NG-nitro-D-arginine-methyl ester (D-NAME) is considered to be an inactive enantiomer of L-NAME and is generally used as the negative control for NO synthase inhibition with L-NAME. With the aim to compare the effects of 4-week L-NAME and D-NAME treatments on hemodynamic and cardiovascular structural parameters, four groups of male Wistar rats were investigated: the controls and groups administered 40 and 20 mg/kg/day of L-NAME and 40 mg/kg/day of D-NAME. At the end of the experiment, myocardial NO synthase activity decreased by 42, 24 and 25 %; aortic NO synthase activity decreased by 35, 15 and 13 % vs. controls in the L-NAME 40, L-NAME 20 and D-NAME 40 groups, respectively. The DNA concentrations in the myocardium and the aorta increased significantly after L-NAME and D-NAME treatments. The inhibition of NO synthase was accompanied by a significant elevation in systolic blood pressure in all three groups. The LVW/BW ratio increased by 27, 14 and 13 % vs. controls in the L-NAME 40, L-NAME 20 and D-NAME 40 groups, respectively. The aortic wall mass, measured as the crossectional area, increased by 45, 17 and 25 % vs. controls in the L-NAME 40, L-NAME 20 and D-NAME 40 groups, respectively. Myocardial fibrosis represented 0.94 % in the controls, but 7.96, 4.70 and 5.25 % in L-NAME 40, L-NAME 20 and D-NAME 40 groups, respectively. It is concluded that D-NAME, although less affective than L-NAME, inhibits NO synthase activity resulting in hemodynamic and structural changes in the cardiovascular system similar to the changes induced by half the dose of L-NAME. Thus, the consideration of D-NAME as an inactive enantiomer and its use as the negative control needs to be reevaluated., P. Babál, O. Pecháňová, I. Bernátová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Omega-3 fatty acids (Ω3FA) are known to reduce hypertriglyceridemia- and inflammation-induced vascular wall diseases. However, mechanisms of their effects are not completely clear. We examined, whether 10-day Ω3FA diet can reduce bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in expression of gap junction protein connexin40 (Cx40) in the aorta of hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (hHTG) rats. After administration of a single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) to adult hHTG rats, animals were fed with Ω3FA diet (30 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. LPS decreased Cx40 expression that was associated with reduced acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aorta. Ω3FA administration to LPS rats had partial anti-inflammatory effects, associated with increased Cx40 expression and improved endothelium dependent relaxation of the aorta. Our results suggest that 10-day Ω3FA diet could protect endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta of hHTG rats against LPS-induced damage through the modulation of endothelial Cx40 expression, K. Frimmel, R. Sotníková, J. Navarová, I. Bernátová, J. Križák, Z. Haviarová, B. Kura, J. Slezák, Ľ. Okruhlicová., and Obsahuje bibliografii