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Biomedical subjects

T Shigeno

Publications and source records attributed to T Shigeno.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Possible role of endothelin in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.

Since the discovery of endothelin-1 (ET-1), its involvement in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been suspected. We performed various experiments, first to demonstrate the presence of ET in both patients and dogs with SAH, and second to examine the effects of ET synthesis inhibition in experimental vasospasm. Here we report that ET was present in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in SAH, but did not correlate with vasospasm. However, ET was locally expressed in the vascular endothelium in vasospasm. Several therapeutic approaches causing the inhibition of ET synthesis were effective in preventing the development of vasospasm. Such approaches utilized drugs that inhibited RNA and DNA synthesis. Among them, actinomycin D treatment was most effective. We also utilized phosphoramidon, a recently found conversion inhibitor of big ET to ET. However, this product failed to ameliorate the development of vasospasm. Therefore, although we cannot yet conclude that ET is the main cause of cerebral vasospasm, it may, at least, act as one of the modifying factors in cerebral vasospasm.

Animals↗

Endothelins: vasoconstrictor effects and localization in canine cerebral arteries.

1. The vascular effects of endothelin and localization of endothelin-like immunoreactivity were characterized in isolated cerebral arteries of dogs. 2. Endothelin-like immunoreactivity was detected in a few populations of endothelial cells of dog basilar artery. 3. Endothelin-1, endothelin-2 and endothelin-3 contracted isolated ring preparations of cerebral arteries in a dose-dependent manner independently of the presence of endothelium. The ED50 values (and 95% confidence intervals) for the contraction were 411 pM (242-697 pM) and 478 pM (295-776 pM) for endothelin-1 and endothelin-2, respectively. Endothelin-3 induced vascular contraction at a higher concentration (ED50 = 26.5 nM, 95% confidence interval = 15.7-45.7 nM). 4. The increases in tone induced by endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 did not return to the resting level after repeated washings, while a rinse with Krebs solution reversed the vasoconstrictor response to endothelin-3. The endothelins did not cause any vasodilator response in arteries precontracted with uridine 5'-triphosphate even in the presence of intact endothelial cells. 5. NiCl2 (1 mM) attenuated the contractions induced by endothelin-3 (10-300 nM) and those to relatively low doses (1 nM) but not higher doses (10-100 nM) of endothelin-1 and endothelin-2. The contractions in response to endothelin-1, endothelin-2 and endothelin-3 were greatly attenuated in Ca(2+)-free solutions although high concentrations of endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 still evoked contractions. 6. These results suggest that the vasoconstriction induced by endothelin-3 and lower doses of endothelin-1 and endothelin-2, largely depends on the influx of Ca2+ ions. The apparent insensitivity to Ni2+ shows that additional distinct mechanisms also operate in the vasconstrictor responses to high concentrations of endothelin-1 and endothelin-2. 7. The presence of endothelin-like immunoreactivity in endothelial cells suggests that endothelin is a potential endogenous spasmogen.

Animals↗

Delayed traumatic intracerebellar hematoma: correlation between the location of the hematoma and the pre-existing cerebellar contusion--case report.

A rare case of delayed traumatic intracerebellar hematoma (DTIC1H) in a 54-year-old male achieved an excellent outcome without surgery. Analysis of this case and other reported cases suggests that DTIC1H occurs in two types: Group I with hematoma developing in previously contused areas, and Group II with hematoma developing in areas appearing normal on the initial computed tomographic scan. Group I hematomas occurred in the cerebellar cortex, but Group II hematomas occurred in the subcortical region or vermis where direct impact is less likely to have an effect. This suggests different mechanisms of development for DTIC1H.

Brain Concussion↗

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm by actinomycin D.

The role of endothelin, a newly found vasoconstrictor peptide, is examined in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the dog. Endothelin immunoreactivity was overexpressed in the endothelium of the vasospastic basilar artery. Because endothelin synthesis is regulated at the messenger ribonucleic acid transcription level, the effect of actinomycin D, a ribonucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, was studied as a means of preventing vasospasm. It was found that treatment with intravenous actinomycin D for 5 days beginning on the day of SAH completely inhibited the development of vasospasm. This novel experimental therapy may lead not only to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm but also to the availability of a prophylactic adjuvant therapy for patients with SAH.

Animals↗

Amelioration of delayed neuronal death in the hippocampus by nerve growth factor.

Selective neuronal death in the CA1 sector of the hippocampus [delayed neuronal death (DND)] develops several days after transient global cerebral ischemia in rodents. Because NGF plays a potential role in neuronal survival, it was decided to study its effect in DND. We report here that intraventricular injection of NGF either before or after 5 min forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil significantly reduced the occurrence of DND. The tissue content of NGF in the hippocampus was decreased 2 d after ischemia and recovered to the preischemic level by 1 week. By the Golgi staining technique, changes first began in the dendrites of affected neurons as early as 3 hr. Such changes could be ameliorated by NGF treatment. Although previous knowledge of NGF is limited to the survival of cholinergic neurons in the CNS, it is assumed that other mechanisms must be operating in the hippocampus, for example, postsynaptic modification at dendrites or aberrant expression of NGF receptors possibly at the initial excitation period by glutamate. Furthermore, because previous work has shown that inhibition of protein synthesis reduces the occurrence of DND, a program leading to cell death might also be operating via de novo synthesis of certain protein(s), collectively termed "killer protein," because of a lack of NGF.

Animals↗

Reduction of delayed neuronal death by inhibition of protein synthesis.

Brief forebrain ischemia in rodents causes delayed neuronal death selectively in the CA1 pyramidal cells of hippocampus. Treatment with a reversible protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, significantly reduced the occurrence of delayed neuronal death in the Mongolian gerbil. This result indicates that de novo synthesis of certain protein(s), collectively termed 'killer protein' is required, possibly due to deprivation of nerve growth factor or other trophic factors.

Animals↗

Effect of recombinant human lipocortin I on brain oedema in a rat glioma model.

Glucocorticoids have been extensively used to treat brain oedema, but little is known on the mechanisms of steroids in the prevention and resolution of tumour-induced brain oedema. Recently, the mechanism of steroid action is thought to involve synthesis of proteins with antiphospholipase activity called lipocortins. In a previous study, we have demonstrated the efficacy of dexamethasone (DEX) in resolving peritumoural oedema in a rat glioma model. Using the same model, we studied the effect of recombinant human lipocortin I on the resolution of peritumoural oedema. Intracerebral tumours were produced in 6-week-old Wistar rats by implantation of rat glioma C6 cells. In comparison with sham-operated controls, the tumour-implanted animals showed significant increase in the cortical water content, which was reduced by DEX administration to the level in the sham-operated controls. The water content within the tumour was also significantly decreased by DEX treatment. On the other hand, there was no difference in water content between lipocortin-treated and non-treated animals. These findings suggest that tumour-induced brain oedema can be reduced by DEX treatment but not by lipocortin. In conclusion, it is doubtful whether glucocorticoids exert their action in resolving brain oedema by inducing PLA2 inhibitory proteins named lipocortins.

Animals↗

A new vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin: profiles as vasoconstrictor and neuropeptide.

Endothelin was predictably found to be one of the endothelium-derived contraction factors (EDCFs) with the aid of advanced protein technology. It is the most potent and long-lasting vasoconstrictor peptide known to date. By analysis of the amino acid sequence, modern gene technology has made it possible to find isopeptides. These isopeptides, namely the endothelin family composed of endothelin-1, -2, and -3, have made and are achieving a breakthrough in every field of physiology and pathology. In the central nervous system, they act not only as a vasoconstrictor but also as a neuropeptide, in particular endothelin-1 and -3. Here we overview the findings obtained over the past 2 years since its discovery, and look to future progress.

Animals↗

The role of free radicals and eicosanoids in the pathogenetic mechanism underlying ischemic brain edema.

Results of our consecutive study on the pathogenic mechanism underlying ischemic brain edema are summarized in this paper. Pertinent findings are as follows: (1) there is a close correlation between the influxes of water and sodium following ischemia; (2) the edema fluid can be regarded as the ultrafiltrate of serum; (3) there is a significant increase in the brain content of HETEs following ischemia; (4) the lipoxygenase activity of brain microvessels is increased following ischemia; (5) the lipoxygenase activity as well as the Na+, K+-ATPase activity of brain microvessels are enhanced by a hydroperoxide, 15-HPETE; (6) inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase of brain microvessels by intraarterial infusion of ouabain resulted in a significant decrease in edema formation; and (7) not the cyclooxygenase, but the lipoxygenase pathway seems to be involved in the enhancement of microvessel Na+, K+-ATPase. Lipoxygenase(s) and Na+-K+-ATPase of brain microvessels, the activities of which are enhanced by an increased level of free radicals and/or hydroperoxides, may play a significant role in the occurrence of ischemic brain edema.

Animals↗

Endothelin-1 acts in cerebral arteries from the adventitial but not from the luminal side.

The in vivo vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) was investigated on feline and canine basilar arteries. The basilar artery caliber was angiographically measured after either vertebral artery perfusion or cisternal injection of the peptide. In both cats and dogs, ET-1 (5-500 pmol) induced a dose-dependent basilar artery contraction in vivo when applied intracisternally. The vasoconstriction was extremely long lasting; no significant recovery of vessel caliber was observed up to 12 h after injection. In contrast, bolus injection of ET-1 up to 3 nmol into the vertebral artery had no appreciable effect on the basilar artery caliber. These observations suggest that ET-1 acts in cerebral vessels from the adventitial but not from the luminal side, possibly due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier. The long-lasting nature of the ET-1-induced constriction of the cerebral arteries in vivo suggests that the peptide might be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.

Animals↗

Endothelin acts in feline and canine cerebral arteries from the adventitial side.

We investigated the in vivo vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin, a recently characterized vasoconstrictor peptide from vascular endothelium, in the basilar arteries of five cats and five dogs. Basilar artery caliber was angiographically measured under anesthesia before (control) and after either vertebral artery infusion or cisternal injection of the peptide. In cats, 5-500 pmol endothelin induced a dose-dependent basilar artery contraction in vivo when injected intracisternally; within 3 minutes after injection of 500 pmol endothelin, basilar artery caliber was decreased by 73 +/- 4% compared with control diameter before injection. The vasoconstriction was extremely long-lasting; no significant recovery of basilar artery caliber was observed for up to 2 hours after injection. In contrast, infusion of up to 3,000 pmol endothelin into the vertebral artery had no appreciable effect on basilar artery caliber. Similar results were obtained in dogs; vasoconstriction was maintained for as long as 12 hours. Our observations suggest that endothelin acts in cerebral vessels from the adventitial side, not from the luminal side, possibly due to the presence of the blood-arterial wall barrier. The long-lasting nature of endothelin-induced constriction of the cerebral arteries in vivo suggests that the peptide might be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.

Animals↗

Prostaglandin profiles in relation to local circulatory changes following focal cerebral ischemia in cats.

We explored the temporal and topographic relations between local cerebral blood flow and regional brain prostaglandin profile following prolonged or transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in cats. Each experimental group was subjected to a sham operation, prolonged ischemia, or recirculation. Local cerebral blood flow was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. Following in situ freezing, cortical samples were obtained from each gyrus for determination of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane (TX) B2 concentrations by radioimmunoassay. During prolonged ischemia, the concentrations of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 within the middle cerebral artery territory were significantly increased. Immediately after recirculation, there was a prominent but transient increase in PGF2 alpha and PGE2 in gyri that had been exposed to moderate ischemia (perifocal area). By contrast, the increases in these prostaglandins were slow and less prominent in gyri that had been exposed to severe ischemia (the focal area). The concentration of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha did not change during prolonged ischemia but transiently increased following recirculation in both the focal and perifocal areas. The TXB2 concentration did not change in any experimental group. Our study revealed a homogeneous increase in the regional brain content of PGE2 or PGF2 alpha in spite of the heterogeneous reduction of local cerebral blood flow during prolonged ischemia. Following recirculation, the focal and perifocal areas exhibited different patterns of prostanoid content. No correlation was found between local cerebral blood flow and the regional concentration of any prostaglandin examined.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Effect of enhanced capillary activity on the blood-brain barrier during focal cerebral ischemia in cats.

We hypothesize that enhanced activity of capillary Na,K-ATPase promotes Na+ influx into the brain and causes early edema formation in focal cerebral ischemia. The pharmacologic suppression of brain capillary Na,K-ATPase as a means to ameliorate edema formation was examined using the middle cerebral artery occlusion model in 36 cats. With the help of a catheter inserted into the middle cerebral artery, the ischemic brain area was directly perfused with 10(-5) M ouabain. Perfusion was maintained as intermittent 15-second pulse injections given every 5 (n = 6) or 2 (n = 6) minutes. By this method, the naturally occurring circulatory conditions during ischemia were not altered. Four hours after ischemia, the cortical specific gravity at each of six locations over the ischemic area was compared with the corresponding ischemic blood flow measured by the H2 clearance technique. The results show that ouabain perfused every 2 minutes significantly ameliorated edema formation compared with six control cats perfused with Krebs-Ringer solution. In a separate series of experiments, the Na+ flux across the blood-brain barrier was studied by injecting 22NaCl together with an intravascular reference (cobalt-57-labeled microspheres 15 microns in diameter) into the ischemic area. The brain uptake index of 22Na was markedly increased in the ischemic cortex of six control cats; ouabain treatment in six cats suppressed the increase of Na+ influx. The results support our hypothesis that brain capillary Na,K-ATPase activity increases during early focal ischemia, leading to enhanced Na+ together with H2O flux across the blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗