The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of vasorelaxant responses induced by red wine polyphenolic compounds (Provinol). Rings of rat femoral artery with or without functional endothelium were set up in a myograph for isometric recording and precontracted with phenylephrine (10-5 M). Provinol in cumulative doses (10-9 to 10-3 mg/ml) elicited endothelium- and dose-dependent relaxation of the artery with maximal relaxation of 56 % at the concentration of 10-5 mg/ml. The relaxant responses to Provinol correlated well with the increase of NO synthase activity in the vascular tissue after administration of cumulative doses of Provinol (10-9 to 10-3 mg/ml). NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 3x10-4 M) significantly attenuated the endothelium-dependent relaxation produced by Provinol. Administration of L-arginine (3x10-5 M) restored the relaxation inhibited by L-NAME. The relaxant responses of Provinol were abolished in the presence of Ca2+-entry blocker, verapamil (10-6 M). Administration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) abolished acetylcholine (10-5 M)-induced relaxation of the rat femoral artery, while administration of Provinol (10-5 mg/ml) together with H2O2 helped to maintain the acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Provinol only partially affected the concentration-response curve for the NO donor sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation in rings without endothelium. In conclusion, Provinol elicited endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat femoral artery by the Ca2+-induced increase of NO synthase activity and by protecting NO from degradation., W. Zenebe, O. Pecháňová, R. Andriantsitohaina., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The present study was focused on regulatory role of nitric oxide on functional properties of the cardiac Na, K-ATPase in three various animal models of hypertension: spontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR) with increased activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by 60 % (Sh1), SHR with decreased activity of NOS by 40 % (Sh2) and rats with hypertension induced by L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) with depressed activity of NOS by 72 % (LN). Studying the utilization of energy substrate we observed higher Na, K-ATPase activity in the whole concentration range of ATP in Sh1 and decreased activity in Sh2 and LN. Evaluation of kinetic parameters revealed an increase of Vmax value by 37 % in Sh1 and decrease by 30 % in Sh2 and 17 % in LN. The KM value remained unchanged in Sh2 and LN, but was lower by 38 % in Sh1 indicating increased affinity of the ATP binding site, as compared to controls. During the activation with Na+ we observed increased Vmax by 64 % and increased KNa by 106 % in Sh1. In Sh2 we found decreased Vmax by 40 % and increased KNa by 38 %. In LN, the enzyme showed unchanged Vmax with increased KNa by 50 %. The above data indicate a positive role of increased activity of NOS in improved utilization of ATP as well as enhanced binding of Na+ by the cardiac Na, K-ATPase., J. Vlkovičová, V. Javorková, L. Mézešová, O. Pecháňová, N. Vrbjar., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
It is known that hypertension is accompanied by increased [Na+]i. The functional properties of Na,K-ATPase, which transports the Na+ out and K+ into myocardial cells during the relaxation phase, were investigated in the left ventricle (LV), septum (SV) and the right ventricle (RV) of anesthetized dogs with moderate acute blood pressure elevation elicited by short-term (4-hour) NO synthase inhibition. The NO-insufficiency was induced by administration of an L-arginine analogue, the NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Concerning the function of Na,K-ATPase under the conditions of lowered NO synthesis, we focused our attention to the binding of Na+ to the enzyme molecule. Activation of the enzyme by increasing Na+ concentrations revealed significant changes in both the maximal velocity (Vmax) and the affinity for Na+ (KNa) in all investigated heart sections. The Vmax increased by 27 % in LV, by 87 % in SV and by 58 % in RV. The KNa value increased by 86 % in LV, by 105 % in SV and by 93% in RV, indicating an apparent decrease in the sensitivity of the Na+-binding site in the Na,K-ATPase molecule. This apparently decreased pump affinity for Na+ together with the increase of Vmax suggest that, during the short-term inhibition of NO synthesis, the Na,K-ATPase is capable of extruding the excessive Na+ from the myocardial cells more effectively at higher [Na+]i as compared to the Na,K-ATPase of control animals., N. Vrbjar, M. Strnisková, O. Pecháňová, M. Gerová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Aldosterone receptor antagonist, spironolactone, has been shown to prevent remodeling of the heart in several models of left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the treatment with spironolactone can prevent hypertension, reduction of tissue nitric oxide synthase activity and left ventricular (LV) and aortic remodeling in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension. Four groups of rats were investigated: control, spironolactone (200 mg/kg), L-NAME (40 mg/kg) and L-NAME + spironolactone (in corresponding dosage). Animals were studied after 5 weeks of treatment. The decrease of NO-synthase activity in the LV and kidney was associated with the development of hypertension and LV hypertrophy, with increased DNA concentration in the LV, and remodeling of the aorta in the L-NAME group. Spironolactone prevented the inhibition of NO-synthase activity in the LV and kidney and partially attenuated hypertension and LVH development and the increase in DNA concentration. However, remodeling of the aorta was not prevented by spironolactone treatment. We conclude that the aldosterone receptor antagonist spironolactone improved nitric oxide production and partially prevented hypertension and LVH development without preventing hypertrophy of the aorta in NO-deficient hypertension. The reactive growth of the heart and aorta seems to be controlled by different mechanisms in L-NAMEinduced hypertension., F. Šimko, J. Matúšková, I. L'upták, T. Pinčíková, K. Krajčírovičová, S. Štvrtina, J. Pomšár, V. Pelouch, L'. Paulis, O. Pecháňová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension is associated with protein remodeling of the left ventricle. The aim of the study was to show, whether aldosterone receptor blocker spironolactone and precursor of NOproduction L-arginine were able to reverse the protein rebuilding of the left ventricle. Six groups of male Wistar rats were investigated: control 4 (4 weeks placebo), L-NAME (4 weeks L-NAME), spontaneous-regression (4 weeks L-NAME + 3 weeks placebo), spironolactone-regression (4 weeks L-NAME + 3 weeks spironolactone), L-arginineregression (4 weeks L-NAME + 3 weeks arginine), control 7 (7 weeks placebo). L-NAME administration induced hypertension, hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV), and the increase of metabolic and contractile as well as soluble and insoluble collagenous protein concentration. The systolic blood pressure and relative weight of the LV decreased in all three groups with regression, while the most prominent attenuation of the LVH was observed after spironolactone treatment. In the spontaneous-regression and L-arginine-regression groups the concentrations of individual proteins were not significantly different from the control value. However, in the spironolactone-regression group the concentration of metabolic, contractile and insoluble collagenous proteins remained significantly increased in comparison with the control group. The persistence of the increased protein concentration in the spironolactone group may be related to the more prominent reduction of myocardial water content by spironolactone., F. Šimko, A. Potáčová, V. Pelouch, L'. Paulis, J. Matúšková, K. Krajčírovičová, O. Pecháňová, M. Adamcová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Factors modulating cardiac susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) are permannetly attracting the attention of experimental cardiology research. We investigated, whether continuous 24 h/day light exposure of rats can modify cardiac response to I/R, NO-synthase (NOS) activity and the level of oxidative load represented by conjugated dienes (CD) concentration. Two groups of male adult Wistar rats were studied: controls exposed to normal light/dark cycle (12 h/day light, 12 h/day dark) and rats exposed to continuous light for 4 weeks. Perfused isolated hearts (Langendorff technique) were exposed to 25 min global ischemia and subsequent 30 min reperfusion. The recovery of functional parameters (coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure, contractility and relaxation index) during reperfusion as well as the incidence, severity and duration of arrhythmias during first 10 min of reperfusion were determined. The hearts from rats exposed to continuous light showed more rapid recovery of functional parameters but higher incidence, duration and severity of reperfusion arrhythmias compared to controls. In the left ventricle, the NOS activity was attenuated, but the CD concentration was not significantly changed. We conclude that the exposure of rats to continuous light modified cardiac response to I/R. This effect could be at least partially mediated by attenuated NO production., R. Važan, P. Janega, S. Hojná, J. Zicha, F. Šimko, O. Pecháňová, J. Styk, L'. Paulis., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Endothelial dysfunction may be considered as the interstage between risk factors and cardiovascular pathology. An imbalance between the production of vasorelaxing and vasoconstricting factors plays a decisive role in the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis and target organ damage. Except vasorelaxing and antiproliferative properties per se, nitric oxide participates in antagonizing vasoconstrictive and growth promoting effects of angiotensin II, endothelins and reactive oxygen species. Angiotensin II is a potent activator of NAD(P)H oxidase contributing to the production of reactive oxygen species. Numerous signaling pathways activated in response to angiotensin II and endothelin-1 are mediated through the increased level of oxidative stress, which seems to be in casual relation to a number of cardiovascular disturbances including hypertension. With respect to the oxidative stress, the NO molecule seems to be of ambivalent nature. On the one hand, NO is able to reduce generation of reactive oxygen species by inhibiting association of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits. On the other hand, when excessively produced, NO reacts with superoxides resulting in the formation of peroxynitrite, which is a free radical deteriorating endothelial function. The balance between vasorelaxing and vasoconstricting substances appears to be the principal issue for the physiological functioning of the vascular bed., O. Pecháňová, F. Šimko., and Obsahuje bibliografii