Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites function as EDHFs in arteries of many species. They mediate cyclooxygenase (COX)- and nitric oxide (NO)-independent relaxations to acetylcholine (ACh). However, the role of AA metabolites as relaxing factors in mouse arteries remains incompletely defined. ACh caused concentration-dependent relaxations of the mouse thoracic and abdominal aorta and carotid, femor...

We characterized the thoracic aorta from the C57BL/6J mouse, a strain used commonly in the generation of genetically altered mice, in response to vasoactive substances. Strips of aorta were mounted in tissue baths for measurement of isometric contractile force. Cumulative concentration-response curves to agonists were generated to observe contraction, or relaxation in tissues contracted with ph...

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that play important roles as modulators of cell behaviour through their adhesion properties and the initiation of signaling cascades. The αIIb integrin subunit (CD41) is one of the first cell surface markers indicative of hematopoietic commitment. αIIb pairs exclusively with β3 to form the αIIbβ3 integrin. β3 (CD61) also pairs with αv (CD51) to form the αvβ...

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that play important roles as modulators of cell behaviour through their adhesion properties and the initiation of signaling cascades. The aIIb integrin subunit (CD41) is one of the first cell surface markers indicative of hematopoietic commitment. aIIb pairs exclusively with b3 to form the aIIbb3 integrin. b3 (CD61) also pairs with av (CD51) to form the avb...

Pharmacological analysis alone has failed to clarify the role of the three alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in modulating vascular tone, due to a lack of sufficiently selective antagonists, particularly for the alpha (1B)-adrenoceptor, and the complexity when three receptor subtypes are potentially activated by the same agonist. We adopted a combined genetics/ pharmacology strategy based on the a...

Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in large vessels is mainly attributed to Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-sensitive endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO production. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is the component of endothelium-dependent relaxations that resists full blockade of NO synthases (NOS) and cyclooxygenases. H2O2 has been propos...

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...