Effects of Rho-kinase inhibitor on vasopressin-induced chronic myocardial damage in rats

The aim of this study was to develop a new model of vasopressin-induced chronic myocardial damage based on sustained ST-segment depression in electrocardiogram (ECG) with progression of myocardial fibrosis in rats. Furthermore, using this model, we examined the prophylactic potential of fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, against myocardial damage induced by vasopressin. In 10-week old male Donryu rats, intravenous administration of arginine vasopressin (0.5 iu/kg) induced significant ST-segment depression. Two days and one week after the administration of vasopressin, ST-segment depression was -0.19 +/- 0.02 and -0.14 +/- 0.02 mV, respectively. Fasudil (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly attenuated the ST-segment depression induced by vasopressin. One week after the administration of vasopressin, the percent area of myocardial fibrosis in control animals (0.42 +/- 0.11%, p < 0.01) was significantly greater than that in normal animals (0.05 +/- 0.01%). Fasudil (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly prevented the development of the fibrosis. We present a new model of chronic myocardial damage based on sustained ST-segment depression with progression of myocardial fibrosis in rats, and suggest that this model may be useful to investigate the treatment of chronic angina. Inhibition of Rho-kinase is efficacious in preventing the ECG change and development of fibrosis induced by vasopressin in this model.     

法舒地尔对单纯急性心肌梗死大鼠心肌形态学、心肌酶学及血液流变学的影响

目的:探讨法舒地尔对单纯急性心肌梗死模型大鼠心肌形态学、心肌酶学及血液流变学变化的影响。方法:将40只Wistar大鼠分为空白组、假手术组、治疗组和模型组。治疗组给予法舒地尔0.01 m L/g,股静脉注射,其余各组给予生理盐水。治疗结束后检测各组大鼠心肌形态学、心肌酶学及血液流变学各指标。结果:与其余各组相比,治疗组大鼠各指标均显著改善,空白组与假手术组各指标水平无显著差异(P0.05),治疗组具体表现为:CK、LDH、ASH水平明显降低(P0.05);PAR、PAG水平均明显改善,与模型组相比明显降低;HCT、ESR水平明显降低(P0.05);MIS水平明显下降(P0.05)。结论:法舒地尔能够明显改善单纯急性心肌梗死模型大鼠的心肌形态学、心肌酶学及血液流变学各指标,对临床有指导意义。     

Modification of the detrimental effect of TNF‐α on human endothelial progenitor cells by fasudil and Y27632

Exposure of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) reduced their number and biological activity. Yet, signal transduction events linked to TNF‐α action are still poorly understood. To address this issue, we examined the possible effect of fasudil and Y27632, two inhibitors of Rho kinase pathway, which is involved in endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and in‐ flammation. Results demonstrated that incubation with fasudil starting from 50 μM but not Y27632 determined a dose‐dependent improvement of EPC number during exposure to TNF‐α (P < 0.05 vs. TNF‐α alone). Analysis of the signal transduction pathway activated by TNF‐α revealed that the increased expression of p‐p38 was not significantly altered by fasudil. Instead, fasudil blocked the TNF‐α induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2 (P < 0.05 vs. TNF‐α) as well as the inhibitor of Erk1/2‐specific phosphorylated form, i.e., PD98059 (P < 0.05 vs. TNF‐α). These results were confirmed by analysis of these kinases by confocal microscopy. Finally, 2D‐DIGE and MALDI‐TOF/TOF analysis of EPCs treated with fasudil revealed increased expression levels of an actin‐related protein and an adenylyl cyclase associated protein and decreased expression levels of proteins related to radical scavenger and nucleotide metabolism. These findings suggest that fasudil positively affects EPC number and that other major signals might take part to this complex pathway. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 24:351–360, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.20345     

Fasudil attenuates sympathetic nervous activity in the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the effects of fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and on the catecholamine synthetic pathway. Ten-week-old male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats were administered fasudil (10 mg/kg/day s.c.) for 4 days. Systolic blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method. Catecholamine levels were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography-ECD methods. Tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels were measured in Western blot analysis. The tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA level was measured using real-time PCR methods. Fasudil significantly decreased systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Fasudil also significantly decreased catecholamine, tyrosine hydroxylase protein, and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels in the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats. These results suggest that the depressor effects of fasudil on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats may be related to inhibition of the catecholamine synthetic pathway.     

Neuroprotective Potential of Fasudil Mesylate in Brain Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Rats

We previously reported that inhibition of Rho-kinase (ROCK) by hydroxyl fasudil improves cognitive deficit and neuronal damage in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia (Huang et al., Cell Mol Neurobiol 28:757–768, 2008). In this study, fasudil mesylate (FM) was investigated for its neuroprotective potential in rats with ischemia following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion. The effect of fasudil mesylate was also studied in rat brain cortical and hippocampal slices treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. Gross anatomy showed that cerebral infarct size, measured with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, was significantly smaller in the FM-treated than in the non-FM-treated ischemic rats. In the brain regions vulnerable to ischemia of ischemic rats, fasudil mesylate was also found to significantly restore the enzyme protein expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which was decreased in ischemia. However, it remarkably reduced the protein synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that was induced by ischemia and reperfusion. In rat brain slices treated with OGD injury, fasudil mesylate increased the neuronal cell viability by 40% for cortex and by 61% for hippocampus, respectively. Finally, in the presence of OGD and fasudil mesylate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased by 50% for cortex and by 58% for hippocampus, compared to OGD only group. In conclusion, our in vivo study showed that fasudil mesylate not only decreased neurological deficit but also reduced cerebral infarct size, possibly and at least partially by augmenting eNOS protein expression and inhibiting iNOS protein expression after ischemia-reperfusion. Xian-Ju Huang contributed equally to this article.     

依达拉奉联合法舒地尔应用于急性脑梗死患者的治疗效果观察

目的:观察依达拉奉联合法舒地尔应用于急性脑梗死(acute cerebral infarction,ACI)患者的治疗效果及其安全性。方法:选取我院2011年1月-2014年1月收治的急性脑梗死患者96例,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组48例。观察组患者应用盐酸法舒地尔联合依达拉奉静脉滴注,对照组患者单独应用盐酸法舒地尔静脉滴注射。观察并比较两组患者的治疗效果、神经功能缺损的变化情况及不良反应的发生情况等。结果:治疗前,两组患者NIHSS、BI评分及NSE水平比较无明显差异(P0.05);治疗后,两组患者NIHSS、BI评分及NSE水平均较治疗前明显改善,且观察组改善更明显,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组治疗总有效率高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组不良反应发生率无明显差异(P0.05)。结论:依达拉奉联合法舒地尔对急性脑梗死患者的临床效果显著,不仅可以改善患者的神经功能缺损情况,而且能够改善NSE水平,值得临床推广应用。     

Involvement of rho kinase in the ouabain-induced contractions of the rat renal arteries

Agonist and depolarization-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions include the activation of rho/rho kinase pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in ouabain-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions. Therefore, in this study, the possible participation of the rho/rho kinase pathway in ouabain-induced contractions was evaluated in rat renal arteries. Effects of rho kinase inhibitors (fasudil and Y-27632) on ouabain-induced contractions, and phosphorylation of myosin binding subunits (MYPT/MBS85) of myosin phosphatase were determined using isolated tissue and Western blot experiments, respectively. Fasudil and Y-27632 inhibited ouabain-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of MYPT was not altered by ouabain. However, ouabain significantly increased MBS85 phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase. The phosphorylation of both subunits of myosin phosphatase was inhibited by Y-27632. These results indicate that activation of rho kinase and the subsequent phosphorylation of MBS85 are involved in ouabain-induced contraction of rat renal arteries. This mechanism may be important in essential hypertension with elevated endogenous ouabain levels.     

Synthesis and Pharmacological Study of Rho-Kinase Inhibitors: Pharmacomodulations on the Lead Compound Fasudil

With a view to specifying structure–activity relationships we have synthesised a new series of analogues of the Rho-kinase inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine (Fasudil). The structural modifications concerned the isoquinolinyl heterocycle and the sulfonyl group which are the two main features of this lead compound. These analogues were evaluated on the actin cytoskeleton and on the enzymatic activity of Rho-kinase. Most of the chemical modifications result in a loss of activity showing that interactions of Fasudil with the catalytic domain of Rho-kinase seem to be particularly definite and sensitive to structural variations. The presence of an isoquinolinyl nitrogen and a basic amino group separated by a spacer bearing a sulfonamide function are of utmost importance. Only the tetrahydroisoquinoline analogue 3 shows the same activity as Fasudil. Moreover, this compound is unable to inhibit PKC biological activity contrary to Fasudil. The loss of the aromatic property could increase the selectivity level in favour of compound 3.     

车前草提取物对缺氧性肺动脉高压SD大鼠模型肺动脉压力、肺功能及炎症因子的影响

摘要 目的：探讨车前草提取物对缺氧性肺动脉高压(HPH)SD大鼠模型肺动脉压力、肺功能及炎症改变的效果。方法：随机选取18只SD雄性大鼠分为3组,正常对照组（Control组）、缺氧性肺动脉高压（HPH组）、车前草干预组（PW组）,每组各6只。观察并记录各组大鼠日常状况,于第21天测定大鼠肺动脉压力、肺功能后处死各组6只大鼠,获取大鼠肺组织标本,左肺泡灌洗液予Elisa试剂盒检测各组ICAM-1、TGF-β、MMP-9因子含量,右肺上中下叶各取一块组织行苏木精-伊红染色,其余肺组织研磨匀浆后予Elisa试剂盒检测HIF-1α含量。结果：用PW干预HPH大鼠,可降低SD大鼠的平均肺动脉压力,提高0.4 sFEV、FVC、0.4sFEV/FVC、MMEF等肺功能指标,降低肺泡灌洗液中ICAM-1、TGF-β、MMP-9炎症因子水平及肺组织中HIF-1a水平,气道及肺动脉管腔扩大,管壁变薄,炎性细胞浸润减少。结论：车前草提取物能降低HIF-1a水平,减轻HPH SD大鼠的炎症反应,降低肺动脉压力,提升肺功能,改善肺动脉及气道重塑。     

法舒地尔对急性心肌梗死大鼠心肌组织中Rho激酶的影响及心肌保护作用(英文)

目的:分析急性心肌梗死(AMI)后大鼠心肌组织Rho激酶表达的变化及心肌细胞凋亡情况,观察法舒地尔对急性心肌梗死(AMI)后大鼠心肌组织Rho激酶表达的影响,探讨法舒地尔对心梗后心肌的保护作用。方法:选取雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分为三组:治疗组、AMI组、假手术组。治疗组及AMI组均结扎左前降支(LAD)制作AMI模型;假手术组只在其LAD下穿线不结扎。治疗组给予法舒地尔5mg/kg,腹腔注射,每日两次;对照组和假手术组给予等量生理盐水。1周后,EvensBlue及NBT双染色确定缺血面积及梗死面积,RT-PCR法测定rho激酶mRNA的表达,DNA断裂的原位末端标记法(T UNEL法)检测缺血区心肌细胞凋亡指数(AI),免疫组化测定凋亡相关蛋白bcl-2及bax表达的变化。结果:1周后,AMI组与假手术组相比,AMI组大鼠Rho激酶mRNA表达增加(P0.01),凋亡相关蛋白bax表达增加(P0.01),bcl-2表达减少(P0.01),AI明显增加(P0.01)。治疗组与AMI组相比,梗死面积显著减小(P0.05),Rho激酶mRNA及bax表达显著减少,AI显著降低,bcl-2表达显著增加(均P0.01)。结论:大鼠AMI后,心肌组织中Rho激酶的表达增加,心肌细胞凋亡指数增加,连续应用法舒地尔1周能有效减少心肌细胞凋亡指数,起到心肌保护的作用。