BACKGROUND Circadian rhythmicity of many aspects of cardiovascular function-blood pressure, coagulation and contractile function-is well established, as is diurnal variation in important clinical events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Here, we undertake studies to globally assess circadian gene expression in murine aorta. METHODS AND RESULTS Aortae from mice were harvested at 4-hou...

Diminished activity of the transcription factor PPAR gamma (PPARγ) has been suggested to play a role in hypertension and vascular dysfunction. The downstream actions of PPARγ, like other transcription factors, depend on binding to a specific DNA sequence and then activating/repressing transcription of target genes. We recently demonstrated using microarray analysis that chronic activation of a ...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ovarian hormones on gene expression in the vascular wall. Our approach employed an RT-PCR-based cloning strategy of DNA differential display analysis and verification/confirmation of differential expression by semi-quantitative PCR and real-time PCR. mRNA analysis of normal aortas from intact and ovariectomized female C57BL/6J mice, sh...

Reports have shown the antioxidant, hypotensive, hypolipidemic and vasodilatory effects of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed extract. We have recently shown the relaxatory effect of grape leaf extract on rat uterus and reduction of frog heart rate and contractility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relaxant effect of Vitis vinifera leaf hydroalcoholic extract (VLHE) on rat thora...

Accumulating evidence indicates cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and COX2 differentially regulate cardiovascular and renal function. We have demonstrated previously in mice that COX2 inhibition enhances angiotensin II-induced hypertension, and COX1 inhibition attenuates the pressor effect of angiotensin II. To further elucidate the mechanism underlying the functional difference of COX1 versus COX2 inhibi...

AAA is a complex disease that leads to a localized dilation of the infrarenal aorta that develops over years. Longitudinal information in humans has been difficult to obtain for this disease, therefore mouse models have become increasingly used to study the development of AAAs. The objective of this study was to determine any changes that occur in the biomechanical response and fiber microstruc...

Exercise can prevent endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and atherosclerosis even in the absence of improvements in plasma lipids. However, the mechanisms responsible for these effects are incompletely understood. In this study we examined in mice whether an acute bout of exercise activates enzymes that could prevent EC dysfunction, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and endothelial nitr...

Although estradiol (E2) has been recognized to exert several vasculoprotective effects in several species, its effects in mouse vasomotion are unknown, and consequently, so is the estrogen receptor subtype mediating these effects. We investigated the effect of E2 (80 g/kg/day for 15 days) on NO production in the thoracic aorta of ovariectomized C57Bl/6 mice compared with those given placebo. E2...

aortoenteric fistula is a rare but significant clinical entity associated with high morbidity and mortality if remain untreated. clinical presentation and imaging findings may be subtle and prompt diagnosis can be difficult. herein, we present a patient who initially presented with abdominal pain and computed tomography showed an aortic aneurysm compressing duodenum without any air bubbles. one...

We show that cells of the dorsal aorta, an early blood vessel, and of the myotome, the first skeletal muscle to form within the somite, derive from a common progenitor in the mouse embryo. This conclusion is based on a retrospective clonal analysis, using a nlaacZ reporter targeted to the alpha-cardiac actin gene. A rare intragenic recombination event results in a functional nlacZ sequence, giv...