ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#This study aims to evaluate the vasodilatory effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the isolated rat aorta, and to explore its mechanism of action.@*METHODS@#The vasorelaxant effect and the mode of action of various extracts from the leaves of C. ambrosioides were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Wistar rats. In addition, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were analyzed, using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, for their polyphenolic content.@*RESULTS@#The various active extracts of C. ambrosioides at four concentrations (10, 10, 10 and 1 mg/mL) relaxed the contraction elicited by phenylephrine, in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect seems to be endothelium-dependent, since the vasodilatory effect was entirely absent in denuded aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effect of the methanol fraction (MF) of C. ambrosioides at 1 mg/mL was also inhibited by atropine and tetraethylammonium. This effect remained unchanged by Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and glibenclamide. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaves of C. ambrosioides are rich in phenolic and flavonoid derivatives.@*CONCLUSION@#These results suggest that the MF of C. ambrosioides produces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of the isolated rat aorta, which is thought to be mediated mainly through stimulation of the muscarinic receptors, and probably involving the opening of Ca-activated potassium channels.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effects of different concentrations of dexmedetomidine on large-con-ductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKca) channels in the rat mesenteric arterial smooth muscle (MASM) cells.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,weighing 180-220 g,were used in this study.Single MASM cell was freshly isolated from mesenteric arteries in two steps.Ten cells were chosen and studied.When holding potential was 40 mV and the concentration of free calcium ions was 10-7 mol/L,inside-out patch-clamp technique was used to record the single BKCa channel current before and after application of different concentrations of dexmedetomidine (0,10-9,10-8,10-7,10-6,10-5 mol/L).Total open probability (NPo),amplitude (Am),mean open time (To) and mean close time (To) of single BKca channel were observed and recorded.Results Compared with the baseline value,dexmedetomidine 10-7,10-6 and 10-5 mol/L increased NPo in a concentration-dependent man-ner,and dexmedetomidine 10-9,10-8,10-7,10-6,10-5mol/L shortened Tc (P ＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with the value obtained when the concentration of dexmedetomidine was 10-9 mol/L,Tc was significantly shortened when the concentration of dexmedetomidine was 10-8 mol/L (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in Am and To obtained when different concentrations of dexmedetomidine were applied (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine 10-7,10-6 and 10-5 mol/L activate BKca channels in rat MASM cells in a concentration-depen-dent manner,which is one of the mechanisms of decrease in blood pressure by dexmedetomidine.
ABSTRACT
Small conductance Ca 2+ activated potassium channels ( SK channels) are potassium selective , voltage independent, and Ca 2+ high sensitivity. SK channels are widely distributed in neurons. SK underlie the slow afterhyperpolarization , which regulate the fire of neurons by spike frequency adaptation. Three mammalian SK channels (SK 1, SK 2, SK 3) have been cloned . Ca 2+ , CaM and neurotransimitters involve in the gating of these channels. The changes of these channels may result in memory, neuromuscular disorder and schizophrenia.