OBJECTIVE To quantify structural and functional characteristics of the caudal artery from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats with particular reference to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). METHODS AND RESULTS Ultrastructural studies showed that the number of myoendothelial gap junctions, smooth muscle cell (SMC) layers, and medial cross-s...

BACKGROUND Many fundamental questions regarding the blood supply to the integument of the rat remain to be clarified, namely the degree of homology between rat and humans. The aim of this work was to characterize in detail the macro and microvascular blood supply to the integument covering the ventrolateral aspect of the abdominal wall of the rat. METHODS Two hundred five Wistar male rats wei...

OBJECTIVE To study the architecture of the human sinus node to facilitate understanding of mapping and ablative procedures in its vicinity. METHODS The sinoatrial region was examined in 47 randomly selected adult human hearts by histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The sinus node, crescent-like in shape, and 13.5 (2.5) mm long, was not insulated by a sheath of fib...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether estrogen modulates the function of vascular melatonin receptors. We used the rat caudal artery and found that the contractile effects of melatonin were influenced by the estrous cycle, ovariectomy, and estrogen replacement. In arterial ring segments isolated from female rats, melatonin potentiated, in a concentration-dependent manner, contracti...

The reactivity of the vascular wall to endothelin-1 (ET-1) is influenced by cholesterol, which is of possible importance for the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate signaling steps affected, the cholesterol acceptor methyl-cyclodextrin (m cd, 10 mmol/L) was used to manipulate membrane cholesterol and disrupt caveolae in intact rat arteries. In endothelium-denuded caudal artery, contrac...

The reactivity of the vascular wall to endothelin-1 (ET-1) is influenced by cholesterol, which is of possible importance for the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate signaling steps affected, the cholesterol acceptor methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (mbetacd, 10 mmol/L) was used to manipulate membrane cholesterol and disrupt caveolae in intact rat arteries. In endothelium-denuded caudal artery,...

Saguinus niger popularly known as Sauim, is a Brazilian North primate. Sympathetic chain investigation would support traumatic and/or cancer diagnosis which are little described in wild animals. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and distribution of sympathetic chain in order to supply knowledge for neurocomparative research. Three female young animals that came death by natur...

Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism by neurotransmitters produces diacylglycerol, an activator of protein kinase C, which may be involved in hormone-mediated contractions. We studied the effect of a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate 20-acetate (DPBA), on contraction of caudal artery rings of Wistar-Kyoto control (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (S...

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKY) were compared for phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mechanism(s) in aorta, caudal artery, inferior vena cava, and right and left ventricles. Reduction of cAMP-induced phosphorylation of microsomes and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was significant in the aorta and caudal artery of SHR compared with WKY. These...

Objective: To study the architecture of the human sinus node to facilitate understanding of mapping and ablative procedures in its vicinity. Methods: The sinoatrial region was examined in 47 randomly selected adult human hearts by histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The sinus node, crescent-like in shape, and 13.5 (2.5) mm long, was not insulated by a sheath of fibr...