[Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species metabolism in rat heart mitochondria upon administration of NO donor in vivo].

Some aspects of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNS and ROS) metabolism in rat heart mitochondria under administration of different doses of nitroglycerine (NG) in vivo are discussed. It is shown that NG administration results in a dose-dependent increase in Ca2+-uptake in mitochondria, due to the dose-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) in vivo and the activation of Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial NOS. It was shown that NOS activity increases in accord with the increase of Ca2+-uptake in mitochondria. The dose-dependent activation of nitratreductase is observed. However, nitrite production decreases dose-dependently, according to the change of NO2-/NO3- ratio on behalf of NO3-, the end product of NO transformations. The relation between nitrosylation of mitochondrial proteins with the nitrosothiols formation and nitrate production also changes towards NO3-, which shows the activation of oxidation reactions in heart mitochondria after NG administration. Accordingly, dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) products is shown, the hallmark of the membrane damage in mitochondria. It is established that the cause of oxidative stress, besides the dose-dependent increase in ROS production (hydroperoxide, superoxide and hydroxyl-radical), lies in the increase of free iron content, derived from the oxidation of mitochondrial iron-containing proteins. The iron interaction with hydroperoxide following Fenton reaction as well as free-radical decomposition ofperoxynitrite, derived from NO3- are the possible cause of manifold increase in ROS as well as LP production, and RNS oxidation to NO3-. Thus, NO-dependent MPTP blockage, due to NO synthesis in mitochondria in vivo, results in the activation of both constituents of NO-cycle: NOS-dependent, due to Ca2+-dependent activation of mitochondrial NOS, and nitrate-reductase-dependent, due to the increase in NO3- formation. However, increase in ROS production, augmented by the iron release, leads to the oxidative stress and the shift of RNS metabolism towards NO3- formation, in spite of the activation of nitrate-reductase-dependent pathway of NO-cycle. It is shown that reversible MPTP opening in vitro diminishes ROS production, whereas MPTP blockage by cyclosporine A restores the ROS formation to control level. Thus, MPTP-dependent inhibition of ROS overproduction both in vitro and in vivo, shows the importance of MPTP in the regulation of ROS and RNS metabolism in mitochondria.

[Arginase-nitric oxide synthase system changes due to adaptation to swimming in adult and aged rat hearts].

We tested the physiological indices of adult rat heart beat for the adaptation to prolonged physical exercise (swimming). It was shown that the stimulation of NO-production in the heart mitochondria of trained adult rats improves both systolic and diastolic heart function. In adult rats trained by swimming the activity of both de novo and salvage enzymes of nitric oxide synthesis studied (iNOS, cNOS, nitratreductase) were increased in heart mitochondria, whereas in the old rats only the activity of oxidative de novo enzymes. Training reduced the nitrate pools only in the mitochondria from adult rats and the urea pools in mitochondria from old rats. Intramitochondrial nitrite pools were unchanged. In adult rats, mitochondrial H2O2 pools increased after training, whereas in the old rats they were reduced, the level of uric acid (a marker ofxanthinoxydase activity) in ageing rats after training period was declined. Swimming training resulted in a significant increase in the value of "oxygenation index" in mitochondria of adult rats and decreased the activity of mitochondrial arginase II. The results suggest that swimming is one of the methods of physical load stimulates NO production in the mitochondria of adult and old rats and therefore could be considered as an effective non-pharmacological tool for correction of mitochondrial dysfunction in adults and aging heart.

[Magnetic-laser influence on the system of nitric oxide and contractile activity of smooth muscles of rat aorta under hypertension].

The study was conducted on three groups of rats: Group I included Wistar rats with normal blood pressure (first control group); group II - rats with genetically determined hypertension (second control group); group Ill - rats with genetically determined hypertension under the influence ofmagnetic-laser power (study group). For the low-intensively magnetic-laser influence (MLI) we have used device MIT-MT, Ukraine, which was designed for the treatment of low-frequency magnetic field using optical flow blue and red ranges of spectrum. The MLI duration was 15 minutes for the blue range, and 25 minutes for the red one. Biochemical studies included the determination of the activity of isoenzymes of NO-synthase: constitutive (cNOS) and inducible (iNOS), the content of free hemoglobin, stable metabolites of NO, namely nitrite - (NO2(-)) and nitrate - (NO3(-)) anions, resistance to acid hemolysis of red blood cells. The contractile activity of smooth muscles of the aorta was measured. We found that magnetic-laser exposure of rats with genetically determined hypertension in the red (630 nm) and blue (470 nm wavelength) optical range even after a single session leads to an increased synthesis of nitric oxide in the blood plasma. Our data sindicate that the most effective in the intensification of endogenous nitric oxide (increase of NO2(-) and reduction of NO3(-)) and endothelium-dependent responses of aorta in rats with genetically determined hypertension was a ten-day course of the magnetic-laser exposure in the optical flow of the blue spectral range. Also, after 10 sessions of magnetic-laser exposure in rats from the above specified spectrum a stabilization of erythrocyte membranes was observed.

[The effect of hydrogen sulfide on contractile activity of the vascular smooth muscles in rats].

The effect of endogenous and exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) was studied. The introduction of substrate synthesis H2S L-cysteine and its donor NaHS in vitro caused concentration-dependent relaxation of VSM of aorta and portal vein. Low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide donor (10(-5) mol/L) caused vasoconstriction of both types of the vessels. It was shown that the reaction of relaxation of VSM in response to NaHS is independent from endothelium. It was revealed that VSM of portal vein are more sensitive to the effects of H2S than VSM of aorta. Removing of aorta periadventitial adipose tissue showed no relaxation reply to the hydrogen sulfide donor NaHS in 70% of experiments. Some of the cellular mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide action were established, namely relaxation of aorta is depended on K(ATP) channel activation. This is manifested by a lack of relaxation of the aortic VSM due to K(ATP) channel inhibitor glibenclamide.

[Mitochondria permeability transition as a target for ischemic preconditioning].

The ischemic preconditioning (IPC) limits myocardial injury provoked by a subsequent prolonged ischemia-reperfusion (I/ R). The underlying mechanisms of enhanced resistance of heart are actively studied, but for sure it was established that mitochondria play a major role in IPC-stimulated adaptation to ischemia. In this article we present and discuss evidences that cardioprotective effect of IPC is mediated by inhibition of mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening. It was shown that IPC effectively prevents the excessive production of ROS by mitochondria during I/R and promotes a more complete restoration of function of isolated rat hearts. It was revealed that MPTP formation due to I/R was inhibited in IPC heart. Mitochondrial factor, the marker of MPTP opening found in outflow probes, was released in much lesser amounts in IPC hearts that in non-IPC. Furthermore, mitochondria isolated from IPC hearts showed a decreased sensitivity to calcium ions, a MPTP inductor, and, thus, massive MPTP-depended swelling of mitochondria was abrogated in IPC hearts. In our experiments we observed slight increase in inducible NOS activity right after short ischemic stimuli. We suppose that increased NO production by iNOS is involved in inhibition of MPTP and this may be one of the possible mechanisms of decreased sensitivity of mitochondria to calcium ions. It is concluded that among the processes involved in formation of cardioprotective effect of IPC, a reduction of membrane permeability due to the inhibition of MPTP opening plays a crucial role.

[The role of mitochondria in NO-dependent regulation of Na+, K+ -ATP activity in the rat aorta].

In experiments in vivo we studied the interaction between two ion-transporting mechanisms of cardiovascular system--Na+, K+ -ATPase of rat aorta and Ca2+ -uptake system of mitochondria in short-term response to different doses of NO donor, nitroglycerine (NG). The activity of the Na+, K+ -ATPase was determined in rat aorta, and mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+ was studied in rat heart mitochondria assuming that metabolism induced by NO in cardiac mitochondria is similar to that in rat aortic mitochondria. The data show a coordinated dose-dependent action of NG on Na+, K+ -ATPase activity as well as Ca2+ -uptake in mitochondria. An activation of Na+, K+ -ATPase by low dose of NG (0.25 mg/kg body weight) is accompanied by the activation of Ca2+ -uptake in mitochondria as a result of inhibition of permeability transition pore. However, further increase of the dose of the drug leads to reciprocal changes of studied parameters: the decrease in Na+ -pump activity below the control level and the increase of Ca2+ -uptake in mitochondria with a peak at 1.0 mg/kg NG, which takes place in parallel with the dramatic rise in the level of ROS and RNS together with their toxic products, nitrosothiols (NT) and free iron (Fe2+) content in mitochondria. Strong correlation between Ca2+ -uptake and Fe2+ -release, Fe2+ -release and OH-radical formation, the rise in OH-radical level and the decrease of that of H2O2 and mitochondrial NT together with the inhibition of Na+, K+ -ATPase favor a hypothesis that oxidative stress in rat aorta is of mitochondrial origin due to an enhanced uptake of Ca2+ into mitochondrial matrix, Fe2+ deliverance and manifold increase in OH-radical formation from decomposition of hydroperoxide in Haber-Weiss reaction and the decomposition of mitochondrial NT via formation of peroxynitrite, both catalysed by Fe2+, with subsequent release of *OH-radical. Effective abolition of Na+, K+ -ATPase inhibition by potent antioxidant melatonine gives the evidence of the oxidative nature of Na+, K+ -ATPase inhibition by nitric oxide in rat aorta.

[Oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system of rats with chronic deficiency of cerebral dopamine].

The physiological significance of cardiac mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation is unknown. In the current study, mitochondrial ROS (O2- and OH) generation, stable H2O2 and lipids peroxidation marker (malonic dialdehyde, MDA) pools, as well as pools of potent antioxidants--urea and uric acid--were determined in rat heart, miocardial mitochondria and in blood plasma and erytrocytes at low (44%) and high (96%) levels of cerebral dopamine-synthesis neurons destruction (by 6-hydroxidopamine treatment). In the untreated rats, ROS generation, H2O2 and MDA levels were low but in rats with chronic (3-4 month) deficiency of cerebral dopamine synthesis by nigro-striatal dopaminergic system, ROS generation and lipids peroxidation were progressively increased. Dopamine deficiency can improve mitochondrial efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation due to oxidative stress.

[Nitric oxide synthesis during long-term adaptation to intensive muscular work in female sportsmen].

14 trained and 21 non-trained girls 18-22 years of age have been inspected. We found that systematically trained girls had a higher level of nitric oxide synthesis through calcium-dependent L-arginine oxidation by constitutive NO-synthase isoforms (eNOS, nNOS) and through reduction of stable oxidized NO metabolites. NO synthesized de novo in calcium-dependent pathway provides a long-term organism adaptation to physical loads of high volume and intensity at the beginning and in the middle of stress-aggravated competition period. At the end of competition period we detected significant activation of inducible calcium-independent de novo NO synthesis from L-arginine.

[Effect of nitric oxide on Na+, K(+)-ATPase in the aorta tissue of rats].

The influence ofnitric oxide on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in rat aorta was studied by means of stimulation of endogenous NO synthesis after injections of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pharmacological NO donor nitroglycerine (NG). It was shown that NO action on Na+,K(+)-ATPase in vivo is dose-dependent. Stimulation of the endogenous NO synthesis by LPS as well as the administration of low doses of NG lead to the activation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase and favor the conclusion that NO-dependent Na+,K(+)-ATPase stimulation mediates vasodilatory and hypotensive action of nitric oxide. The Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in rat aorta depends on the balance between the level of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), formation of NO depots in the tissue of aorta as high- and low molecular weight nitrosothiols, and also on the intensity of free-radical reactions resulting in the generation of hydroperoxide radicals. The results obtained suggest that NOS- and cGMP-dependent pathway takes part in Na+,(+)-ATPase activation by LPS and NG, but the enzyme inhibition by nitric oxide in vivo is not cGMP-dependent and is determined by the activation of free-radical reactions and dramatic enhancement of nitrosylation level in rat aorta tissue.

[Effects of uncoupling proteins on nitric oxide synthesis and oxidative stress development in ishemia-reperfusion of old rat hearts].

Genipin is aglycone of geniposide, one of the active compounds of Gardenia gasminoides Ellis. The gardenia fruit extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve the symptoms of type 2 diabetes that is accompanied with extensive oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction of NO production. Besides, genipin was shown to inhibit UCP-depended proton leak through the inner mitochondrial membrane that leads to increased membrane potential and ATP production. We studied the effects of genipin at ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress and activity of NOS isozymes using Langendorfperfused old rat heart model. Ischemia/reperfusion is well-known oxidative agent, and showed significant increasing of superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. Genipin application in doze 10-5 mol/L for 15 min before prolonged ischemia exerted powerful antiradical and antilipoperoxidative effects. Heart ischemia/reperfusion was supported with peroxynitrite generation and nitrozative stress. We demonstrated the inhibitory property of genipin on INOS expression that possibly occurs via protein kinase A inhibition and stabilization of I-kappaB-NF-kappaB complex. Genipin stimulated cNOS activity seemingly activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Although, post-ischemic recovery ofcardiodynamic parameters of old rat hearts were depressed due to "switching off" the NO production by inducible NOS which is important in early period of reperfusion. Thus, we conclude that genipin is powerfull antioxidant and posses insulin-like activity due to its property of managing the NO production at intracellular signal transduction cascade level.

[The inhibition of oxidative and nitrosative stresses by ecdysterone as the mechanisms of its cardio- and vasoprotective action in experimental diabetes type I].

Streptozotocine (STZ) administration (5 mg/100 g) up regulates oxidative (lipid peroxidation as a marker) and nitrosative (protein nitrosilation as a marker) stresses as well as ROS (O(2-), H2O2, OH) generation in heart and aorta in rats after 60 days of STZ action. The level of oxydative stress was higher in aorta. Xanthine oxidase (XO) activation (uric acid as marker), but not lipoxygenase (LTC4 as marker) or cyclooxygenase (TxB2 as marker) are the main oxydases that generate O(2-) as calculated by correlation analysis. STZ administration led to sphingosine pools up regulation in heart and aorta, but pools of polyamines in this organ was down regulated. C27-phytosteroid hormone ecdysterone (100 ng/100 g, per os, 60 days) mimics the action of its structural analog C27-steroid hormone calcitriol (1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D,) and protects rise of ROS generation (by XO inhibition), lipid peroxidation, protein nitrosilation, polyamine degradation in heart and aorta of rats after STZ administration. The new mechanism of iNOS activation, prostaglandine and tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis stimulation by ecdysterone has been proposed. It was due to stimulating enzymatic degradation of sphingosine-1-phosphate as effective regulator of iNOS, COX and GTP-cyclohydrolase in cardio-vascular system: sphingomyelin > ceramide > sphingosine > S-I-P > phosphoethanolamine > ethanolamine.

[Mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening inhibition by ecdysterone in heart mitochondria of aging rats].

Nitric oxide reacts rapidly with superoxide to produce the potent oxidant peroxynitrite. In vivo mitochondria produce superoxide as well as NO. In heart mitochondria of aging rats the amount of NO and O2(-) are increased thus the levels of peroxynitrite produced may be increased too, in this reason mitochondria may be a major site of peroxynitrite formation. Oxidative stress induces cyclosporine A-sensitive mitochondrial efflux of calcium and proapoptotic factors through MPTP (mitochondrial permeability transition pore) opening in heart mitochondria which may contribute to tissue damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in aging rats. We tested the levels of NO and superoxide generation in mitochondria simultaneously with cyclosporine A-sensitive MPTP opening by Ca2+ and phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to determine whether downregulation of both NO and O2(-) generation in heart mitochondria by potent steroid antioxidant and free radical scavenger ecdysterone may protect heart mitochondria of aging rats again tissue damage. C27-phytosteroid hormone ecdysterone (10 mkg/100g, per os, 2 weeks) mimics action of its structural analog C27- steroid hormone calcitriol (1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) and exert its cardio protection in aging heart mitochondria by inhibition of MPTP opening with effectivity of action of hormone melatonine (150 mkg/100g, 2 weeks [ V.F. Sagach et al. Fyziol. J (Ukr), 2006, 52(2), 3-15]). MPTP inhibition is dependent on paradoxycally high activation by ecdusterone of oxidative degradation of L-arginine by mtcNOS in mitochondria, by downregulation of superoxide generation and L-arginine degradation by arginase II and NO generation by mtiNOS in de novo and by NADP-dependent mtNR (nitrate reductase) in salvage pathways. These results suggest that MPTP opening may be directly influenced by ecdysterone signaling in mitochondria. The signaling pathway by which ecdysterone may coregulate the O2(-) and NO generation in heart mitochondria of aging rats may involve an outer mitochondrial membrane estrogen receptor coupled to mitochondrial PI3K/Akt/PKB activation results in superactivation and constitutive NO synthesis by mtcNOS.

[Role of non-haem iron in protecting effect of ecdysterone on development of streptozocin-induced hyperglycaemia in rats].

Chronic hyperglycaemia (60 days) which developed after streptozotocine (STZ) administration (5 mg/100 g) in rats was accompanied with development of severe endothelial dysfunction as well as with disturbed non-haem iron metabolism. It was established by EPR spectroscopy method that STZ administration reduced transferrin levels in the blood as well as pools of iron associated with blood transferrin and with ferritin in the heart and aorta of rats with hyperglycaemia. Chronic ecdysterone administration (100 ng/100 g, 60 days) protects hyperglycaemia development by preventing of non-haem iron metabolism disturbance. These data suppose participation of non-haem iron in mechanisms of ecdysterone protection of streptozotocine-induced hyperglycaemia and ischemia.

[The role of nitric oxide and superoxide synthesis in protective mechanism of ecdysterone in the heart mitochondria of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes].

This study evaluated generation of O2*- and NO in heart mitochondria isolated from 9-week old streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the effect of ecdysterone treatment on these parameters. Mitochondria isolated from 9-week old placebo-treated rats were used as control. Several parameters were evaluated: O2*- production, the levels of stable NO metabolites nitrate, nitrite and total nitrosothiols, the level of bilirubine (as marker of CO generation), inducible (iNOS) and constitutive (nNOS) mtNOS, NADH- dependent nitrate reductase (NR) and inducible arginase II (AII) activity. We observed that diabetes was accompanied by a significant decrease in nNOS activity, nitrite, total nitrosothiols and bilirubine content while iNOS, NR and AII activity, as well as O2*- generation was increased in heart mitochondria. Ecdysterone treatment normalized the levels of stable NO metabolites, ability to generate superoxide, iNOS and nNOS activity, but not bilirubine level, NR and AII activity. These results suggest that ecdysterone treatment attenuates diabetes-induced mitochondrial alterations protecting against oxidative and nitrosative stresses. Thus, ecdysterone therapy, besides its well known importance in the maintenance of glycemic control, may help to protect against mitochondrial dysfunction associated to several age-related disorders.

[Effect of enalapril on nitric oxide synthesis, oxidative metabolism, and vascular tone in aging rats].

Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent reactions of relaxations of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) were examined in the aorta preparations of the two groups (6-8 and 21-22 month). The studies also two NO synthase (NOS) isoform activity--inducible (iNOS) and constitutive (cNOS), activity of arginase and nitrate reductase and the content of high-molecular nitrosothiols (HMNT) and low-molecular nitrosothiols (LMNT) and stable metabolites of NO (NO(-)2, NO(-)3). Aging rats demonstrated only endothelium-dependent responses of VSM to acethylcholine lowering. This endothelial dysfunction depend on high activity of arginase, iNOS and salvage (by nitrate reductase) NO synthesis, both reactive oxigen species (ROS) (by xanthine oxidase) and peroxynitrite generation, as well as low activity of constitutive (eNOS, nNOS) NO synthesis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril) administration (20 mg/kg, 30 or 55 days) up regalate constitutive NO synthesis by arginase, iNOS, nitrate reductase activity and ROS and peroxynitrite generation inhibition thus restore endothelium-dependent relaxations of VSM in aging rats. The result obtained suggest a new roles for the renin-angiotensin system in vascular tone regulation. Thus enalapril might serve as a novel tool to prevent aging-associated endothelial dysfunction.

[NO-dependent mechanisms of ecdysterone protective action on the heart and vessels in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats].

Ecdysterone (100 ng/100 g) chronic oral administration (2 months after STZ (5 mg/100 g) administration) normalized plasma glucose levels in rats. This potent hypoglycemic effect of ecdysterone depend on inhibition of non-constitutive NO synthesis by Ca(2+)-independent iNOS and NADP-dependent nitrate reductase as well as inhibition of L-arginine degradation by arginase result in up-regulation of Ca(2+)-dependent constitutive NO synthesis by eNOS or mithochondrial nNOS in heart and aorta of rats.

[Modulating effect of Serratula coronata extract on nitric oxide metabolism in the aorta tissues of rats in lead intoxication].

Vasotoxic effect of prolonged lead exposures and the efficiency of vasoprotective effect of S. coronata extract per os addition is estimated in rats aorta It is established that lead in aorta causes a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation by increasing the activity of inducible isoform of NO-synthase (iNOS). The use of S. coronata extracts promotes ROS and RNS production decreasing by normalyzing the iNOS activity in exposures to lead acetate rat aortas.