ABSTRACT
6-Nitrodopamine is a novel catecholamine released by vascular tissues, heart, and vas deferens. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 6-nitrodopamine is released from the thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings of marmosets (Callithrix spp.) and to evaluate the relaxing and anti-contractile actions of this catecholamine. Release of 6-nitrodopamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline was assessed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The relaxations induced by 6-nitrodopamine and by the selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist L-741,626 were evaluated on U-46619 (3 nM)-pre-contracted vessels. The effects of 6-nitrodopamine and L-741,626 on the contractions induced by electric-field stimulation (EFS), dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline were also investigated. Both aorta and pulmonary artery rings exhibited endothelium-dependent release of 6-nitrodopamine, which was significantly reduced by the NO synthesis inhibitor L-NAME. Addition of 6-nitrodopamine or L-741,626 caused concentration-dependent relaxations of both vascular tissues, which were almost abolished by endothelium removal, whereas L-NAME and the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ had no effect on 6-nitrodopamine-induced relaxations. Additionally, pre-incubation with 6-nitrodopamine antagonized the dopamine-induced contractions, without affecting the noradrenaline- and adrenaline-induced contractions. Pre-incubation with L-741,626 antagonized the contractions induced by all catecholamines. The EFS-induced contractions were significantly increased by L-NAME, but unaffected by ODQ. Immunohistochemical assays showed no immunostaining of the neural tissue markers S-100 and calretinin in either vascular tissue. The results indicated that 6-nitrodopamine is the major catecholamine released by marmoset vascular tissues, and it acts as a potent and selective antagonist of dopamine D2-like receptors. 6-nitrodopamine release may be the major mechanism by which NO causes vasodilatation.
ABSTRACT
Electric field stimulation (EFS) can effectively inhibit local Ca 2+ influx and secondary injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, after the EFS, the Ca 2+ in the injured spinal cord restarts and subsequent biochemical reactions are stimulated, which affect the long-term effect of EFS. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a hydrophilic polymer material that can promote cell membrane fusion and repair damaged cell membranes. This article aims to study the combined effects of EFS and PEG on the treatment of SCI. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to SCI and then divided into control group (no treatment, n = 10), EFS group (EFS for 30 min, n = 10), PEG group (covered with 50% PEG gelatin sponge for 5 min, n = 10) and combination group (combined treatment of EFS and PEG, n = 10). The measurement of motor evoked potential (MEP), the motor behavior score and spinal cord section fast blue staining were performed at different times after SCI. Eight weeks after the operation, the results showed that the latency difference of MEP, the amplitude difference of MEP and the ratio of cavity area of spinal cords in the combination group were significantly lower than those of the control group, EFS group and PEG group. The motor function score and the ratio of residual nerve tissue area in the spinal cords of the combination group were significantly higher than those in the control group, EFS group and PEG group. The results suggest that the combined treatment can reduce the pathological damage and promote the recovery of motor function in rats after SCI, and the therapeutic effects are significantly better than those of EFS and PEG alone.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Electric Stimulation , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Recovery of Function/physiology , Spinal Cord , Spinal Cord Injuries/therapyABSTRACT
0.05). Phenylephrine induced contractile responses in a concentration-dependent manner in the dorsal detrusor strips, but not in the ventral detrusor strips. S-doxazosin, R-doxazosin and rac-doxazosin at 1 ?mol?L-1 antagonized the phenylephrine-induced contractile responses competitively in the dorsal detrusor strips, and their pKB values were 7.44?0.19, 7.39?0.14 and 7.38?0.30, respectively. Three pKB values of doxazosin and its enantiomers were not significantly different from each other. Electric field stimulation produced a steady contractile response that was completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin at 0.3 ?mol?L-1. S-doxazosin, R-doxazosin and rac-doxazosin significantly inhibited the contractile responses to electric field stimulation in the dorsal detrusor strips of the rabbit urinary bladder(P0.05). However, S-doxazosin, R-doxazosin and rac-doxazosin did not affect the responses to electric field stimulation in the ventral detrusor strips. Conclusion The pKB value of S-doxazosin against phenylephrine-induced contraction via-adrenoceptors is same to R-doxazosin and rac-doxazosin, and the three agents are able to inhibit the adrenergic contraction induced by electric field stimulation in dorsal detrusor strips of the rabbit urinary bladder.