The presence of myofibroblasts arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of anchoring villi of the placenta has previously been described. Furthermore, it has been suggested that intraplacental blood volume, and hence fetal-maternal oxygen-nutrient exchange, may in part be regulated through the longitudinal contraction of anchoring villi. We demonstrate here that anchoring villi have the abili...

We tested the hypothesis that endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO modulates rho-kinase-mediated vascular contraction. Because 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA-reductase inhibition can both upregulate eNOS expression and inhibit rhoA/rho-kinase function, a second hypothesis tested was that statin treatment modulates rho-kinase-mediated contraction and that this can occur...

Ketotifen is a benzocycloheptathiophene with a range of pharmacological activities. The present study was carried out to evaluate the action of ketotifen on isolated rat bladder contractions induced by KCI and acetylcholine, compared with the effects of other drugs. Ketotifen (5 µM) reduced the response to acetylcholine on rat isolated bladder without altering the maximum response and shift...

Clinical and experimental studies indicate that hyperthermia can cause heatstroke with cerebral ischemia and brain damage. However, no study has examined the direct effects of heating carotid artery smooth muscle and tested the hypothesis that hyperthermia induces arterial vasoconstriction and, thereby, decreases cerebral blood flow. We recorded isometric tension of rabbit carotid artery strips...

This study examines the mechanism of relaxation of isolated endothelium-removed bovine coronary arteries (BCAs) to the thiol oxidant diamide. BCAs precontracted with KCl or the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 showed a concentration-dependent reversible relaxation on exposure to 10 mmol/L to 1 mmol/L diamide. This relaxation was enhanced by an inhibitor of glutathione reductase, and it wa...

it has been shown in some investigations that cardiovascular events are the main causes of death in hemodialysis patients. the exact etiology is unknown but some of the articles have reported a relation between aluminium ions in the dialysis solution and cardiovascular disorders. to determine the probable effect of aluminium on vasculature function, in vitro effects of aluminium ion on vasocons...

Experiments were conducted in bovine isolated bronchi and pulmonary vessels to test whether nitric oxide (NO) could reduce carbachol and hypoxia or KCl (120 mM) induced contraction. Segments of bronchus or pulmonary vessels were slipped around a water-filled balloon connected to a pressure transducer, and mounted in 3 ml thermostated chamber filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution equilibrated wit...

AIMS Following sinoaortic denervation (SAD), isolated rat aortas present oscillatory contractions and demonstrate a heightened contraction for alpha-adrenergic agonists. Our aim was to verify the effects of SAD on connexin43 (Cx43) expression and phenylephrine-induced contraction in isolated aortas. METHODS AND RESULTS Three days after surgery (SAD or sham operation), isolated aortic rings we...

Hypothermic preservation of the organ for transplantation causes vascular damage; therefore, the preservation of vascular function is important for the organs to function correctly after transplantation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of prolonged cold storage (72 hours) on vascular responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and potassium chloride (KCl), each of which ca...

Myocardial O2 consumption (MV˙o 2) in stunned myocardium is relatively high compared with the reduced ventricular function. The mechanism of this "oxygen paradox" could occur at different levels: basal metabolism, excitation-contraction coupling, and energy production. In one previously reported series on 12 isolated, blood-perfused rabbit hearts, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functio...