Knockdown of transglutaminase-2 prevents early age-induced vascular changes in mice

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether the absence of transglutaminase 2 enzyme (TG2) in TG2 knockout mice (TG2-/-) protect them against early age-related functional and histological arterial changes. Methods: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using non-invasive Doppler and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured in awake mice using tail-cuff system. Thoracic aortas were excised for evaluation of endothelial dependent vasodilation (EDV) by wire myography, as well as histological analyses. Results: PWV and MAP were similar in TG2-/-mice to age-matched wild type (WT) control mice. Old WT mice exhibited a markedly attenuated EDV as compared to young WT animals. The TG2-/-young and old mice had enhanced EDV responses (p<0.01) as compared to WT mice. There was a significant increase in TG2 crosslinks by IHC in WT old group compared to Young, with no stain in the TG2-/-animals. Optical microscopy examination of Old WT mice aorta showed thinning and fragmentation of elastic laminae. Young WT mice, old and young TG2-/-mice presented regularly arranged and parallel elastic laminae of the tunica media. Conclusion: The genetic suppression of TG2 delays the age-induced endothelial dysfunction and histological modifications.

Role of adenylyl cyclase in reduced ß-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation during maturation

Beta-adrenergic receptor (βAR)-dependent blood vessel relaxation is impaired in older animals and G protein activation has been suggested as the causative mechanism. Here, we investigated the role of βAR subtypes (β1AR, β2AR, and β3AR) and cAMP in maturation-dependent vasorelaxation impairment. Aortic rings from 15 Sprague-Dawley male rats (3 or 9 weeks old) were harvested and left intact or denuded of the endothelium. Vascular relaxation in aortic rings from younger and older groups was compared in the presence of βAR subtype agonists and antagonists along with cAMP and cGMP antagonists. Isolated aortic rings were used to evaluate relaxation responses, protein expression was evaluated by western blot or real time PCR, and metabolites were measured by ELISA. Expression of βAR subtypes and adenylyl cyclase was assessed, and cAMP activity was measured in vascular tissue from both groups. Isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent relaxation in aortic rings with and without endothelium from 9-week-old rats was impaired compared with younger rats. The β1AR antagonist CGP20712A (10-7 M) did not affect isoproterenol or BRL744-dependent relaxation in arteries from either group. The β2AR antagonist ICI-118,551 (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol-dependent aortic relaxation in both groups. The β3AR antagonist SR59230A (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent aortic ring relaxation in younger but not in older rats. All βAR subtypes were expressed in both groups, although β3AR expression was lower in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase (SQ 22536) or protein kinase A (H89) inhibitors prevented isoproterenol-induced relaxation in younger but not in older rats. Production of cAMP was reduced in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase III and RyR3 protein expression was higher in the younger group. In conclusion, altered expression of β3AR and adenylyl cyclase III may be responsible for reduced cAMP production in the older group.

Long-lasting endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated arteries caused by an extract from the bark of Combretum leprosum / Extrato das cascas de Combretum leprosum causa relaxamento dependente de endotélio de longa duração em artérias isoladas

Objective To describe and to characterize the relaxing effect of an extract of the bark of Combretum leprosum on isolated arterial rings from different animals.Methods Rings (3 to 4mm) from rabbit, rat, or porcine arteries rings were suspended in an organ bath (Krebs, 37°C, 95%O2/5%CO2) to record isometric contractions. After the stabilization period (2 to 3 hours) contractions were induced by the addition of phenylephrine (0.1 to 0.3µM) or U46619 (10 to 100nM), and Combretum leprosum extract was added on the plateau of the contractions. Experiments were performed to determine the potency, duration, reversibility, and to get insights on the potential mechanism involved in extract-induced relaxations.Results In all rings tested, Combretumleprosum extract (1.5μg/mL) was able to cause relaxations, which were strictly endothelium-dependent. In rabbit or rat thoracic aorta rings, the relaxations were reversed by vitamin B12a or L-NG-nitroarginine. In porcine right coronary arteries and rabbit abdominal aorta, extract caused both L-NG-nitroarginine-sensitive and L-NG-nitroarginine-resistant relaxations. In rabbit thoracic aorta, the extract was relatively potent (EC50=0.20µg/mL) and caused relaxations; intriguingly the endothelium continued to produce relaxing factors for a long period after removing the extract. The magnitude of extract-induced relaxations was significantly reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca2+; in addition, the TRPs channels blocker ruthenium red (10µM) was able to revert extract-induced relaxations. Phytochemical analyses indicated that the extract was rich in polyphenol-like reacting substances.ConclusionsCombretum leprosum extract contains bioactive compounds capable of promoting Ca2+-dependent stimulation of endothelial cells which results in a prolonged production of relaxing factors.

Objetivo Descrever e caracterizar os relaxamentos induzidos por um extrato das cascas de Combretum leprosum em anéis de artérias de diferentes espécies de animais.Métodos Anéis (3 a 4mm) de artérias de coelho, rato e porco foram montados em cubas para órgão isolado (Krebs, 37°C, 95%O2/5%CO2) para registro das contrações isométricas. Após um período de estabilização (2 a 3 horas), as contrações foram induzidas com fenilefrina (0,1 a 0,3µM) ou U46619 (10 a 100nM); no platô dessas contrações, adicionamos o extrato Combretum leprosum. Diferentes protocolos foram realizados para determinar potência, duração, reversibilidade e mecanismo dos relaxamentos induzidos pelo extrato.Resultados Em todas as preparações testadas, o extrato de Combretum leprosum (1,5µg/mL) provocou relaxamentos dependentes de endotélio. Em aorta torácica de coelho ou rato, os relaxamentos foram revertidos pela vitamina B12a ou L-NG-nitro-arginina. Em anéis de aorta abdominal de coelho e de artérias coronárias de porco, o extrato causou relaxamentos sensíveis e resistentes à L-NG-nitro-arginina. Em aorta torácica de coelho, o extrato foi relativamente muito potente (EC50=0,20μg/mL) e quando causou relaxamentos; intrigantemente o endotélio continuou a produzir fatores relaxantes por um longo período após remoção do extrato. A magnitude dos relaxamentos induzidos pelo extrato foi significativamente reduzida em ausência Ca2+ extracelular; ademais, o vermelho de rutênio (10μM), um bloqueador de canais TRPs, foi capaz de reverter os relaxamentos induzidos pelo extrato. Análises preliminares indicaram que o extrato continha compostos com reatividade química semelhante à polifenóis.Conclusão O extrato de Combretum leprosum contem compostos bioativos capazes de promover estimulação dependente de Ca2+ das células endoteliais a qual resulta numa produção prolongada de fatores relaxantes.

Vascular adaptive responses to physical exercise and to stress are affected differently by nandrolone administration

Androgenic anabolic steroid, physical exercise and stress induce cardiovascular adaptations including increased endothelial function. The present study investigated the effects of these conditions alone and in combination on the vascular responses of male Wistar rats. Exercise was started at 8 weeks of life (60-min swimming sessions 5 days per week for 8 weeks, while carrying a 5 percent body-weight load). One group received nandrolone (5 mg/kg, twice per week for 8 weeks, im). Acute immobilization stress (2 h) was induced immediately before the experimental protocol. Curves for noradrenaline were obtained for thoracic aorta, with and without endothelium from sedentary and trained rats, submitted or not to stress, treated or not with nandrolone. None of the procedures altered the vascular reactivity to noradrenaline in denuded aorta. In intact aorta, stress and exercise produced vascular adaptive responses characterized by endothelium-dependent hyporeactivity to noradrenaline. These conditions in combination did not potentiate the vascular adaptive response. Exercise-induced vascular adaptive response was abolished by nandrolone. In contrast, the aortal reactivity to noradrenaline of sedentary rats and the vascular adaptive response to stress of sedentary and trained rats were not affected by nandrolone. Maximum response for 7-10 rats/group (g): sedentary 3.8 ± 0.2 vs trained 3.0 ± 0.2*; sedentary/stress 2.7 ± 0.2 vs trained/stress 3.1 ± 0.1*; sedentary/nandrolone 3.6 ± 0.1 vs trained/nandrolone 3.8 ± 0.1; sedentary/stress/nandrolone 3.2 ± 0.1 vs trained/stress/nandrolone 2.5 ± 0.1*; *P < 0.05 compared to its respective control. Stress and physical exercise determine similar vascular adaptive response involving distinct mechanisms as indicated by the observation that only the physical exercise-induced adaptive response was abolished by nandrolone.

The effects of heated vegetable oils on blood pressure in rats

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine the possible mechanism that is involved in the blood pressureraising effect of heated vegetable oils. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 11 groups; the control group was fed with rat chow, and the other groups were fed with chow that was mixed with 15 percent weight/weight palm or soy oils, which were either in a fresh form or heated once, twice, five, or ten times. Blood pressures were measured at the baseline and throughout the 24-week study. Plasma nitric oxide levels were assessed prior to treatment and at the end of the study. Following 24 weeks, the rats were sacrificed to investigate their vascular reactivity using the thoracic aorta. RESULTS: Palm and soy oils had no detrimental effects on blood pressure, and they significantly elevated the nitric oxide contents and reduced the contractile responses to phenylephrine. However, trials using palm and soy oils that were repeatedly heated showed an increase in blood pressure, enhanced phenylephrine-induced contractions, reduced acetylcholine- and sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxations relative to the control and rats that were fed fresh vegetable oils. CONCLUSIONS: The blood pressure-raising effect of the heated vegetable cooking oils is associated with increased vascular reactivity and a reduction in nitric oxide levels. The chronic consumption of heated vegetable oils leads to disturbances in endogenous vascular regulatory substances, such as nitric oxide. The thermal oxidation of the cooking oils promotes the generation of free radicals and may play an important contributory role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in rats.

Erythropoietin does not affect nitric oxide system in rats with chronic renal failure

We investigated to see whether an altered role of nitric oxide (NO) system is involved in erythropoietin (EPO)-induced hypertension in chronic renal failure (CRF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were five-sixths nephrectomized to induce CRF. Six weeks after the operation, EPO or vehicle was injected for another 6 weeks. Plasma and urine nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels were determined. Expression of NO synthase (NOS) proteins in the aortae and kidneys were also determined. In addition, the isometric tension of isolated aorta in response to acetylcholine and nitroprusside was examined. Blood pressure progressively rose in CRF groups, the degree of which was augmented by EPO treatment. Plasma NOx levels did not differ among the groups, while urine NOx levels were lower in CRF groups. Endothelial NOS expression was lower in the kidney and aorta in CRF rats, which was not further affected by EPO-treatment. The inducible NOS expression in the kidney and aorta was not different among the groups. Acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside caused dose-dependent relaxations of aortic rings, the degree of which was not altered by EPO-treatment. Taken together, EPO-treatment aggravates hypertension in CRF, but altered role of NO system may not be involved.

All-trans-retinoic acid attenuates neointima formation with acceleration of reendothelialization in balloon-injured rat aorta

Retinoic acids may inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, but may promote endothelial cell proliferation in cell culture. However, little data are available about the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on endothelial regeneration and functional recovery in an experimental model of vascular injury. Accordingly, we investigated whether ATRA may attenuate neointima formation and accelerate endothelial regeneration with functional recovery in balloon-injured rat aorta. Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent endothelial denudation of the thoracic aorta by balloon injury. Fourteen rats were fed a standard rat pellet diet. Another 14 rats were fed ATRA (1.5 mg/day) for 2 weeks. The animals were killed on day 14 for organ chamber study and morphometric analysis. Rats in the ATRA group had a significantly improved acetylcholine-induced relaxation response than those in control group. However, endothelial independent response was not significantly different between the two groups. The extent of reendothelialization was markedly superior in the ATRA group compared with control group (p>0.05). Furthermore, neointima area and the ratio of neointima to medial area were significantly less in ATRA group than in control group (p>0.05). In conclusion, ATRA may accelerate endothelial regeneration with functional recovery, and attenuate neointima formation in balloon-injured rat aorta.

Effects of thiopental on endothelium-dependent responses in rat aorta

Effects of pretreatment with thipental on endothelium-dependent vasodilatador responses elicited by drugs in rat aortic rings were investigated. The vasodilators employed were acetylcholine and histamine (endothelium-and receptor-dependent), A23187 (endothelium-dependent but receptor-independent) and sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent); they were tested 15 or 60 min to thiopental. Pretreatment with the barbiturate reversibly inhibitied relaxation elicited by either acetylcholine and histamine, but a high concentration of the anesthetic was needed (3.1 mg/ml). On the contrary, thiopental did not modify the relaxation elicited by sodium nitroprusside or A23187. In addition, the barbiturate inhibited basal and acetylcholine-stimulated production of nitrites (an indicator of nitric oxide output) in aortic rings. In conclusion, thiopental inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation elicited by either acetylcholine or histamine. Although the bariturate also inhibited nitric oxide production, the reduction in the relaxant response provoked by it does not seem to be the result of direct guanylate cyclase or nitric oxide synthase alterations, since thiopental did not modify the effect of sodium nitroprusside or A23187. Disturbances elicited by thiopenatal on endothelial receptors or on signal transduction elements may indirectly provoke nitric oxide synthase inhibition

Continuous wavelet transform of aortic pressure oscillations in anesthetized dogs: effects of 45 degrees tilting

The time-frequency analysis of signals by means of continuous wavelet transform (CWT) was applied to blood pressure oscillations recorded from the aorta of anesthetized dogs. This method yielded two and three-dimensional representations of either the module or phase in function of time, in contrast with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) which gives the spectrum in the frequency domain. From the CWT of arterial pressure oscillations we obtained visual information on aortic valves closure, heart rate, respiratory rate and smooth muscle contractions in arterial and arteriolar walls (very low frequency component). The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency-time behavior in two and three-dimensional cardiovascular changes during 45 degrees head-up and head-down tilts, compared with zero degree supine position. In eight pentobarbitone anesthetized dogs, the postural changes were repeated for more than ten times in each one. Heart rate variability was derived by applying a new mathematical procedure. We utilized the pronounced changes of heart rate during each respiratory cycle (inspiratory tachycardia and expiratory bradycardia) to establish a correlation with the arterial pressure fluctuations during normal and tilting conditions. Significant differences in heart rate were observed between the 45 degrees head-up and head-down tilts, compared with the supine position. The results show that anesthetized dogs might constitute an appropriate model where to study orthostatic hypotension and microgravity blood shifts

Cell to stroma contacts in the tunica media of the hypertensive rat thoracic aorta

The variation in mechanical stress to which the aortic wall is subjected requires that forces be transmited between its components by means of relatively strong but compliant attachments. We have used transmission electron microscopy in order to study the cell to stroma contacts (smooth muscle cell-elastic fiber contact) in the tunica media of normotensive and hypertensive aortas of Sprague-Dawley rats. Hypertension was produced with a silver clip positioned around the left renal artery and the vessels were fexed by intravital perfusion at normal and elevated pressure. In ultrathin sections, the density of cell to stroma contacts per 100 µm cell perimeter and per 100 cell profiles were determined using an image analysis computer. In the hypertensive group the density of cell to stroma contacts fell considerably when compared with the control group. This research provides insights into the conditions under which high blood pressure may produce medial injuries and, perhaps, be a factor in the precipitation of dissections

Influence of the estrous cycle on the norepinephrine-induced contraction of rat aorta: relationship to vascular prostanoids biosynthesis

Since ovarian sex steroids (estradiol and progesterone) may affect both blood pressure and prostanoids synthesis, and because prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) can modulate the vascular action of pressor hormones, we investigated the vascular reactivity to norepinephrine during the estrous cycle of the rat. In addition, we determined the vascular biosynthesis of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2) at different stages of the estrous cycle. Cumulative dose-response curves were obtained by a stepwise increase in the concentration of norepinephrine. The contraction of thoracic aortic rings induced by norepinephrine did not change significantly between estrus, metestrus and diestrus. However, aortic rings obtained on proestrus showed a significant reduction in the maximal contraction (Emax) induced by norepinephrine (p < 0.001). In addition, we found significant increases in vascular synthesis of PGE2 and PGI2 on proestrus (p < 0.001). These results indicate that vascular reactivity and vascular prostanoids synthesis are influenced by the hormonal changes occurring during the estrous cycle of normal female rats. It is possible that prostanoids generated locally may play an important role in the regulation of vasomotor tone in the systemic vascular bed throughout the estrous cycle

Wavelet analysis of arterial pressure and blood velocity pulsations in the aorta of anesthetized dogs

The arterial pressure and blood velocity pulsations were recorded from the aorta of anesthetized dogs by means of micro-tip pressure and velocity transducers. Wavelet transforms (Wt) were obtained by converting the analog signals into digital samples at the rate of 42.7 per second, which were subsequently subjected to an algorithm of WT. An iterative rarefaction (2(0) to 2(-4) resolutions) of the number of samples was followed by a substraction of the high frequency components (wavelet coefficients) from the corresponding resolutions. Analyses of the arterial pulsations revealed that the second WT always yielded four types of systolic apexes, which were apparently devoid of physiological meaning, since they were inherent to the ®triangulation phase® of the WT algorithm. In addition, the third WT occasionally revealed slow amplitude modulations, which could not be identified in the original recordings and whose significance deserves further investigation. This is also valid for the wavelet coefficients, whose biological meaning is still obscure. In summary, the WT operates as a low pass filter, which brings to light the lower frequency components of arterial pulsations and which finally yields the mean values of both arterial pressure and blood velocities

1-Sarcosine - Angiotensin II tachyphylaxis in helical strips and everted rings of rabbit aorta

The development of tachyphylaxis to [1-sarcosine]-angiotensin II was studied in helical strips and everted rings of rabbit aorta. Strips, but not everted rings, developed marked (>50%) tachyphylaxis to the peptide, when challenged repeatedly at 1-h intervals. Measurements of the membrane potential showed no difference between the two preparations, but strips were more sensitive to KC1 than everted rings. These results suggest that the strips are more depolarized than the everted rings due to lesions caused by the spiral cutting. This partial depolarization may underlie the tachyphylactic phenomenon