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L B Fernandes

Publications and source records attributed to L B Fernandes.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Pharmacological evaluation of a guinea-pig tracheal epithelium-derived inhibitory factor (EpDIF).

1. An epithelium-derived inhibitory factor (EpDIF) released by guinea-pig tracheal epithelium was evaluated in a co-axial bioassay system consisting of an epithelium-intact guinea-pig tracheal tube surrounding endothelium-denuded rat aortic strip. 2. Histamine and several muscarinic agonists induced concentration-dependent relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted rat aorta via the release of EpDIF. However, several other agonists did not induce the release of EpDIF from guinea-pig trachea. These included the nicotinic cholinoceptor agonists nicotine (25 microM), 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) (25 microM), calcium ionophore A23187 (0.5 microM), bradykinin (0.05-0.5 microM), substance P (5 microM), platelet activating factor (PAF, 1-100 nM), the leukotrienes (LT) LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4 (0.1-10 nM) as well as hyperosmotic stimuli. 3. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced concentration-dependent contraction of endothelium-denuded rat aortic preparations, indicating that this prostanoid could not be EpDIF. Furthermore, relaxation to histamine and methacholine, mediated via EpDIF, was not significantly altered in the presence of phenidone (50 microM) the cyclo-oxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor with radical scavenging properties or the cytochrome P-450 inhibitors metyrapone (1 mM) and SKF 525A (25 microM). This suggests that EpDIF is neither a prostanoid nor a cytochrome P-450 metabolite of arachidonic acid. 4. The soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue (50 microM), caused small but significant increases in the potencies of both histamine and methacholine in co-axial assemblies, indicating that EpDIF did not activate this enzyme and therefore was not NO or a related substance. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, (-)-propranolol (1 microM), and the PAF-receptor antagonist, WEB 2086 (50 microM), also failed to alter significantly EpDIF-modulated relaxations. These data suggest that EpDIF is neither a stimulant of fiadrenoceptors nor of PAF receptors. 5. The present study provides some evidence that this vascular smooth muscle-sensitive EpDIF may not be related to the putative EpDIF previously hypothesized to modulate directly spasmogen-induced airway smooth muscle tone.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Co-axial bioassay of a smooth muscle relaxant factor released from guinea-pig tracheal epithelium.

1. The ability of guinea-pig trachea to release an epithelium-derived relaxant factor (EpDRF) was assessed in a co-axial bioassay system. 2. Histamine (100 microM) and methacholine (25 microM) caused endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat isolated aorta, presumably via the release of endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF). In contrast, endothelium-denuded rat aorta did not relax in response to these agents. 3. EDRF release was detected in response to methacholine in a co-axial bioassay system, consisting of intact rabbit aorta tube (EDRF donor) and endothelium-denuded rat aorta strip (assay preparation). These results indicated the transfer of EDRF from a donor to an assay preparation, thereby validating the co-axial bioassay method. 4. Substitution of endothelium-intact rabbit aorta tube by epithelium-intact guinea-pig tracheal tube tissue in co-axial assemblies, still allowed the assay preparation to relax in response to histamine or methacholine. Removal of the intact tracheal tube from the system, or removal of the epithelium from the donor tracheal tube in co-axial preparations, abolished such relaxant responses. These observations are consistent with histamine- or methacholine-induced release of an epithelium-derived relaxant factor (EpDRF) from the trachea. 5. In the co-axial assembly comprising intact guinea-pig trachea and endothelium-denuded rat aorta, histamine and methacholine produced concentration-dependent, EpDRF-induced aortic relaxation. Mean concentrations of histamine and methacholine producing 50% of the maximum relaxation (EC50) were 39.8 microM and 2.7 microM respectively. Histamine-induced relaxation was inhibited in the presence of mepyramine (2 microM) and responses to methacholine were inhibited by atropine (0.1 microM). 6. Methylene blue (50 microM) had no effect on such relaxant responses, indicating that EpDRF does not activate guanylate cyclase. Furthermore, the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 microM), the cyclo-oxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor BW 755C (150 microM) and the leukotriene receptor antagonist FPL 55712 (10 microM) each failed significantly to alter EpDRF-mediated relaxation of vascular smooth muscle suggesting that EpDRF is not a prostanoid. Platelet activating factor (Pat) failed to cause relaxation of endothelium-denuded rat aorta, indicating that this mediator was also not EpDRF. 7. EpDRF was also released from human bronchial segments. 8. This study provides direct evidence for the release of an EpDRF from non-diseased airway tissue and further suggests that healthy airway reactivity to spasmogens is modulated by the release of an endogenous protective, spasmolytic substance. The bronchial hyperreactivity of asthma may be partly caused by attenuated production of such an inhibitory signal.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Beta-adrenoceptor desensitization in guinea-pig isolated trachea.

Exposure to (-)-isoprenaline (25 microM, 1 h) caused a stereoselective, time and concentration-related decrease in smooth muscle beta 2-adrenoceptor function in guinea-pig trachea. Furthermore, tracheal relaxant responsiveness to the beta-adrenoceptor agonists (+/-)-fenoterol and (-)-noradrenaline was reduced, while that to theophylline and nitroprusside was unaffected. Responsiveness to forskolin was marginally but significantly reduced. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and mepacrine, an inhibitor of phospholipid turnover, had no significant effect on the extent of isoprenaline-induced desensitization. Conversely, cortisol (25 microM) significantly reduced desensitization and enhanced the rate of spontaneous recovery of responsiveness to isoprenaline. Desensitization was not accompanied by a reduction in the density of beta-adrenoceptors in the trachea, as assessed by binding and light microscopic autoradiography using [125I]iodocyanopindolol [( 125I]CYP). Thus, desensitization was probably caused primarily by beta-adrenoceptor/adenyl cyclase uncoupling. This model may be useful in investigations of the effect of glucocorticoids on the beta-adrenoceptor dysfunction recognized in severe asthma.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Epithelial dysfunction and airway hyperreactivity in asthma.

It is clear that the central airway epithelium plays an important role in restricting access of inhaled solutes to sub-epithelial airway wall structures. Non-specific airway hyperreactivity to spasmogens in asthma may result partly as a consequence of the compromise of the epithelium as a barrier to solute diffusion. However, impaired epithelial production and release of smooth muscle relaxant factor(s) may also contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness. Virally precipitated asthma also involves inflammation-induced epithelial damage. Beta-adrenoceptor hypofunction induced by respiratory viruses may also contribute to bronchial obstruction.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors and endothelin as modulators of respiratory neurotransmission.

1. Airway smooth muscle receives cholinergic, adrenergic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) neural input. In guinea-pig airways cholinergic and NANC nerves provide contractile innervation, while adrenergic and NANC nerves provide relaxant pathways. In contrast, the major relaxant innervation in human airways is NANC in nature. 2. The present review describes the effects of selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on NANC relaxant and contractile responses in guinea-pig trachea as well as on NANC relaxations in human bronchus. 3. The effects of endothelin-1 on cholinergic contractile responses obtained in a variety of species are also assessed.

Animals↗