Vascular wall dysfunction in JCR:LA-cp rats: effects of age and insulin resistance

We tested thehypothesis that aging and insulin resistance interact to increasevascular dysfunction by comparing the function of isolated mesentericresistance arteries in obese, insulin-resistant JCR:LA-cp rats andlean, insulin-sensitive rats of the same strain at 3, 6, 9, and 12 moof age. The peak constrictor responses to norepinephrine,phenylephrine, and high potassium were elevated in arteries from obeserats. Responses to these agents increased with age in both obese andlean rats. An eicosanoid constrictor contributed substantially tovasoconstriction in the arteries from both lean and obese animals.Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase increased the vasoconstrictorresponse to norepinephrine in both obese and lean rats. This effectincreased with age in lean rats only. Vascular relaxation in responseto acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside was impaired in the obeserats and did not alter with age. The results suggest that obeseJCR:LA-cp rats have enhanced maximal constriction, which originates inthe arterial smooth muscle and increases with age. There is evidencethat the ability of the arteries to compensate for the enhancedcontractility is impaired in obese rats, particularly with advanced age.

     

Modulation of noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction in isolated perfused mesenteric arterial beds from obese Zucker rats in the presence and absence of insulin

The genetically obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) is an insulin-resistant animal model with early-onset severe hyperinsulinemia that eventually develops mild hypertension. Thus, it represents a model in which the effect of hyperinsulinemia - insulin resistance associated with hypertension on vascular reactivity can be examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins to reactivity to noradrenaline (NA) in the presence and absence of insulin in mesenteric arterial beds (MAB) from 25-week-old obese Zucker rats and their lean, gender-matched littermates. In the absence of insulin, bolus injection of NA (0.9-90 nmol) produced a dose-dependent increase in perfusion pressure in MAB from both lean and obese rats. Although there was no significant difference in NA pD2 (-log ED50) values, the maximum response of MAB from obese rats to NA was slightly but significantly reduced compared with that of MAB from lean rats. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 300 microM) enhanced and indomethacin (20 microM) inhibited pressor responses to NA in MAB from both obese and lean rats. Perfusion with insulin (200 mU/L, a level similar to that in obese rats in vivo) potentiated only the responses of the obese MAB to the two lowest doses of NA tested (0.9 and 3 nmol). In the presence of L-NMMA, insulin further potentiated the NA response in MAB from obese rats. Indomethacin, the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ 29548 (0.3 microM), and the nonselective endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonist bosentan (3 microM) all abolished insulin potentiation of the NA response in obese MAB. These data suggest that concurrent release of NO and vasoconstrictor cyclooxygenase product(s) in MAB from both obese and lean Zucker rats normally regulates NA-induced vasoconstrictor responses. Furthermore, insulin increases the release of contracting cyclooxygenase product(s) and enhances reactivity to low doses of NA in MAB from obese rats. The effects of insulin may be partially mediated by ET-1 via ET receptors and are buffered to some extent by concomitant NO release. This altered action of insulin may play a role in hypertension in this hyperinsulinemic - insulin-resistant model.     

Estrogen has opposing effects on vascular reactivity in obese, insulin-resistant male Zucker rats.

We hypothesized that estradiol treatment would improve vascular dysfunction commonly associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. A sham operation or 17beta-estradiol pellet implantation was performed in male lean and obese Zucker rats. Maximal vasoconstriction (VC) to phenylephrine (PE) and potassium chloride was exaggerated in control obese rats compared with lean rats, but estradiol significantly attenuated VC in the obese rats. Estradiol reduced the PE EC50 in all groups. This effect was cyclooxygenase independent, because preincubation with indomethacin reduced VC response to PE similarly in a subset of control and estrogen-treated lean rats. Endothelium-independent vasodilation (VD) to sodium nitroprusside was similar among groups, but endothelium-dependent VD to ACh was significantly impaired in obese compared with lean rats. Estradiol improved VD in lean and obese rats by decreasing EC50 but impaired function by decreasing maximal VD. The shift in EC50 corresponded to an upregulation in nitric oxide synthase III protein expression in the aorta of the estrogen-treated obese rats. In summary, estrogen treatment improves vascular function in male insulin-resistant, obese rats, partially via an upregulation of nitric oxide synthase III protein expression. These effects are counteracted by adverse factors, such as hyperlipidemia and, potentially, a release of an endothelium-derived contractile agent.     

Enhanced AT1 receptor-mediated vasocontractile response to ANG II in endothelium-denuded aorta of obese Zucker rats

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that ANG II causes a greater vasoconstriction in obese Zucker rats, a model of type 2 diabetes, with mild hypertension. Measurement of isometric tension in isolated aortic rings with intact endothelium revealed a modest but not significantly greater ANG II-induced contraction in obese than lean rats. Removal of endothelium or inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) enhanced 1) ANG II-induced contraction in both lean and obese rats, being significantly greater in obese rats (E(max) g/g tissue, denuded: lean 572 +/- 40 vs. obese 664 +/- 16; L-NAME: lean 535 +/- 14 vs. obese 818 +/- 23) and 2) ANG II sensitivity in obese compared with lean rats, as revealed by the pD(2) values. Endothelin-1 and KCl elicited similar contractions in the aortic rings of lean and obese rats. ACh, a NO-dependent relaxing hormone, produced greater relaxation in the aortic rings of obese than lean rats, whereas sodium nitroprusside, an NO donor, elicited similar relaxations in both rat strains. The expression of the ANG type 1 (AT(1)) receptor protein and mRNA in the endothelium-intact aorta was significantly greater in obese than lean rats, whereas the endothelium-denuded rings expressed modest but not significantly greater levels of AT(1) receptors in obese than lean rats. The endothelial NO synthase protein and mRNA expression levels were higher in the aorta of obese than lean animals. We conclude that, although ANG II produces greater vasoconstriction in obese rat aortic rings, enhanced endothelial AT(1) receptor-mediated NO production appears to counteract the increased ANG II-induced vasoconstriction, suggesting that arterial AT(1) receptor may not be a contributing factor to hypertension in this model of obesity.     

Nitric oxide mediates hyperphagia of obese zucker rats: Relation to specific changes in the microstructure of feeding behavior

The presence of a nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) was demonstrated in the rat brain. It has been demonstrated recently that NOS-inhibitors reduce food intake in mammals and this suggest that nitric oxide (NO) might be a physiological mediator involved in the mechanisms controlling feeding behavior. Actually, there is no information about the acute central and peripheral effects of NOSinhibitors on feeding behavior in obese an lean Zucker rats. That is why we investigated the acute dose-dependent activity of N^G-Nitro-Arginine-Methyl-Ester (L-NAME) on food intake and feeding behavior in these rats. When given peripherally in the obese rats, L-NAME produced a dosedependent decrease in food intake (p < 0.001). The calculated MED and the ED 50 were 0.50 mg/kg IP and 3.46 mg/kg IP, respectively. These effects could not be reproduced in the lean Zucker rats whatever the dose used (p = 0.59). The anorectic properties of L-NAME were wery well translated into the microstructure of the feeding behavior. Time spent to eat (p < 0.001), meal duration (p < 0.01) and meal number (p < 0.001) were reduced in the obese rats. Interestingly, L-NAME produced the same effects in the lean rats, but meal size increased in a compensatory manner. Central administration of L-NAME reproduced the same effects in the obese rats, but lean rats still remained insensitive. Central aminergic and/or peptidergic defects associated with the expression of hyperphagia might explain the differences observed between these lean and the obese animals. These results indicate a role of nitric oxide in the expression of hyperphagia and show that it might be a physiological mediator involved in the mechanisms controlling feeding behavior.     

Fatty liver and insulin resistance in obese Zucker rats: no role for mitochondrial dysfunction

The relationship between insulin resistance and mitochondrial function is of increasing interest. Studies looking for such interactions are usually made in muscle and only a few studies have been done in liver, which is known to be a crucial partner in whole body insulin action. Recent studies have revealed a similar mechanism to that of muscle for fat-induced insulin resistance in liver. However, the exact mechanism of lipid metabolites accumulation in liver leading to insulin resistance is far from being elucidated. One of the hypothetical mechanisms for liver steatosis development is an impairment of mitochondrial function. We examined mitochondrial function in fatty liver and insulin resistance state using isolated mitochondria from obese Zucker rats. We determined the relationship between ATP synthesis and oxygen consumption as well as the relationship between mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption. In order to evaluate the quantity of mitochondria and the oxidative capacity we measured citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase activities. Results showed that despite significant fatty liver and hyperinsulinemia, isolated liver mitochondria from obese Zucker rats display no difference in oxygen consumption, ATP synthesis, and membrane potential compared with lean Zucker rats. There was no difference in citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase activities between obese and lean Zucker rats in isolated mitochondria as well as in liver homogenate, indicating a similar relative amount of hepatic mitochondria and a similar oxidative capacity. Adiponectin, which is involved in bioenergetic homeostasis, was increased two-fold in obese Zucker rats despite insulin resistance. In conclusion, isolated liver mitochondria from lean and obese insulin-resistant Zucker rats showed strictly the same mitochondrial function. It remains to be elucidated whether adiponectin increase is involved in these results.     

Role of nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in the regulation of blood pressure by leptin in lean and obese rats

We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in hemodynamic action of leptin. The effect of leptin (1 mg/kg i.p.) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) was examined in lean rats and in rats made obese by feeding highly palatable diet for either 1 or 3 months. Separate groups received NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, or EDHF inhibitors, the mixture of apamin+charybdotoxin or sulfaphenazole, before leptin administration. Leptin increased NO production, as evidenced by increase in plasma and urinary NO metabolites and cyclic GMP. This effect was impaired in both obese groups. In lean rats either leptin or EDHF inhibitors had no effect on blood pressure. L-NAME increased blood pressure in lean animals and this effect was prevented by leptin. However, when leptin was administered to animals pretreated with both L-NAME and EDHF inhibitors, blood pressure increased even more than after L-NAME alone. In the 1-month obese group leptin had no effect on SBP, however, pressor effect of leptin was observed in animals pretreated with EDHF inhibitors. In the 3-month obese group leptin alone increased SBP, and EDHF inhibitors did not augment its pressor effect. The results suggest that leptin may stimulate EDHF when NO becomes deficient, e.g. after NOS blockade or in short-term obesity. Although the effect of leptin on NO production is impaired in the 1-month obese group, BP does not increase, probably because EDHF compensates for NO deficiency. In contrast, leptin increases BP in 3-month obesity because its effect on EDHF is also attenuated.     

Nitric oxide regulation of lingual blood flow in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of nitric oxide in the maintenance of basal lingual blood flow in the anesthetized rat. By using laser-Doppler flowmetry, blood flow was measured from the tongue before and after treatment with the nonselective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, L-NAME (0.2, 2.0, and 20 mg/kg), or the selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (40 mg/kg). Other groups of rats were treated with saline, D-NAME (2.0 mg/kg), L-arginine (200 mg/kg), L-arginine + L-NAME (200 + 2.0 mg/kg), or the 7-nitroindazole vehicle. L-NAME produced a dose-related depression in blood flow in the tongue (concurrent with increased arterial blood pressure), which was attenuated by prior administration of L-arginine. Lingual blood flow depression was not seen after administration of the inactive stereoisomer, D-NAME. In addition, the neuronally specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole, failed to produce a significant depression of lingual blood flow. These results suggest that the tonic release of nitric oxide from the vascular endothelium plays an important role in maintaining basal blood flow in the tongue and that neuronally released nitric oxide is not involved in maintaining basal circulation in this vascular bed.     

Exercise training enhances flow-mediated dilation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study investigated the effect of exercise training on the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in gastrocnemius muscle arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR and WKY rats were divided into sedentary and exercised groups. After swimming exercise for eight weeks, the isolated arteries were mounted on pressurized myograph and FMD responses examined. The role of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGs) and endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) on FMD were assessed by obtaining dilation responses in the presence and absence of pharmacological antagonists. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indomethacin (INDO) and tetraethylamonium (TEA) were used to inhibit nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase and EDHF-mediated responses, respectively. The FMD response was significantly blunted in arteries of SHR compared with WKY rats, and, improved by exercise training in SHR (SHR-ET) group. In SHR arteries, L NAME and TEA did not affect dilation responses to flow, while INDO led to a significant enhancement in this response. Although dilation response was not altered by L-NAME in arteries obtained from trained SHR, TEA caused a significant attenuation and INDO led to significant increases. These results demonstrate that exercise training improves FMD in SHR, and, this enhancement induced by exercise training occurs through EDHF-mediated mechanism(s).     

Obesity, insulin resistance, and skeletal muscle nitric oxide synthase

The molecular mechanisms responsible for impaired insulin action have yet to be fully identified. Rodent models demonstrate a strong relationship between insulin resistance and an elevation in skeletal muscle inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression; the purpose of this investigation was to explore this potential relationship in humans. Sedentary men and women were recruited to participate (means ± SE: nonobese, body mass index = 25.5 ± 0.3 kg/m(2), n = 13; obese, body mass index = 36.6 ± 0.4 kg/m(2), n = 14). Insulin sensitivity was measured using an intravenous glucose tolerance test with the subsequent modeling of an insulin sensitivity index (S(I)). Skeletal muscle was obtained from the vastus lateralis, and iNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) content were determined by Western blot. S(I) was significantly lower in the obese compared with the nonobese group (～43%; P < 0.05), yet skeletal muscle iNOS protein expression was not different between nonobese and obese groups. Skeletal muscle eNOS protein was significantly higher in the nonobese than the obese group, and skeletal muscle nNOS protein tended to be higher (P = 0.054) in the obese compared with the nonobese group. Alternative analysis based on S(I) (high and low tertile) indicated that the most insulin-resistant group did not have significantly more skeletal muscle iNOS protein than the most insulin-sensitive group. In conclusion, human insulin resistance does not appear to be associated with an elevation in skeletal muscle iNOS protein in middle-aged individuals under fasting conditions.     

Antiphase oscillations of endothelium and smooth muscle [Ca2+]i in vasomotion of rat mesenteric small arteries

The mechanisms leading to vasomotion in the presence of noradrenaline and inhibitors of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase were investigated in isolated rat mesenteric small arteries. Isobaric diameter and isometric force were measured together with membrane potential in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMC). Calcium in the endothelial cells and SMC was imaged with confocal microscopy. In the presence of noradrenaline and cyclopiazonic acid, ryanodine-insensitive oscillations in tone were produced. The frequency was about 1 min(-1) and amplitude about 70% of the maximal tone. The amplitude was reduced by indomethacin and increased with L-NAME. Vasomotion was inhibited by nifedipine and by 40 mM potassium. The frequency was increased and amplitude decreased by removal of the endothelium and by application of charybdotoxin and apamin. The vasomotion was associated with in-phase oscillations of membrane potential in endothelial cells and SMC and oscillations of [Ca2+]i that were in near anti-phase. We suggest a working model for the generation of oscillation based on a membrane oscillator where ion channels in both endothelial cells and SMC interact via a current running between the two cell types through myoendothelial gap junctions, which sets up a near anti-phase oscillation of [Ca2+]i in the two cell types.     

Dietary obesity increases NO and inhibits BKCa-mediated, endothelium-dependent dilation in rat cremaster muscle artery: association with caveolins and caveolae

Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension and other vascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of diet-induced obesity on endothelium-dependent dilation of rat cremaster muscle arterioles. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (213 ± 1 g) were fed a cafeteria-style high-fat or control diet for 16-20 wk. Control rats weighed 558 ± 7 g compared with obese rats 762 ± 12 g (n = 52-56; P < 0.05). Diet-induced obesity had no effect on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced dilation of isolated, pressurized (70 mmHg) arterioles, but sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced vasodilation was enhanced. ACh-induced dilation of arterioles from control rats was abolished by a combination of the K(Ca) blockers apamin, 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34), and iberiotoxin (IBTX; all 0.1 μmol/l), with no apparent role for nitric oxide (NO). In arterioles from obese rats, however, IBTX had no effect on responses to ACh while the NO synthase (NOS)/guanylate cyclase inhibitors N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 μmol/l)/1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 μmol/l) partially inhibited ACh-induced dilation. Furthermore, NOS activity (but not endothelial NOS expression) was increased in arteries from obese rats. L-NAME/ODQ alone or removal of the endothelium constricted arterioles from obese but not control rats. Expression of caveolin-1 and -2 oligomers (but not monomers or caveolin-3) was increased in arterioles from obese rats. The number of caveolae was reduced in the endothelium of arteries, and caveolae density was increased at the ends of smooth muscle cells from obese rats. Diet-induced obesity abolished the contribution of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel to ACh-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation of rat cremaster muscle arterioles, while increasing NOS activity and inducing an NO-dependent component.     

Differential vulnerability of skeletal muscle feed arteries to dysfunction in insulin resistance: impact of fiber type and daily activity

Functional and structural heterogeneity exists among skeletal muscle vascular beds related, in part, to muscle fiber type composition. This study was designed to delineate whether the vulnerability to vascular dysfunction in insulin resistance is uniformly distributed among skeletal muscle vasculatures and whether physical activity modifies this vulnerability. Obese, hyperphagic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats (20 wk old) were sedentary (OSED) or physically active (OPA; access to running wheels) and compared with age-matched sedentary Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LSED) rats. Vascular responses were determined in isolated, pressurized feed arteries from fast-twitch gastrocnemius (GFAs) and slow-twitch soleus (SFAs) muscles. OSED animals were obese, insulin resistant, and hypertriglyceridemic, traits absent in LSED and OPA rats. GFAs from OSED animals exhibited depressed dilation to ACh, but not sodium nitroprusside, and enhanced vasoconstriction to endothelin-1 (ET-1), but not phenylephrine, compared with those in LSED. Immunoblot analysis suggests reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation at Ser1177 and endothelin subtype A receptor expression in OSED GFAs. Physical activity prevented reduced nitric oxide-dependent dilation to ACh, but not enhanced ET-1 vasoconstriction, in GFA from OPA animals. Conversely, vasoreactivity of SFAs to ACh and ET-1 were principally similar in all groups, whereas dilation to sodium nitroprusside was enhanced in OSED and OPA rats. These data demonstrate, for the first time, that SFAs from insulin-resistant rats exhibit reduced vulnerability to dysfunction versus GFAs and that physical activity largely prevents GFA dysfunction. We conclude that these results demonstrate that vascular dysfunction associated with insulin resistance is heterogeneously distributed across skeletal muscle vasculatures related, in part, to muscle fiber type and activity level.     

Insulin resistance does not diminish eNOS expression, phosphorylation, or binding to HSP-90

Previously, using an animal model of syndrome X, the obese Zucker rat (OZR), we documented impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The aim of this study was to determine whether reduced expression or altered posttranslational regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) underlies the vascular dysfunction in OZR rats. There was no significant difference in the relative abundance of eNOS in hearts, aortas, or skeletal muscle between lean Zucker rats (LZR) and OZR regardless of age. There was no difference in eNOS mRNA levels, as determined by real-time PCR, between LZR and OZR. The inability of insulin resistance to modulate eNOS expression was also documented in two additional in vivo models, the ob/ob mouse and the fructose-fed rat, and in vitro via adenoviral expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in endothelial cells. We next investigated whether changes in the acute posttranslational regulation of eNOS occurs with insulin resistance. Phosphorylation of eNOS at S632 (human S633) and T494 was not different between LZR and OZR; however, phosphorylation of S1176 was significantly enhanced in OZR. Phosphorylation of S1176 was not different in the ob/ob mouse or in fructose-fed rats. The association of heat shock protein 90 with eNOS, a key regulatory step controlling nitric oxide and aberrant O2- production, was not different between OZR and LZR. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in eNOS expression or posttranslation regulation do not underlie the vascular dysfunction seen with insulin resistance and that other mechanisms, such as altered localization, reduced availability of cofactors, substrates, and the elevated production of O2-, may be responsible.     

The Inhibitory Effects of Nω-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester on Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity Vary Among Brain Regions in Vivo but Not in Vitro

We studied the effects of intracerebroventricular and intraperitoneal injection and the in vitro effects of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on the nitric oxide synthase activities of the cerebellum, brainstem, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the remainder of the brain after dissections. Male rats were chronically implanted with lateral icv guide cannula. L-NAME was injected in doses of 0.2, 1, and 5 mg intracerebroventricularly, and 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally. L-NAME induced dose-dependent suppression of NOS activities in each brain region. The threshold dose was 0.2 mg; 1 mg L-NAME completely abolished brain nitric oxide synthase activity 90 min after the injection. Brain NOS activities returned to baseline level 48 h after the injection of 5 mg L-NAME. There were significant differences between the sensitivity of various regions to L-NAME after in vivo but not in vitro administration of the enzyme inhibitor. These findings indicate that intracerebroventricular injection of L-NAME is a useful tool for inhibiting brain nitric oxide synthase activities in vivo. The differences between the sensitivity of different brain regions to L-NAME as well as the relative fast recovery of nitric oxide synthase activities must be taken into account when L-NAME is administered intracerebroventricularly to rats.     

Impaired nitric oxide synthase-dependent dilatation of cerebral arterioles in type II diabetic rats

The goals of this study were to determine the effects of type II diabetes mellitus on nitric oxide synthase-dependent responses of cerebral arterioles and on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein in cerebral arterioles. We examined dilatation of cerebral (pial) arterioles in 13-15 week old male lean and diabetic obese Zucker rats in response to nitric oxide synthase-dependent agonists (acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)) and a nitric oxide synthase-independent agonist (nitroglycerin). We found that acetylcholine (10 microM) increased cerebral arteriolar diameter by 10 +/- 3% (mean +/- SE) in lean Zucker rats, but by only 2 +/- 2% in diabetic obese Zucker rats (p<0.05). In addition, ADP (100 microM) increased cerebral arteriolar diameter by 20 +/- 2% in lean Zucker rats, but by only 8 +/- 2% in diabetic obese Zucker rats (p<0.05). In contrast, nitroglycerin produced similar vasodilatation in lean and diabetic obese Zucker rats. Thus, impaired dilatation of cerebral arterioles in diabetic obese Zucker rats is not related to non-specific impairment of vasodilatation. Following these functional studies, we harvested cerebral microvessels for Western blot analysis of eNOS protein. We found that eNOS protein was significantly higher in diabetic obese Zucker rats than in lean Zucker rats (p<0.05). Thus, type II diabetes mellitus impairs nitric oxide synthase-dependent responses of cerebral arterioles. In addition, eNOS protein from cerebral blood vessels is increased in diabetic obese Zucker rats.     

Vascular adaptations to pregnancy in mice: effects on myogenic tone

The mechanisms underlying vascular adaptations in pregnancy remain to be fully elucidated. One of the contributory mechanisms for reduced vascular tone may be a reduction of myogenic tone. Myogenic tone was assessed as the difference between internal diameter in the presence and absence of external calcium at different intramural pressure steps (60-100 mmHg). Myogenic responses were reduced in resistance-sized mesenteric and main uterine arteries in late pregnant compared with nonpregnant C57BL/6J mice. In vessels from pregnant, but not nonpregnant mice, the myogenic response was enhanced by preincubation with nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, was further elevated by the gap junction inhibitor 18-alpha glycyrrhetinic acid, but was unaltered by the prostaglandin H synthase inhibitor meclofenamate. Endothelium removal enhanced myogenic tone only in the vessels from pregnant animals, thus confirming the role of the endothelium in modulating myogenic tone in pregnancy. These results suggest that endothelium-derived NO as well as gap junction communications modulate myogenic tone in mouse pregnancy.     

Apelin对大鼠离体肺动脉环的舒张作用及与一氧化氮的关系

目的：探讨新的小分子活性肽Apelin对大鼠离体肺动脉环的舒张作用及与一氧化氮（NO）途径的关系,并比较低氧大鼠的肺动脉环对Apelin的舒张反应与正常大鼠的差异。方法：36只大鼠随机分为正常组与低氧组;采用离体血管环灌流法,检测Apelin对去甲肾上腺素（NE）预收缩的大鼠离体肺主动脉环的舒张效应,观察去内皮或用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂（L-NAME）、可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶（sGC）抑制剂（ODQ）孵育后该舒张率的变化。结果：①在正常组大鼠肺动脉环,Apelin（0.01~100 nmol/L）具有浓度依赖性的舒张效应。去除内皮后,Apelin对NE预先收缩的肺血管舒张效应明显减弱（P〈0.01）。L-NAME或ODQ预孵育后,Apelin的舒张效应均明显减弱（P均〈0.01）。②低氧组大鼠的肺动脉环对Apelin的舒张反应明显低于正常组大鼠,在最大浓度100 nmol/L时,Apelin的效应低60.45%（P〈0.01）,而两组EC50相比差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。结论：Apelin具有内皮依赖性的舒张肺动脉环的作用,该效应与NO-sGC-cGMP信号途径有关;低氧大鼠的离体肺动脉环对Apelin的舒张反应减弱。     

Impaired insulin-induced vasodilation in small coronary arteries of Zucker obese rats is mediated by reactive oxygen species

Insulin resistance (IR) and associated hyperinsulinemia are major risk factors for coronary artery disease. Mechanisms linking hyperinsulinemia to coronary vascular dysfunction in IR are unclear. We evaluated insulin-induced vasodilation in isolated small coronary arteries (SCA; approximately 225 microm) of Zucker obese (ZO) and control Zucker lean (ZL) rats. Vascular responses to insulin (0.1-100 ng/ml), ACh (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/l), and sodium nitroprusside (10(-8)-10(-4) mol/l) were assessed in SCA by measurement of intraluminal diameter using videomicroscopy. Insulin-induced dilation was decreased in ZO compared with ZL rats, whereas ACh and sodium nitroprusside elicited similar vasodilations. Pretreatment of arteries with SOD (200 U/ml), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), restored the vasorelaxation response to insulin in ZO arteries, whereas ZL arteries were unaffected. Pretreatment of SCA with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 micromol/l), an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS), elicited a vasoconstrictor response to insulin that was greater in ZO than in ZL rats. This vasoconstrictor response was reversed to vasodilation in ZO and ZL rats by cotreatment of the SCA with SOD or apocynin (10 micromol/l), a specific inhibitor of vascular NADPH oxidase. Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence showed increased basal ROS levels as well as insulin (330 ng/ml)-stimulated production of ROS in ZO arteries that was sensitive to inhibition by apocynin. Western blot analysis revealed increased eNOS expression in ZO rats, whereas Mn SOD and Cu,Zn SOD expression were similar to ZL rats. Thus IR in ZO rats leads to decreased insulin-induced vasodilation, probably as a result of increased production of ROS by vascular NADPH oxidase, leading to decreased NO bioavailability, despite a compensatory increase in eNOS expression.     

Ultrastructural localization of nitric oxide synthase and endothelin in coronary and pulmonary arteries of newborn rats

This is the first report on the ultrastructural distribution of nitric oxide synthase and endothelin immunoreactivities in the coronary and pulmonary arteries of newborn Wistar rats. The distribution of nitric oxide synthase and endothelin was investigated using pre-embedding peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemistry. In both arteries examined, positive labelling for nitric oxide synthase was localized both in the endothelium and smooth muscle, whereas positive labelling for endothelin was localized in the endothelium exclusively. In the coronary artery, approximately 80% and 55% of the endothelial cells examined were positive for nitric oxide synthase and endothelin, respectively, whereas in the pulmonary artery, 77% and 60% of the endothelial cells were positive for nitric oxide synthase and endothelin, respectively. These findings indicate that nitric oxide synthase and endothelin are colocalized in some of the endothelial cells of the newborn rat. In the endothelium, nitric oxide synthase and endothelin immunoreactivities were distributed throughout the cell cytoplasm and in association with the membranes of intracellular organelles. In smooth muscle, a relationship of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity to endoplasmic reticulum was observed in the pulmonary artery. In summary, in the newborn rat, endothelial cells of the coronary and pulmonary artery are rich in nitric oxide synthase (neuronal isoform) and endothelin, and it is suggested therefore that they may be substantially involved in vasomotor control of the cardiac and pulmonary circulation during early stages of postnatal development.