The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of social crowding stress and significance of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PG) generated by constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) in the stimulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by cholinergic muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol. Inhibitors of neuronal NOS (nNOS) L-NNA, ...

The effect of perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing carbachol on the blood flow in the caudate nucleus of the cat and the possibility to inhibit this effect by anticholinergic drugs was studied by means of the hydrogen clearance technique. After a control period during which both lateral ventricles were perfused with artificial CSF of identical comp...

Vitamin C (vitC) deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but its specific interplay with arteriolar function is unclear. This study investigates the effect of vitC deficiency in guinea pigs on plasma biopterin status and the vasomotor responses in coronary arteries exposed to vasoconstrictor/-dilator agents. Dunkin Hartley female guinea pigs (n = 32) were randomized...

The study aimed to determine the influence of nitric oxide (NO) on the action of histamine and carbachol on acid secretion in the common African toad - Bufo regularis. Gastric acidity was determined by titration method. The acid secretion was determined when nitric oxide was absent following administration of NO synthase inhibitor; N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and when nitric oxide ...

In 1321N1 astrocytoma cells, heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors that activate phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cbeta (PLCbeta) isoforms via G(q), induced a prolonged activation of protein kinase B (PKB) after a short delay. For example, the effect of carbachol acting on M3 muscarinic receptors is blocked by wortmannin, suggesting it is mediated via a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI...

Phytoestrogens derived from soybeans reverse endothelial dysfunction in a number of animal models of systemic vascular disease. Based on these studies, we hypothesized that phytoestrogens would reverse chronic hypoxia-induced endothelial dysfunction in rat pulmonary arteries. To test this hypothesis we examined the effect of genistein, the major phytoestrogen found in soybeans, on carbachol-ind...

Isolated spiral strips of rat thoracic aorta with endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recordings in a physiological salt solution. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was elicited by carbachol 10(-6) and 10(-5) mol litre-1 during norepinephrine-induced contractions, and the effects of 1.5% and 3% halothane were evaluated with concomitant measurement of [Ca2+]i using fura-2-Ca2+ fl...

The human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) encodes the pore-forming subunit of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel, which is important for cardiac repolarization. Reduction of hERG current due to genetic mutations or drug interferences causes long QT syndrome, leading to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. To date, there is no effective therapeutic method to restore or...

COMPARISON OF AFFECTIVE ANALGESIA AND CONDITIONED PLACEPREFERENCE FOLLOWING CHOLINERGIC ACTIVATION OFVENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA SUBREGIONSby ELENA SCHIFIRNEŢDecember 2010Advisor: Dr. George S. BorszczMajor: Psychology (Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience)Degree: Doctor of PhilosophyActivation of the dopaminergic mesolimbic reward circuitry that originates in the ...

Microinjections of carbachol into the pontine tegmentum of decerebrate cats have been used to study the mechanisms underlying the suppression of postural and respiratory motoneuronal activity during the resulting rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-like atonia. During REM sleep, distinct respiratory muscles are differentially affected; e.g., the activity of the diaphragm shows little suppression, wh...