Effect of the adrenergic beta receptor blocker propranolol on the dilatation of cerebrocortical vessels evoked by arterial hypoxia

In order to elucidate the importance of adrenergic beta receptors in the regulation of cerebral microcirculation during arterial hypoxia, chloralose anaesthetized cats were treated with propranolol hydrochloride. Arterial hypoxia, lasting for approximately 4 min, was induced by respiring the animals with a gas mixture containing 7% oxygen balanced in nitrogen gas. Arterial hypoxia was induced in the same animals before and during continuous infusion of propranolol (0.05 mg/kg/min into the lingual artery). Cerebrocortical vascular volume ( CVV ) and NADH fluorescence were measured through a cranial window with a microscope fluororeflectometer . Control arterial hypoxia (no treatment) increased CVV and NADH reduction by 22.2 +/- 2% and 20.4 +/- 2.1%, respectively. Following 1 mg/kg propranolol treatment arterial hypoxia of the same severity resulted in only approximately 2/3 of the CVV response obtained during the control arterial hypoxia. Since arterial hypoxia induced similar changes in arterial blood gases, arterial blood pressure, and intracranial pressure in both cases, our results indicate that the cortical vasodilatation occurring during arterial hypoxia is due, at least in part, to the activation of adrenergic beta receptors.     

Effect of surplus amount of oxygen on the cerebrocortical microcirculatory reactions associated to moderate arterial hypotension

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether tissue hypoxia is involved in the autoregulatory dilatation of cerebrocortical vessels occurring at moderate arterial hypotension. In order to avoid hypoxia that may occur during arterial hypotension, in one part of the experiments the brain cortices were superfused with oxygen saturated (pO2, approximately 500 mm Hg) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (mock CSF). In the other part of the experiments arterial hypotension was induced without superfusing the brain cortices (closed skull). Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was decreased in both experimental groups by bleeding to 75-85 mm Hg for approximately 5 min, then the shed blood was reinfused. Changes in cortical vascular volume (CVV), mean transit time of cortical blood flow (tm), and blood flow (CBF) were measured through a cranial window with a microscope reflectometer. Although CSF pO2 differed markedly between the superfused and nonsuperfused experimental groups, arterial hypotension led to similar changes in CVV and tm in both groups. Due to the proper dilatation of the cerebrocortical arterioles, CBF was not altered by arterial hypotension in either of the groups. These results suggest that the brain cortex does not become hypoxic at moderate arterial hypotension and, consequently, incipient tissue hypoxia has no role in the autoregulatory dilatation of the cerebrocortical arterial network.     

Effect of oxygen tension, salinity, temperature and organic matter concentration on the growth and nitrifying activity of an estuarine strain of Nitrosomonas

Abstract The effects of O₂ tension, temperature, salt concentration and organic matter concentration on the growth and nitrifying activity of Nitrosomonas N₃ isolated from Tay Estuary sediments have been investigated. Chemostat-grown cultures were able to grow and nitrify at dissolved O₂ concentrations as low as 0.1 mg O₂· 1⁻¹ (cell population densities were 15% of those obtained in fully aerated cultures). This bacterium was sensitive to reduced temperatures as chemostat-grown cultures washed out at growth temperatures below 15°C, at dilution rates > 0.025 · h⁻¹. Batch-grown cultures of Nitrosomonas N₃ were used to study the effects of NaCl and complex organic matter concentration on nitrifying activity. Maximum rates of NH⁺₄ oxidation were recorded at NaCl concentrations of 1% w/v, whilst tryptone soya broth (TSB), nutrient broth (NB), yeast extract broth (YEB) and peptone were inhibitory at concentrations > 10 mg · 1⁻¹.     

Effect of the redox state of glutathione on acetate kinase activity in E. coli

Oxidized glutathione inhibits acetate kinase (EC 2.7.2.1) of E. coli. The rate of inactivation depends on ATP concentration. The rate constant for the glutathione-induced inhibition is 0.17 min-1, Ki is 4.2 mM (pH 7.2, 25 degrees C). The inhibition of acetate kinase by glutathione is reversible, the equilibrium constant being equal to 4.4 or 0.09 at saturating concentrations of ATP (pH 8.0, 25 degrees C). The physiological level of reduced and oxidized glutathione can modulate the acetate kinase activity in vivo.     

Influence of oxygen concentration on redox cycling of alloxan and dialuric acid.

Alloxan, a chemical diabetogen, decays in the absence of reductants into alloxanic acid. In the presence of glutathione, it is reduced via the alloxan radical into dialuric acid, which autoxidizes back to alloxan. During this redox cycling process, reactive oxygen species are formed that destroy beta-cells in islets of Langerhans. Previous experiments were conducted with oxygen concentrations about ten times as high as within cells. The aim of our in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of different oxygen concentrations (0, 25, 250 micromol/l) at a given initial ratio of glutathione and alloxan on this redox cycling. Reduction of alloxan, oxidation of glutathione, and the formation of glutathiol (GSSG) were continuously recorded by HPLC for 90 minutes at 25 degrees C in air, calibration gas, or argon. In the absence of reductants, alloxan irreversibly decomposed into alloxanic acid regardless of oxygen presence. When the reaction system contained glutathione, decomposition was significantly retarded and therefore influenced by oxygen. In argon, decay could not be observed due to its reduction and the absence of oxygen. Increasing oxygen concentration enabled a redox cycling and therefore an ongoing decay. The highest decomposition along with the highest consumption of glutathione occurred at 250 micromol/l oxygen. The lower the oxygen, the more dialuric acid could be detected. After calculation, about 33 redox cycles per hour generates an amount of reactive oxygen species sufficient to damage pancreatic beta cells and induce insulin deficiency.     

Effect of oxygen tension and lactate concentration on keratan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate biosynthesis in bovine cornea.

Calf cornea slices were incubated with [U-14C]glucose, in varying pO2 or lactate concentrations. Acid glycosaminoglycans were separated by ion-exchange chromatography after papain digestion. The percentage radioactivity incorporated into keratan sulphate increased markedly with decreased oxygen tension, whereas a concomitant relative decrease of the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycuronans occurred. Similar results were obtained with increased lactate concentration. Our findings support the idea that keratan sulphate is a functional substitute for chondroitin sulphate in conditions of oxygen lack (Scott, J.E. and Haigh, M. (1988) J. Anat. 158, 95-108).     

Effect of respiratory muscle tension on lung volume.

The chest wall is modeled as a linear system for which the displacements of points on the chest wall are proportional to the forces that act on the chest wall, namely, airway opening pressure and active tension in the respiratory muscles. A standard theorem of mechanics, the Maxwell reciprocity theorem, is invoked to show that the effect of active muscle tension on lung volume, or airway pressure if the airway is closed, is proportional to the change of muscle length in the relaxation maneuver. This relation was tested experimentally. The shortening of the cranial-caudal distance between a rib pair and the sternum was measured during a relaxation maneuver. These data were used to predict the respiratory effect of forces applied to the ribs and sternum. To test this prediction, a cranial force was applied to the rib pair and a caudal force was applied to the sternum, simulating the forces applied by active tension in the parasternal intercostal muscles. The change in airway pressure, with lung volume held constant, was measured. The measured change in airway pressure agreed well with the prediction. In some dogs, nonlinear deviations from the linear prediction occurred at higher loads. The model and the theorem offer the promise that existing data on the configuration of the chest wall during the relaxation maneuver can be used to compute the mechanical advantage of the respiratory muscles.     

15-HETE对缺氧兔肺动脉平滑肌钾离子通道的影响

用肺动脉环和全细胞膜片钳技术研究15-羟化二十烷四烯酸(15-HETE)对缺氧兔肺动脉平滑肌钾离子通道的影响。新出生的幼兔分两组,一组放入吸氧分数为0．12的低氧舱内;另一组保持正常氧环境。9d后,称重、取肺动脉进行细胞培养并制作肺动脉环。分别加入4-氨基吡啶(4-aminopyridione,4-AP)、四乙胺(tetraethylammonium,TEA)、glyburide(GLYB)三种特异性钾离子通道阻断剂,观察15-HETE对兔肺动脉平滑肌钾离子通道的作用变化,同时采用全细胞膜片钳测定钾电流。结果显示：5mmol／L 4-AP阻断Kv通道后可以抑制15-HETE诱导的缺氧兔肺动脉收缩;TEA和GLYB分别阻断大电导型钙激活钾通道(BKCa)和KATP通道后并不影响15-HETE诱导的缺氧兔肺动脉收缩;15-HETE可降低兔肺动脉平滑肌细胞钾电流幅度。上述结果提示：缺氧兔肺动脉中,15-HETE阻断电压依赖钾通道(Kv通道),引起膜去极化,可能是缺氧性肺血管收缩的机制之一。