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Biomedical subjects

G Wingren

Publications and source records attributed to G Wingren.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Contraction and cyclic AMP-related relaxation of the intimal and medial smooth muscle layers of pig thoracic aorta.

The contractile responses of an alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, and of histamine were compared in the intimal and medial smooth muscle layers of the pig aortic arch. Further, the relaxant effects evoked by some compounds influencing the cyclic AMP system were compared in the two muscle layers, as well as their effects on the cyclic AMP content and phosphodiesterase activity. Phenylephrine and histamine induced contraction of the smooth muscle layers. The increase in tension was faster in the intimal than in the medial layer. The alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine was a more potent contractile agent in the intimal than in the medial smooth muscle. With histamine, no significant difference in the dose-response curves between the two muscle layers was found. Histamine-contracted muscle preparations were relaxed in a dose-dependent manner by the phosphodiesterase-inhibiting compound 3-isobutyl-1-methylaxanthine (MIX) and by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. The two substances were more potent relaxants in the medial than in the intimal smooth muscle layer. The content of cyclic AMP in the intimal and the medial smooth muscle was increased by MIX. Isoprenaline had no relaxing effect on the muscle preparations and did not change the content of cyclic AMP. There were no differences in the basal levels of cyclic AMP in the intima and media. Vmax of phosphodiesterase activities differed, however, between the two preparations. This study demonstrates that the intimal layer is characterized by a larger contractile responsiveness to phenylephrine and a lower relaxant response to compounds influencing the cyclic AMP-system than those of the medial layer.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Mortality pattern in a glass producing area in SE Sweden.

Because of discharges, mainly of lead, from glassworks in an otherwise rural and unpolluted area in southeast Sweden the population became concerned about the potential risks of cancer and an epidemiological study was requested. The total and the specific cancer mortality in the three parishes around the glassworks were found to be approximately normal, both by comparison with national death rates and the death rates of another, similarly rural, area. More interesting results, however, were obtained in several case-referent studies also undertaken to study mortality from specific cancer sites and cardiovascular disease with regard to employment in the glassworks. A significant excess of deaths from stomach cancer, especially in glassblowers, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease was observed among the glassworkers. Occupational exposures in the glassworks, especially to arsenic, may be of aetiological importance.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Sudden death related to advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs: influence of some drugs.

Advanced coronary atherosclerosis was produced in 30 mini-pigs by a combination of a hypercholesterolaemic diet and X-irradiation to the precordial region. Within 11-25 weeks after the irradiation, 13 of the 30 animals died a sudden death probably caused by coronary atherosclerosis. The contents of free and ester-bound cholesterol in the right coronary artery were significantly higher in the animals which died spontaneously than in surviving animals. In an untreated group of 12 animals 7 died whereas in a group treated with beta-pyridylcarbinol only 1 out of 5 died. In the coronary arteries, the contents of both free and ester-bound cholesterol were significantly lower in the beta-pyridylcarbinol-treated animals. In a sulfinpyrazone-treated group 3 out of 8, and in a metoprolol-treated group 2 out of 5 animals died. None of these drugs reduced the accumulation of cholesterol in the coronary arteries. The rate of sudden death was 26 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05) lower in the combined group of treated animals than in the untreated ones. By regular ECG recordings, signs which could predict the fatal outcome of the experiment were looked for. Although depressed ST segments were present before death in a few animals, this was not a regular phenomenon. It is concluded that advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs often leads to sudden death and that this animal model seems suitable for testing the potential therapeutic effects of drugs.

Animals↗

Influence of anoxia and dinitrophenol on the phosphorylase a activity and the cyclic nucleotide content of smooth muscle.

The effect of anoxia or 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on the phosphorylase activity and the cyclic AMP and the cyclic GMP content was studied in smooth muscle preparations. When the aerobic conditions were changed to anaerobic in experiments on bovine mesenteric artery, there was a significant increase in the activity of phosphorylase a during the first 60 min. We had observed a reduction of the glycogen content of the artery during this time period, which accounted for about 2/3 of the increase in lactate production (Pasteur effect). Under anaerobic conditions the content of cyclic AMP in the vessel was not changed, and the increase in phosphorylase a activity was not inhibited by a blockade of adrenergic beta-receptors. DNP, which like anoxia inhibits the mitochondrial production of ATP, increased the phosphorylase a activity to the same extent as anoxia. Anoxia and DNP also enhanced the activity of phosphorylase a in pig thoracic aorta and rabbit colon smooth muscle. In thoracic aorta both anoxia and DNP produced a more transient and smaller increase in the phosphorylase a activity than in the mesenteric artery. The Pasteur effect was also relatively smaller (100%) in thoracic aorta than in mesenteric artery (400%). It is suggested that an anoxic increase in the phosphorylase a activity participates in the Pasteur effect in smooth muscle.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗