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T Malinski

Publications and source records attributed to T Malinski.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Late treatment with ramipril increases survival in old spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) begin to die from cardiovascular complications at approximately 15 months of age. We tested whether chronic ACE-inhibitor treatment would extend the lifespan of such old animals. We also studied cardiac hypertrophy and function, endothelial function and expression, and activity of NO synthase (eNOS). One hundred 15-month-old SHR were randomized into 3 groups, control (n=10), placebo-treated (n=45), and ramipril-treated with an antihypertensive dose of 1 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) in drinking water (n=45). Ex vivo experiments were performed after 15 months (control) and 21 months, when approximately 80% of the placebo group had died. Late treatment with ramipril significantly extended lifespan of the animals from 21 to 30 months. Fully established cardiac hypertrophy, observed in placebo-treated animals and in controls, was significantly reversed by ramipril treatment. In isolated working hearts, a significantly improved function associated with increased cardiac eNOS expression was seen versus placebo and control hearts. Endothelial dysfunction in isolated aortic rings from control and placebo-treated SHR was significantly improved by ACE inhibition and associated with enhanced NO release. Late treatment of SHR with the ACE inhibitor ramipril extended lifespan from 21 to 30 months, which is comparable to the lifespan of untreated normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. This lifespan extension, probably due to blood pressure reduction, correlated with increased eNOS expression and activity followed by a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac and vascular dysfunction.

Age Factors↗

Angiotensin II-stimulated nitric oxide release from porcine pulmonary endothelium is mediated by angiotensin IV.

In this study, a nitric oxide (NO) sensor was used to examine the ability of angiotensin II (AngII), AngIV, and bradykinin (Bk) to stimulate NO release from porcine pulmonary artery (PPAE) and porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cells and to explore the mechanism of the AngII-stimulated NO release. Physiologic concentrations of AngII, but not Bk, caused release of NO from PPAE cells. In contrast, Bk, but not AngII, stimulated NO release from PAE cells. AngIII-stimulated NO release from PPAE cells required extracellular L-arginine and was inhibited by L-nitro-arginine methyl ester. AT1 and AT2 receptor inhibition had no affect on AngII-mediated NO release or activation of NO synthase (NOS). AngIV, an AngII metabolite with binding sites that are pharmacologically distinct from the classic AngII receptors, stimulated considerably greater NO release and greater endothelial-type constitutive NOS activity than the same amount of AngII. The AngIV receptor antagonist, divalinal AngIV, blocked both AngII- and AngIV-mediated NO release as well as NOS activation. The results demonstrate that AngIV and the AngIV receptor are responsible, at least in part, for AngII-stimulated NO release and the associated endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Furthermore, these results suggest that differences exist in both AngII- and Bk-mediated NO release between PPAE and PAE cells, which may reflect important differences in response to these hormones between vascular beds.

Angiotensin II↗

Nitric oxide release from normal and dysfunctional endothelium.

The endothelium plays a critical role in maintaining vascular tone by releasing vasoconstrictor and vasodilator substances. Endothelium - derived nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator rapidly inactivated by superoxide (O2-) found in significant quantities. The porphyrinic sensor (0.5-8 microm diameter) and chemiluminescence methods were used to measure NO and (O2-) respectively. Effects of hypertension, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and heart preservation on the release of NO and O2- were delineated. In the single endothelial cell (rat aorta) NO concentration was the highest in the cell membrane decreasing exponentially with distance from cell, and becoming undetectable beyond 50 microm and 25 microm for normotensive (WKY) and hypertensive (SHR) rats respectively. The endothelium of SHR released 40% less NO (300+/-25 nmol L(-1)) than that of normotensive rats (500+20 nmol L(-1)), due to the higher production of O2- in SHR rats. An exponentially decreasing NO production (from 1.20 +/- 0.15 to 0.16 +/- 0.05 micromol (L-1)) and concomitant increase of O2- generation (from 10 +/- 0.3 to 300 +/- 25 nmol L(-1) were observed in left ventricle of stored (eight hours) rabbit heart. Native and oxidized low density lipoproteins (nLDL and oxLDL) inhibited NO generation and increased O2- production. The local depletion of the L-arginine substrate may disarrange the nitric oxide synthase, leading to production of O2- from oxygen.

Animals↗

Reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and production in human atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: NO regulates vascular tone and structure, platelets, and monocytes. NO is synthesized by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Endothelial dysfunction occurs in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: With a porphyrinic microsensor, NO release was measured in atherosclerotic human carotid arteries and normal mammary arteries obtained during surgery. eNOS protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In normal arteries, the initial rate of NO release after stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187 (10 micromol/L) was 0.42+/-0.05 (micromol/L)/s (n=10). In contrast, the initial rate of NO release was markedly reduced in atherosclerotic segments, to 0.08+/-0.04 (micromol/L)/s (n=10, P<0.0001). NO peak concentration in normal arteries was 0.9+/-0.09 micromol/L (n=10) and in atherosclerotic segments, 0.1+/-0.03 micromol/L (n=10, P<0.0001). Reduced NO release in atherosclerotic segments was accompanied by marked reduction of immunoreactive eNOS in luminal endothelial cells, although specific endothelial cell markers (CD31) were present (n=13). Endothelial cells of vasa vasorum of atherosclerotic segments, however, remained positive for eNOS, as was the endothelium of normal arteries. CONCLUSIONS: In clinically relevant human atherosclerosis, eNOS protein expression and NO release are markedly reduced. This may be involved in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Aged↗

Protective role of pulmonary nitric oxide in the acute phase of endotoxemia in rats.

We present for the first time direct continuous assay of NO concentration (porphyrinic sensor) in the lung parenchyma of Sprague-Dawley rats in vivo during endotoxemia. Intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 10 minutes) stimulated an acute burst of NO from constitutive NO synthase (NOS) that peaked 10 to 15 minutes after the start of LPS infusion, mirroring a coincident peak drop in arterial pressure. NO concentration declined over the next hour to twice above pre-LPS infusion NO levels, where it remained until the rats died, 5 to 6 hours after LPS infusion. The chronic drop in arterial pressure observed from 70 minutes to 6 hours after the start of LPS infusion was not convincingly mirrored by a chronic increase in NO concentration, even though indirect NO assay (Griess method, assaying NO decay products NO2-/NO3-) showed that NO production was increasing as a result of continuous NO release by inducible NOS. A NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10 mg/kg i.v.) injected 45 minutes before LPS infusion, resulted in sudden death accompanied by macroscopically/microscopically diagnosed symptoms similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome <25 minutes after the start of LPS infusion. Pharmacological analysis of this L-NNA+LPS model by replacing L-NNA with 1-amino-2-hydroxy-guanidine (selective inhibitor of inducible NOS) or by pretreatment with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (NO donor), camonagrel (thromboxane synthase inhibitor), or WEB2170 (platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist) indicated that in the early acute phase of endotoxemia, LPS stimulated the production of cytoprotective NO, cytotoxic thromboxane A2, and platelet-activating factor.

Acute Disease↗

Tetrahydrobiopterin alters superoxide and nitric oxide release in prehypertensive rats.

Constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) with insufficient cofactor (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) may generate damaging superoxide (O2-). This study was designed to determine whether cNOS-dependent generation of O2- occurs in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) before the onset of hypertension. Aortas from 4-wk-old SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats were used. cNOS was stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187. In situ measurements of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide by electrochemical sensors and O2- production by chemiluminescence method were performed. Isometric tension was continuously recorded. H4B by high performance liquid chromatography and [3H]citrulline assay were determined in homogenized tissue. The A23187-stimulated production of O2- and its superoxide dismutase product hydrogen peroxide were significantly higher, whereas nitric oxide release was reduced in SHR aortas, with opposite results in the presence of exogenous H4B. Furthermore, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibited the generation of cNOS-dependent O2- by approximately 70%. Natural H4B levels were similar in both strains; however, equivalent cNOS activity required additional H4B in SHR. The endothelium-dependent relaxations to A23187 were significantly inhibited by catalase, and enhanced by superoxide dismutase, only in SHR; however, these enzymes had no effect in the presence of H4B. Thus, dysfunctional cNOS may be a source of O2- in prehypertensive SHR and contribute to the development of hypertension and its vascular complications.

Animals↗

Bioflavonoid quercetin scavenges superoxide and increases nitric oxide concentration in ischaemia-reperfusion injury: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: L-Arginine-depleted environments accompanying ischaemia-reperfusion enhance superoxide production, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species and a concomitant reduction in basal nitric oxide levels. The bioflavonoid quercetin may prevent these undesirable effects by scavenging superoxide. METHODS: Untreated rabbits were compared with those infused with quercetin (5 mg/kg for 2 min) during hindlimb ischaemia (2.5 h) and reperfusion (2 h). In both groups, nitric oxide concentration was measured (porphyrinic microsensor) in the femoral artery wall. Microvasculature changes (morphometry) and superoxide concentration (chemiluminescence) were measured intermittently in biopsies. RESULTS: Approximately 6 min into the period of ischaemia a rapid increase in nitric oxide level from a mean(s.e.m.) basal level of 50(20) to 450(30) nmol/l was observed. In untreated animals, nitric oxide concentration dropped to an undetectable level (less than 1 nmol/l) during reperfusion. In quercetin-treated animals, the decrease in nitric oxide concentration was slower, such that substantial amounts (60(20) nmol/l) accumulated during reperfusion. In biopsies after ischaemia-reperfusion maximal calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated nitric oxide concentration increased (25-30 per cent) in the presence of quercetin, while the superoxide concentration decreased. CONCLUSION: Quercetin treatment mollified ischaemia-reperfusion injury to skeletal muscle by scavenging destructive superoxide and enhancing the cytoprotective nitric oxide concentration.

Animals↗

NO concentration in the periendothelial area of the femoral artery of the dog measured in vivo.

.NO concentration was measured in the periendothelial area of the femoral artery by Malinski's porphyrinic .NO sensor in seven anaesthetized dogs. The basal concentration was 154.2 +/- 5.6 nM and two-minute intraarterial infusions of acetylcholine (3-4 micrograms/ml/min) or bradykinin (30-40 ng/ml/min) increased this value significantly to 204.3 +/- 16.4 and 266.5 +/- 16.4 nM (P < 0.01), respectively. Inhibition of .NO synthase by L-NAME (50 mg/kg) declined the basal .NO concentration only to 137.2 +/- 3.3 nM (P < 0.01). Subsequent administration of acetylcholine and bradykinin attenuated significantly the increase in .NO concentration. Surprisingly, both agonists still induced a significant increase of .NO concentration by 125.3 +/- 8.3 and 156.6 +/- 26.9 nM, respectively (P < 0.01). One of the possible explanations may be that besides arginine-citrulline plus the .NO pathway other sources of .NO could be involved in the high level of .NO after .NO synthase blockade by L-NAME.

Acetylcholine↗

L-arginine treatment alters the kinetics of nitric oxide and superoxide release and reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle.

BACKGROUND: Constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) may produce species involved in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury: NO in the presence of sufficient L-arginine and superoxide at the diminished local L-arginine concentration accompanying I/R. METHODS AND RESULTS: During hindlimb I/R (2.5 hours/2 hours), in vivo NO was continuously monitored (porphyrinic sensor), and L-arginine (chromatography), superoxide (chemiluminescence), and I/R injury were measured intermittently. Normal rabbits were compared with those infused with L-arginine 4 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 1 hour. In both groups, approximately 6 minutes into ischemia, a rapid increase of NO from its basal level of 50+/-17 to 115+/-7 nmol/L, P<.005 (microvessels), was observed. In animals not treated with L-arginine, NO dropped below basal to undetectable levels (<1 nmol/L) during reperfusion. In animals treated with L-arginine, the decrease of NO was slower, such that substantial amounts accumulated during reperfusion (25 nmol/L). Decreased NO during I/R was accompanied by increased superoxide, which during reperfusion reached 50 nmol/L without or 23 nmol/L with L-arginine treatment. Calcium-dependent cNOS was a major source of superoxide release (inhibited 70% by L-NMMA and 25% by L-NAME) during I/R. CONCLUSIONS: L-Arginine treatment decreased superoxide generation by cNOS while increasing NO accumulation, leading to protection from constriction (microvessel area, 17.77+/-0.95 versus 11.66+/-2.21 microm2 untreated, P<.0005) and reduction of edema after reperfusion (interfiber area, 16.56+/-2.13% versus 27.68+/-7.70% untreated, P<.005).

Animals↗

Nitric oxide is the mediator of both endothelium-dependent relaxation and hyperpolarization of the rabbit carotid artery.

It is controversial whether the endothelial cell release of nitric oxide (NO) or a different factor(s) accounts for endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization, because in many arteries endothelium-dependent relaxation and hyperpolarization resists inhibitors of NO synthase. The contribution of NO to acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation of the rabbit carotid artery was determined by measuring NO with electrochemical and chemiluminescence techniques. In the presence of phenylephrine to depolarize and contract the smooth muscle cells, acetylcholine caused concentration-dependent hyperpolarization and relaxation which were closely correlated to the release of NO. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (30 microM) partially reduced the release of NO and caused a similar reduction in smooth muscle cell relaxation and hyperpolarization. To determine if the residual responses were mediated by another endothelium-derived mediator or NO released despite treatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (300 microM) was added. The combined inhibitors further reduced, but did not eliminate, NO release, smooth muscle relaxation, and hyperpolarization. Hyperpolarization and relaxation to acetylcholine remained closely correlated with the release of NO in the presence of the inhibitors. In addition, the NO donor, SIN-1, caused hyperpolarization and relaxation which correlated with the concentrations of NO that it released. These studies indicate that (i) the release of NO by acetylcholine is only partially inhibited by these inhibitors of NO synthase when used even at high concentrations, and (ii) NO rather than another factor accounts fully for endothelium-dependent responses of the rabbit carotid artery.

Animals↗

Beta-adrenergic regulation of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in cardiac myocytes.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in endogenous control of myocardial contractility. However, NO release has not yet been demonstrated in cardiac myocytes. Accordingly, endogenous NO production was measured with a porphyrinic microsensor positioned on the surface of individual neonatal or adult rat ventricular myocytes (n > 6 neonatal and adult cells per experiment). In beating neonatal myocytes, there was no detectable spontaneous NO release with each contraction. However, norepinephrine (NE; 0.25-1 microM) elicited transient NO release from beating neonatal (149 +/- 11 to 767 +/- 83 nM NO) and noncontracting adult (157 +/- 13 to 791 +/- 89 nM NO) cells. NO was released by adrenergic agonists with the following rank order of potency: isoproterenol (beta1beta2) > NE (alpha/beta1) > dobutamine (beta1) approximately epinephrine (alpha/beta1beta2) > tertbutylene (beta2); NO was not released by phenylephrine (alpha). NE-evoked NO release was reversibly blocked by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, trifluoperazine, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), and nifedipine but was enhanced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.5 mM = 14.5 +/- 1.6%) and BAY K 8644 (10 microM = 11.9 +/- 1%). NO was also released by A-23187 (10 microM = 884 +/- 88 nM NO), guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (1 microM = 334 +/- 56 nM NO), and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (10-100 microM = 35 +/- 9 to 284 +/- 49 nM NO) but not by ATP, bradykinin, carbachol, 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, or shear stress. This first functional demonstration of a constitutive NO synthase in cardiac myocytes suggests its regulation by a beta-adrenergic signaling pathway and may provide a novel mechanism for the coronary artery vasodilatation and enhanced diastolic relaxation observed with adrenergic stimulation.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition alters nitric oxide and superoxide release in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Young (approximately 1 month old) male normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (n=26) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (n=38) were randomized into three groups treated via drinking water for approximately 2 years with, respectively, placebo, low doses, or high doses of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ramipril (10 microg x kg[-1] x d[-1], non-blood pressure-lowering dose, or 1 mg x kg[-1] x d[-1], blood pressure-lowering dose). Relative to placebo treatment in each respective rat strain, both ramipril dosages increased endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase expression (Western blot) and resultant synthesis of nitric oxide (porphyrinic sensor) in freshly excised carotids and thoracic aortas, respectively. Paradoxically, this activity was associated with an increased/decreased superoxide accumulation (chemiluminescence) in freshly excised aortas from 24-/22-month-old normotensive/hypertensive rats. In normotensive rats, relative to placebo treatment, the threefold increase in superoxide accumulation with antihypertensive ramipril treatment is most likely from the >300% increase in endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase expression (some of which may be disarranged by local insufficiencies in L-arginine or tetrahydrobiopterin). In hypertensive rats, relative to placebo treatment, the 35% increase in nitric oxide availability by long-term antihypertensive ramipril treatment may contribute to the preservation of the endothelium and prevent its dysfunction by inhibiting superoxide production. Increased nitric oxide production with concomitant decreased superoxide accumulation (approximately one third of placebo levels) correlates positively with the previously reported +40% life span extension for rats with genetic hypertension that were treated with antihypertensive doses of ramipril.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Mechanical transduction of nitric oxide synthesis in the beating heart.

NO alters contractile and relaxant properties of the heart. However, it is not known whether changes in ventricular loading conditions affect cardiac NO synthesis. To understand this potential contractile-relaxant autoregulatory mechanism, production of cardiac NO in response to mechanical stimuli was measured in vivo using a porphyrinic sensor placed in the left ventricular myocardium. The beating rabbit heart exhibited cyclic changes in [NO], peaking at 2.7+/-0.1 micromol/L near the endocardium and 0.93+/-0.20 micromol/L in the midventricular myocardium (concentrations were 15+/-4% lower in the rat heart). In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that increasing or decreasing ventricular preload in vivo is followed by parallel changes in [NO], which may represent a novel autoregulatory mechanism to adjust cardiac performance or perfusion on a beat-to-beat basis. To quantify the relationship between applied force and NO synthesis, intermittent compressive or distending forces applied to ex vivo nonbeating hearts were shown to cause bursts of NO synthesis, with peak [NO] linearly related to ventricular transmural pressure. Experiments in which denuding cardiac endothelial and endocardial cells abrogated the NO signal indicate that these cells transduce mechanical stimulation into NO production in the heart. Taken together, these studies may help explain load-dependent relaxation, cardiac memory for mechanical events of preceding beats, diseases associated with myocardial distension, autoregulation of myocardial perfusion, and protection from thrombosis in the turbulent flow environment within the beating heart.

Animals↗

New strategy for prolonging the preservation time of hearts for transplantation.

Our study concerned the findings that rat and rabbit heart transplants do not survive after six hours. They become dark, hard and fail to contract within 2 min after reperfusion and never regain their function. We tested the supplementation of solutions for heart transplant preservation with tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) and L-arginine (L-ARG) to maintain the oxidative and reductive domains of the endocardial NO synthase. We decided to study the excised rabbit hearts preserved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at 0 degrees C supplemented with different concentrations of H4B (0, 1, 5, 10 or 100 microM). At desired time intervals, successive pieces stored in the above solutions were warmed to rabbit body temperature in 4 ml of HBSS and maximally agonized by direct application of 20 microl of 200 microM bradykinin (or other agonist) onto the exposed endocardium. Nitric oxide bursts were monitored with a porphyrinic NO sensor lying on the exposed endocardium. Our goal was to find the lowest H4B concentration which would maximally agonize NO. and prolong the time of heart preservation to more than 6 hours. Ten microM are a minimum H4B concentration which achieves maximum prolongation of heart preservation time up to 90 hours. This effect was based upon maximal potentiation of NO. release and minimizing of superoxide production.

Animals↗

Effect of age on kinetics of nitric oxide release in rat aorta and pulmonary artery.

Aging is an important determinant of vascular disease. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is protective as a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet function. This study was designed to directly measure effects of prolonged aging on endotheliai NO release in isolated blood vessels and to delineate differences between the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Aortas and pulmonary arteries from 5-6-mo-old (young), 18-19-mo-old (middle-aged), and 32-33-mo-old (old) normotensive female rats were used. Blood pressure and plasma estradiol-17beta (E2) remained unchanged. In isolated blood vessels, NO release was induced by the receptor-independent agonist calcium ionophore A23187 (10 micromol/liter) and measured in situ on the endothelial surface of vessels using a porphyrinic microsensor. In vessels suspended in organ chambers isometric tension was recorded. In the aorta, the initial rate of NO release and peak NO concentration were reduced in middle-aged and old rats (P < 0.0006 vs. young rats, n = 6). Furthermore, endothelium-dependent relaxations to calcium ionophore and acetylcholine (both 10(-10) - 10(-5) mol/liter) were also reduced in aortas from old as compared with young rats (n = 6, P < 0.05). The initial rate of NO release and peak NO concentration significantly correlated with maximal relaxation to calcium ionophore A23187 (correlation coefficients r - 0.916, P < 0.0018 and r = 0.961, P < 0.0001, respectively, n = 7). In pulmonary arteries, however, the initial rate of NO release as well as peak NO concentration did not decrease with age (n = 6 for each age group, NS). In both blood vessels, the NO release was unaffected by superoxide dismutase in all age groups (n = 6, NS). Thus, aging specifically reduces initial rate and peak concentrations of endothelial NO release from aorta but not pulmonary artery indicating reduced NO production. As arterial pressure did not change with aging, the chronic exposure of the aorta to higher pressure and/or pulsatility than in the pulmonary artery may be the cause. This appears important as NO plays a protective role by preventing vasoconstriction, thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

Aging↗