Stress has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and depression, but the correlation is not well understood. However, inflammation is known to have a crucial role in both cardiovascular disease and depression. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a major cytokine for the activation of neuroendocrine, immune and behavioral responses. Therefore, we aimed to explore the eff...

Cyclic nucleotides are relaxants of the airway smooth muscle, yet most of the available data were obtained in adult animals. The expression and activity of cyclases have been reported to be developmentally regulated in the lung, and little is known about the age-related changes in their bronchial muscle relaxation potential. We evaluated and compared the newborn and adult rat bronchial smooth m...

This study was conducted to determine whether the relaxant effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) openers on airway smooth muscle are reduced during the hyporesponsiveness of beta-adrenergic receptors. Isometric tension was measured and dose-response curves were constructed for levcromakalim (a KATP opener), Y-26763 (another KATP opener), isoprenaline and theo...

An animal model was developed to elucidate the effect of chronic obstruction of the internal pudendal artery on the responsiveness of the corpus cavernosum. In male albino rabbits, the internal pudendal artery was chronically ligated unilaterally with a silk tie and the occlusion was maintained for 1 month. The control group was sham-operated. The reactivity of corpus cavernosum tissue from the...

The hypothesis that the changes in vascular reactivity seen during pregnancy are determined by the gestational age was examined. Experiments were designed to investigate changes in vascular responses with progression of pregnancy. The contractile responses to potassium and phenylephrine (in the presence and absence of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) an...

Cinnamon bark is used as a spice. It is employed in cookery as a condiment and flavouring material. The essential oil of this herb is a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and uterine stimulant. It is useful in diarrhoea and haemorrhage of the womb. It also reduces blood sugar and cholesterol level. One of its uses is in musculoskeletal disorder. The aim of the study was to evaluate the centrall...

The hypotensive effect of garlic has been well-documented in human subjects and animals. Since endothelial activity regulates vascular reactivity in physiological and pathophysiological conditions, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of garlic on endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation of rat aorta for elucidation of mechanism of the garlic anti-hypertensive effe...