In order to further investigate the mechanisms of action of berberine (Ber), we assessed the effects of Ber on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in rat corpus cavernosum. After incubation with Ber for 1 or 3 h respectively, the levels of NOS mRNA were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that there were iNOS and eNOS mRNA expressions in rat corpus cavernosum. Ber enhanced eNOS mRNA expression in rat penis, but exhibited no effect on the expression of iNOS mRNA (P > 0.05). The present study indicated that the relaxation of Ber involved the NO-cGMP signal transduction pathway. The enhancing effect of Ber on eNOS mRNA expression might associated with its relaxation of corpus cavernosum.
Berberine/*pharmacology ; Connective Tissue/physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics ; Penile Erection/*physiology ; Penis/*metabolism ; Penis/physiology ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) on regulating the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and the mRNA transcriptions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) in mouse osteoblast-like cells.

METHODSMouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 was selected as the effective cell of IGF-II. After the cells were treated with IGF-II at different concentrations for different intervals of time, MTT colorimetry was used for examining the cell proliferation. Nitrate reductase method was applied for detecting the NO concentrations in cell culture supernatants and RT-PCR employed for determining the levels of cellular iNOS and eNOS mRNAs.

RESULTSAfter the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with IGF-II at the dosages of 1 microg/L for 72 h, 10 and 100 microg/L for 24, 48 and 72 h respectively, all the MTT values increased markedly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). After the cells were treated for 48 and 72 h at the dosage of 100 microg/L IGF-II respectively, the levels of NO in the supernatants of cell cultures and cellular iNOS mRNA decreased significantly (P < 0.01). However, the levels of eNOS mRNA in the cells treated with any of the IGF-II dosages for the different times were stable (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIGF-II at the dosages of 1 approximately 100 microg/L showed the effects on promoting proliferation, which as probably due to the maintenance of low NO levels. Inducible NOS gene expression at the level of transcription was down regulated in the MC3T3-E1 cell treated with higher dosage of IGF-II (100 microg/L) but eNOS mRNA was not, which might be one of the mechanisms for the maintenance of low NO levels.

3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in the microglial cells and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) in the striatum of rats with methamphetamine (METH) treatment.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into two groups for injections with METH or saline. Specific antibody against OX-42 was used to detect the changes in the morphology and the number of microglia, and the activities of NOS, iNOS and cNOS were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe microglial cells were activated and their number significantly increased in the striatum of rats with METH treatment as compared with those in the saline group. The activated microglial cells showed bushy and amoeboid morphologies in the METH group. METH also significantly enhanced the activities of NOS, iNOS and cNOS in the striatum (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMicroglial activation and increased NOS activity may participate in METH-induced neurotoxicity in rat striatum.

Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; enzymology ; Male ; Methamphetamine ; pharmacology ; Microglia ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antioxidant and anti-endotoxin effects of propofol on endothelial cells and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSCultured endothelial cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), propofol + H(2)O(2), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and propofol + LPS, respectively. Endothelial cell damage was monitored for possible lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The transcription and the protein expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured.

RESULTSLDH release was higher in groups treated with H(2)O(2) or LPS than in the control group. After pretreatment with propofol, the effects induced by H(2)O(2) were attenuated, but propofol did not decrease the LDH release induced by LPS. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS transcript levels and the increases were significantly attenuated after pretreatment with propofol. Both H(2)O(2) and LPS significantly increased the eNOS protein expression and the increase was attenuated after pretreatment with propofol.

CONCLUSIONPropofol could protect endothelial cells against oxidative stress by inhibiting eNOS transcription and protein expression, but could not antagonise endotoxin induced cell injuries.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endotoxins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Propofol ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii (GTW), methyltestosterone and Zhuanggushenjin capsule on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rat testes.

METHODSForty-five rats were equally divided into 5 groups, and respectively given GTW [10 mg/(kg x d)], methyltestosterone [2 mg/(kg x d)], Zhuanggushenjin capsule [0.3 g/(kg x d)], distilled water plus Tween 80 (control I), and distilled water alone (control II) for 4 weeks. At the end of the 5th week, the immunochemical ABC method was used to observe the effects of the three drugs on the NOS positive Leydig cells of the rats.

RESULTSCompared with control II, the GTW group had a significant decrease in the numbers of nNOS and eNOS positive Leydig cells, the methyltestosterone group showed an increase in the number of nNOS but a decrease in that of eNOS positive Leydig cells, and the Zhuanggushenjin group had an increase in the numbers of both nNOS and eNOS positive Leydig cells.

CONCLUSIONGTW can reduce NO production by inhibiting eNOS and nNOS, and hence influence the spermatogenic process. Zhuanggushenjin capsule plays an important role in improving male sexual function by enhancing nNOS and eNOS expression and NO synthesis.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Methyltestosterone ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Tripterygium

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urotensin II (U II) on the nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NO content in cardiomyocytes were measured. The current results showed that U inhibited eNOS mRNA expression, the NOS activity and the NO production of cardiomyocytes. U II (0.1 micromol/L) inhibited the NOS activity and the NO production in cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that the cardiovascular effect of U II might be partially associated with NO production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDIn China the ginseng root began to be used in medicine over 2000 years ago. Ginsenosides are the most important component isolated from ginseng. The authors investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the spectrum of gene expression in the endothelial cells stimulated by TNF-alpha and further explored the potential molecular mechanism of endothelial protection by ginsenoside Rg1.

METHODSNitric oxide (NO) production in the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured by using an NO assay kit. A home-made oligonucleotide microarray containing approximately 400 cardiovascular disease-related genes was constructed. The alteration of the spectrum of gene expression induced by ginsenoside Rg1 in HUVECs which were activated by TNF-alpha were detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis.

RESULTSNO production in HUVECs was decreased significantly after TNF-alpha treatment, while pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 enhanced NO production in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 affected the expression levels of genes involved in vascular constriction, cell adherence, coagulation, cell growth and signal transduction in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONSGinsenoside Rg1 could enhance NO production and the expression of eNOS mRNA in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 regulated sets of genes in endothelial cells and protected endothelial cells from TNF-alpha activation. Microarray analysis provided us with valuable insights into the atheroprotective mechanism by gingsenoside Rg1.

Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), on ET-1 level in plasma and aorta in rats with atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODThirty male rats, weighting 200-220 g, were randomly divided into AS, AS+NaHS and control groups, n = 10 in each group.Rats were given a single dose of vitamin D3 (700 000 U/kg) in the first three days and fed with a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks to induce AS. Rats in AS+NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with an H2S donor NaHS, at a dose of 56 µmol/(kg·d) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment for 8 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed. The plasma was collected and the aorta and coronary tissues were isolated. The atherosclerotic lesions in both aorta and coronary arteries were detected using oil red O method. H2S concentration in plasma was determined with sulfide-sensitive electrode method. ET-1 levels in plasma and aorta were calculated by radioimmunoassay kit and the localization of ET-1 in the aorta was detected by immunohistochemistry. Plasma nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) were detected with colorimetry.

RESULTAS plaque area in root of aorta of rats in AS group, AS+NaHS group and control group were (11.6±3.3)%, (1.6±1.1)%, (0.0±0.1)% respectively. The difference in AS plaque area in root of aorta among the three groups was statistically significant (F=97.675, P < 0.05). AS plaque area in coronary artery of rats in AS group, AS+NaHS group and control group were (21.4±5.7)%, (4.8±2.5)%, (0.0±0.0)% respectively. The difference in AS plaque area in coronary artery among the three groups was statistically significant (F=97.519, P < 0.05). Plasma H2S level in rats of AS group ((22.0±3.1) µmol/L) was significantly lower than that of control group ((27.9±1.0) µmol/L) and AS+NaHS group ((33.3±6.2) µmol/L, all P < 0.05). Compared with control group ((70.0±10.7) ng/L), plasma ET-1 in rats of AS group ((89.6±14.2) ng/L) and AS+NaHS group ((93.1±15.5) ng/L, P both < 0.05) were increased. However, there was no significant difference in plasma ET-1 content in rats between AS+NaHS group and AS group (P > 0.05). Compared with control group ((3.8±1.2) ng/g), ET-1 content in aorta in rats of AS group ((11.9±4.9) ng/g) and AS+NaHS group ((8.2±2.5) ng/g, both P < 0.05) were increased, and ET-1 content in aorta in rats of AS+NaHS group was decreased compared with AS group (P < 0.05). Immunochemistry results showed that ET expression in cytoplasm in aortic endothelial cells in rats of AS group was strengthened, while ET expression in rats of control group and AS+NaHS group was weak. NOS activity of rats in control group, AS group and AS+NaHS group was (25.4±5.6), (51.8±10.0) and (27.6±6.5) U/ml, eNOS activity (15.3±6.2), (4.5±2.7) and (8.7±3.9) U/ml, and iNOS activity (9.9±4.0), (47.3±10.7) and (19.0±5.2) U/ml, respectively.Differences among the three groups were statistically significant (NOS activity: F=37.231, P < 0.05, eNOS activity: F=14.600, P < 0.05, and iNOS activity: F=72.131, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONH2S donor NaHS reduced the AS plaque in AS rats. The mechanisms might involve the protective effect of H2S on the vascular endothelial cell, decreasing ET-1 production in aortal endothelium of atherosclerotic rats.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sulfides ; pharmacology

Blood Platelets ; enzymology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; enzymology ; Enzyme Activation ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Phosphorylation ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; Serine ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective effect of quercetin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiac injury in mice.

METHODSC57BL/6J mice were randomized into 4 groups to receive intraperitoneal injection of saline (negative control) or LPS (20 mg/kg), or fed with quercetin (100 mg/kg for 7 days) with or without subsequent LPS injection (quercetin+LPS group and quercetin control group, respectively). Six hour after LPS injection, the mice were tested for cardiac function with an echocardiograph, and the protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, iNOS, and eNOS in the myocardium were evaluated with Western blotting; serum NO concentration was also measured. The survival of the mice within 5 days after LPS injection was recorded to draw the survival curve.

RESULTSQuercetin pretreatment significantly improved the cardiac function of LPS-challenged mice (P<0.05), and attenuated LPS-induced increment in myocardial iNOS expression and decrement in eNOS level. LPS significantly increased the myocardial Bax expression and slightly decreased Bcl-2 expression; quercetin pretreatment decreased Bax expression to the control level and significantly lowered Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as compared with the LPS group. Serum NO level was significantly increased by nearly 2.5 folds in LPS-challenged mice, but was markedly decreased with quercetin pretreatment (P<0.05). The 5-day survival rate of LPS-treated mice was 10%, which was increased to 45% in quercetin- pretreated mice (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuercetin can alleviate LPS-induced cardiac dysfunctions in mice to increase their survival rate following LPS challenge.

Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; pharmacology