The effect of epidermal growth factor on prostaglandin synthesis of oestrogenized rat uterus is mediated by nitric oxide

We examined the possible relationship between cytokines, nitric oxide and prostaglandins (PGs) in the estrogenized rat uterus. Results indicate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances the synthesis of prostaglandins in estrogenized rat uteri and induces the augmentation of nitric oxide (NO) production in this tissue by stimulating iNOS. While the effect of EGF is abolished by L-NMMA, an NO antagonist, the NS-398, a cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) inhibitor, prevents the augmentation of prostanoids induced by EGF. These results suggest that there is an interaction among EGF, NO and PGs and that in this interrelationship are involved COX-II and iNOS. This mechanism might be important during implantation and labor.     

Epidermal growth factor modulation of prostaglandins and nitrite biosynthesis in rat fetal membranes

The production of prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) by amnion tissue may play a significant role in parturition. It is thought that epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be one of the fetal signals that governs the initiation of labor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EGF in vivo on the PGs and nitrite production of rat fetal membranes. We have evaluated the regulation of PGs and nitrite production in rat fetal membranes ex vivo. The intra-uterine administration of EGF 500 ng in day 21 of pregnancy induced increases in PGE(2) (P<0.001) and PGF(2alpha) (P<0.01) compared to the control fetal membranes from pregnant rats on day 22. Also, this dose of EGF diminished nitrate production significantly (P<0.01). We found that fetal membranes at term (days 18-22 of gestation) expressed EGF-R. The NO donor, nitroprussiate 300 and 600 microM, elicited an inhibitory effect on the PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha) stimulated synthesis. On the other hand, indomethacin 10(-6) and 10(-7)M, a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, reverted the inhibitory effect exerted by EGF. Hence, rat fetal membranes were found to express epidermal growth factor receptors and, under the effect of EGF, PGs and nitrites production pathways interact probably to prevent a toxic effect caused by an exacerbated synthesis of these mediators.     

17-beta-Estradiol upregulates COX-2 in the rat oviduct

We investigated the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by 17-beta-estradiol (E2) in the rat oviduct. We observed that COX-2 is expressed mainly in proestrous and estrous stages, periods under estrogenic influence. While exogenous administration of E2 (1 microg/rat) significantly increased COX-2 protein levels, progesterone did not modify it. COX-2 was mainly localized on oviductal epithelial cells from estrogenized rat. Induction of COX-2 expression by E2 was partially reverted by tamoxifen (1 mg/rat), an E2 receptor antagonist. Estradiol treatment also increased prostaglandins (PGs) synthesis: 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (40%), a stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2), PGF(2alpha) (40%) and PGE2 (50%). Tamoxifen completely suppressed this enhancement. In order to discriminate which isoform of COX was implicated in the stimulatory effect of E2 on PGs synthesis, oviducts were preincubated with meloxicam (Melo: 10(-9)M) or NS-398 (10(-7)M), two selective COX-2 inhibitors. Both Melo and NS-398 abolished the increase of PGs synthesis stimulated by E2. All together, these data indicate that E2 could upregulate COX-2 expression and activity in the rat oviduct and that the stimulatory effect of E2 may be receptor-mediated.     

The role of nitric oxide in the metabolism of labeled glucose in isolated rat uterus. Influence of 17β-estradiol

The influence of nitric oxide (NO) on the production of ¹⁴CO₂ from labeled glucose in uteri isolated from ovariectomized-estrogenized rats was studied. Nitroprusside, an NO donor (NP), 200 μM increased the formation of labeled CO₂ from [U-¹⁴C]glucose. This effect was blunted by hemoglobin (Hb) 20 μg/mL, an NO scavenger. The addition of N-monomethyl arginine (NMMA), an inhibitor of NO synthase decreased the stimulatory action of NP at 400 mM. Incubation of uterine strips in the presence of NP plus acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 10⁻⁴ M (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), inhibited the stimulatory action of NP on glucose metabolism. PGE₂ (10⁻⁷ M) added to the incubation medium containing NP and ASA reversed the effect of the inhibitor. Neither NP nor Hb nor NMMA modified the ¹⁴CO₂ production from labeled glucose in uterine strips from ovariectomized rats. The addition of NP to the incubating medium increased PGE accumulation by uterine strips from rats treated with estradiol, but not in ovariectomized animals. These results suggest that NO exerts a positive influence on glucose metabolism and PGE synthesis in isolated rat uteri from estrogenized animals.     

Modulation of PGE(2) and TNFalpha by nitric oxide and LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells

Prostaglandins (PGs), the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, and the cytokine TNFalpha play major roles in inflammation and they are synthesised mainly by macrophages. Their syntheses have been shown to be regulated by several factors, including nitric oxide, a further important macrophage product. Since both positive and negative regulations of PGs and TNFalpha synthesis by NO have been reported, we sought to understand the mechanisms underlying these opposite NO effects by using a recent class of NO releasing compounds, the NONOates, which have been shown to release NO in a controlled fashion. To this aim, we analysed the effect of NO released from PAPA/NO (t1/2 15 min) and DETA/NO (t1/2 20 h) in RAW 264.7 cells. Both NONOates were used at the same concentrations allowing the cell cultures to be exposed either at high levels of NO for brief time (PAPA/NO) or at low levels of NO for long time (DETA/NO). We found that the two NONOates had opposite effect on basal TNFalpha release, being increased by PAPA/NO and decreased by DETA/NO, while they did not affect the release stimulated by LPS. At variance, both NONOates increased the basal PGE(2) production, while the LPS-stimulated production was slightly increased only by PAPA/NO. The modulation of PGE(2) synthesis was the result of the distinct effects of the two NO-donors on either arachidonic acid (AA) release or cyclooxygense-2 (COX-2) expression, the precursor and synthetic enzyme of PGs, respectively. Indeed, in resting cultures AA release was enhanced only by PAPA/NO whereas COX-2 expression was moderately upregulated by both donors. In LPS activated cells, both NONOates induced AA release, although with different kinetics and potencies, but only DETA/NO significantly increased COX-2 expression. In conclusion, by comparing the activities of these two NONOates, our observations indicate that level and time of exposure to NO are both crucial in determining the molecular target and the final result of the interactions between NO and inflammatory molecules.     

Regulation of prostaglandin production by nitric oxide in rat smooth muscle myometrial cells.

Smooth muscle myometrial cells isolated by an enzymatic method from estrogenized rats were used after 7-10 days of culture. They were incubated for 24 h with two distinct competitive nitric oxide (NO) inhibitors: NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA: 300 microM) and L-nitro-arginine methylester (L-NAME: 600 microM, 5 mM and 10 mM). Afterwards, the supernatants were separated in order to measure nitrite production and prostaglandin PGE synthesis. In the present report, we demonstrate that myometrial cells from estrogenized rats are able to produce NO, since all the inhibitors significantly decrease the production of nitrites in the culture media. Furthermore, we report that both inhibitors inhibited PGE synthesis by myometrial cells. We also used a donor of NO in the incubation medium for 24 h, sodium nitroprusside (NP), obtaining an strong (P< 0.001) increase in both nitrite and PGE production. We conclude that myometrial cells can produce NO and that one possible role of the NO synthetized by this cells may be the modulation of PGE production.     

脂多糖对离体培养大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

本研究观察到１０－７～１０－５ｋｇ／Ｌ脂多糖（ｌｉｐｏｐｏｌｙｓａｃｈａｒｉｄｅ,ＬＰＳ）可显著促进血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）的增殖及ＤＮＡ的合成（Ｐ＜００５）。５×１０－４～１０－３ｋｇ／ＬＬＰＳ却抑制ＶＳＭＣ的增殖及ＤＮＡ的合成,降低其活力（Ｐ＜００１）,并呈时间依赖效应。一氧化氮合酶抑制剂ＮＮｉｔｒｏＬＡｒｇｉｎｉｎｅ（ＬＮＮＡ）可拮抗ＬＰＳ的抑制作用。大剂量ＬＰＳ作用组ＶＳＭＣ上清液中一氧化氮（ＮＯ）代谢产物ＮＯ－３和ＮＯ－２的含量与对照组相比显著增加（Ｐ＜００１）,４８ｈ组比２４ｈ组增加９１％,７２ｈ组比４８ｈ组增加４５％;同时,诱导性一氧化氮合酶（ｉｎｄｕｃｔｉｖｅｎｉｔｒｉｃｏｘｉｄｅｓｙｎｔｈａｓｅ,ｉＮＯＳ）免疫组化染色呈阳性。结果表明,低浓度ＬＰＳ促进ＶＳＭＣ增殖和ＤＮＡ合成,而高浓度ＬＰＳ却明显抑制ＶＳＭＣ增殖和ＤＮＡ合成,降低其活力。这种抑制作用可能与ＬＰＳ诱导ＶＳＭＣ产生的ＮＯ有关。     

Nitric oxide inhibits prostanoid synthesis in the rat oviduct

We have studied the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the production of arachidonic acid ([14C]-AA) metabolites in the rat oviduct. The basal synthesis of eicosanoids was measured by the conversion of ([14C]-AA) to the different radiolabeled products of cyclooxygenase (COX). The oviducts incubated for 1 h with the labeled substrate of COX were able to convert 3.3 +/- 0.3% of ([14C]-AA) to 6-ceto-PGF1alpha, 10.7 +/- 1.0% to PGF2alpha, 13.5 +/- 1.2% to PGE2 and 6.3 +/- 0.5% to TXB2. The tissues were incubated with different doses of two NO donors: SIN-1 and Spermine NONOate. The results indicated that SIN-1 produces a significant decrease (50%; P < 0.05) in all prostanoids evaluated in a dose-response fashion. The inhibitory effect was completely reversed by addition of 20 microg/ml of hemoglobin (Hb), a NO scavenger. The addition of Spermine NONOate to the incubation medium diminished significantly (65%) the synthesis of COX metabolites suggesting that NO acts by inhibiting COX activity in the rat oviduct. However, NOS inhibitors, N(G)-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) nd N(G)-L-monomethyl-arginine (L-NMMA) had no effect on basal production of the prostanoids. These results indicate that in the rat oviduct the synthesis of COX metabolites is negatively regulated by nitric oxide.     

Influences of estradiol and of catechol and non-catechol estrogens on the output of prostaglandins in uteri from spayed rats

The effects of 17-beta estradiol and of some catechol and non-catechol-estrogens on the synthesis and output of prostaglandins (PGs) E and F by uteri from ovariectomized rats, were explored. Uteri from castrated animals released twice as much PGE than PGF. When uterine tissue was obtained from spayed rats injected prior to sacrifice with a low dose of 17-beta estradiol (0.5 + 1.0 microgram, on two consecutive days), the output of PGE diminished significantly. With a higher dose of the hormone (0.5 + 50.0 micrograms) the depressive influence on the synthesis and release of PGE was even more marked, whereas the output of PGF rose significantly. Low or high doses of estrone or of estriol failed to affect the release of either one of the PGs determined. On the other hand, 2-0H-estradiol at a low dose had no action but at a higher one inhibited the release of PGE without influencing PGF. Neither low nor high doses of 2-0H estriol or of 2-0H estrone affected the synthesis and release of uterine PGs. It was also observed that all the compounds tested evoked a significant uterotrophic action. It appears plausible that some catechol metabolites of 17-beta estradiol, but not other catechol-estrogens, could be involved in the mechanism of action of 17-beta estradiol modulating the production of PGs by the rat uterus.     

Contribution of cyclopentenone prostaglandins to the resolution of inflammation through the potentiation of apoptosis in activated macrophages

Activation of the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 with LPS and IFN-gamma induces apoptosis through the synthesis of high concentrations of NO due to the expression of NO synthase-2. In addition to NO, activated macrophages release other molecules involved in the inflammatory response, such as reactive oxygen intermediates and PGs. Treatment of macrophages with cyclopentenone PGs, which are synthesized late in the inflammatory onset, exerted a negative regulation on cell activation by impairing the expression of genes involved in host defense, among them NO synthase-2. However, despite the attenuation of NO synthesis, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased with respect to activated cells in the absence of cyclopentenone PGs. Analysis of the mechanisms by which these PGs enhanced apoptosis suggested a potentiation of superoxide anion synthesis that reacted with NO, leading to the formation of higher concentrations of peroxynitrite, a more reactive and proapoptotic molecule than the precursors. The effect of the cyclopentenone 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) on superoxide synthesis was dependent on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, but was independent of the interaction with peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma. The potentiation of apoptosis induced by cyclopentenone PGs involved an increase in the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol and in the nitration of this protein. These results suggest a role for cyclopentenone PGs in the resolution of inflammation by inducing apoptosis of activated cells.     

Inhibitory effects of PGD2, PGJ2 and 15-deoxy-delta12,14-PGJ2 on iNOS induction in rat mesenteric artery

PGD2 and its metabolites PGJ2 and 15-deoxy-delta12,14-PGJ2 have been reported to inhibit iNOS induction in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. The present study was undertaken to determine whether these prostanoids inhibit iNOS induction in the isolated rat mesenteric artery. The artery without endothelium was incubated with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 37 degrees C for 6 hrs, then washed and mounted in an organ bath to measure isometric changes in tension. L-arginine but not D-arginine (10(-6) - 10(-3) M) induced concentration-dependent relaxations only in the artery preincubated with LPS, the relaxations of which were attenuated by L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (LNAME, 10(-4) M), a non-selective iNOS inhibitor, and 1400W (10(-5) and 10(-4) M), a selective iNOS inhibitor. Co-treatment of cycloheximide (10(-5) M), a protein synthesis inhibitor, or actinomycin D (10(-7) M), an RNA synthesis inhibitor with LPS inhibited the development of relaxing ability in response to L-arginine, indicating iNOS induction by LPS. PGD2, PGJ2 and 15-deoxy-delta12,14-PGJ2 but not PGE2, PGI2 or PGF2alpha also inhibited the development of relaxing ability in response to L-arginine when added during incubation with LPS. Incubation of the artery with LPS at 37 degrees C for 6 hrs markedly increased production of nitric oxide (NO), which was abolished by 15-deoxy-delta12,14-PGJ2 (10(-5) M). An imunohistochemical study using antibody against murine iNOS showed that 15-deoxy-delta12,14-PGJ2 (10(-5) M) inhibited the expression of iNOS protein in isolated rat mesenteric arteries. These results demonstrated that PGD2 and its metabolites inhibit iNOS induction by LPS in isolated rat mesenteric arteries, resulting in reduced relaxing ability in response to L-arginine.     

Upregulation of iNOS by COX-2 in muscularis resident macrophage of rat intestine stimulated with LPS

We investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in muscularis resident macrophages of rat intestine in situ. When the tissue was incubated with LPS for 4 h, mRNA levels of iNOS and COX-2 were increased. The majority of iNOS and COX-2 proteins appeared to be localized to the dense network of muscularis resident macrophages immunoreactive to ED2. LPS treatment also increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), PGE(2), and PGI(2). The increased expression of iNOS mRNA by LPS was suppressed by indomethacin but not by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). The increased expression of COX-2 mRNA by LPS was affected neither by indomethacin nor by L-NMMA. Muscle contractility stimulated by 3 microM carbachol was significantly inhibited in the LPS-treated muscle, which was restored by treatment of the tissue with L-NMMA, aminoguanidine, indomethacin, or NS-398. Together, these findings show that LPS increases iNOS expression and stimulates NO production in muscularis resident macrophages to inhibit smooth muscle contraction. LPS-induced iNOS gene expression may be mediated by autocrine regulation of PGs through the induction of COX-2 gene expression.     

Infusion of exogenous tumor necrosis factor dose dependently alters the length of the luteal phase in cattle: differential responses to treatment with indomethacin and L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor

We examined whether prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) mediate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) actions in the estrus cycle. On Day 14 of the cycle, the following solutions were infused into the aorta abdominalis of a total of 51 heifers (Experiments 1 and 2): saline; 1 or 10 microg of TNF; 480 mg indomethacin (INDO), an inhibitor of prostaglandin H synthase; 800 mg L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase; and TNF (1 or 10 microg) in combination with INDO or L-NAME. TNF at 1 microg infused directly into aorta abdominalis increased the level of PGF(2alpha) and decreased the level of progesterone (P4) in the peripheral blood and shortened the estrus cycle. The high TNF dose stimulated P4 and PGE(2) and prolonged the corpus luteum (CL) lifespan. INDO blocked the effects of both TNF doses on the CL lifespan and hormone output. L-NAME completely blocked the effects of the luteolytic TNF dose, whereas the effects of the luteotropic TNF dose were not inhibited. In Experiment 3 (Day 14), saline or different TNF doses were infused into the jugular vein (n = 9) or into the uterine lumen (n = 18). The CL lifespans of the different groups were not different when TNF was infused into the jugular vein. Although high TNF doses (1 and 10 microg) infused into the uterine lumen prolonged the CL lifespan, low doses (0.01 and 0.1 microg) induced premature luteolysis. We suggest that the actions of exogenous TNF on the CL lifespan depend on PG synthesis stimulated by TNF in the uterus. TNF at low concentrations initiates a positive cascade between uterine PGF(2alpha) and various luteolytic factors, including NO, to complete premature luteolysis. PGE(2) is a good candidate mediator of the luteotropic actions of exogenous TNF action.     

Spin trapping agent, phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone, reduces nitric oxide production in the rat brain during experimental meningitis

Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) is a spin trapping agent previously shown to exert a neuroprotective effect in infant rat brain during bacterial meningitis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of systemic PBN administration on nitric oxide (NO) production in a rat model of experimental meningitis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We assessed the NO concentration in rat brain tissues with an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) NO trapping technique. In this model, rats receiving intracisternal LPS administration showed symptoms of meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. The time course study indicated that the concentration of NO in the brain reached the maximum level 8.5h after injection of LPS, and returned to the control level 24 h after the injection. When various doses of PBN (125-400 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally 30 min prior to LPS, NO production in the brain was reduced with increasing PBN dose (250 mg/kg suppressed 80% at 8.5h after LPS injection), and white blood cells (WBC) in CSF were significantly decreased. We concluded that reduction of NO generation during bacterial meningitis contributes to the neuroprotective effect of PBN in addition to its possible direct scavenging of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI).     

Lipopolysaccharide-induced fever in Pekin ducks is mediated by prostaglandins and nitric oxide and modulated by adrenocortical hormones

Information on avian fever is limited, and, in particular, very little is known about the mediators and modulators of the febrile response in birds. Therefore, in this study, the possible mediatory roles of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs), together with a potential modulatory role for adrenocortical hormones in the generation of fever was investigated in conscious Pekin ducks. Their body temperatures were continuously measured by abdominally implanted temperature-sensitive data loggers. The febrile response induced by intramuscular injection of LPS at a dose of 100 microg/kg was compared with and without inhibition of NO production by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inhibition of PG synthesis (by diclofenac), and elevation of circulating concentrations of dexamethasone and corticosterone (by exogenous administration). LPS administration induced a marked, monophasic fever with a rise in temperature of more than 1 degrees C after 3-4 h. In the presence of L-NAME, diclofenac, and adrenocorticoids at doses that had no effect upon normal body temperature in afebrile ducks, there was a significant inhibition of the LPS-induced fever. In addition, during the febrile response, the blood concentration of corticosterone was significantly elevated (from a basal level of 73.6 +/- 9.8 ng/ml to a peak level of 132.6 +/- 16.5 ng/ml). The results strongly suggest that the synthesis of both NO and PGs is a vital step in the generation of fever in birds and that the magnitude of the response is subject to modulation by adrenocorticoids.     

Spin trapping agent,phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone,reduces nitric oxide production in the rat brain during experimental meningitis

Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) is a spin trapping agent previously shown to exert a neuroprotective effect in infant rat brain during bacterial meningitis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of systemic PBN administration on nitric oxide (NO) production in a rat model of experimental meningitis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We assessed the NO concentration in rat brain tissues with an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) NO trapping technique. In this model, rats receiving intracisternal LPS administration showed symptoms of meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. The time course study indicated that the concentration of NO in the brain reached the maximum level 8.5h after injection of LPS, and returned to the control level 24 h after the injection. When various doses of PBN (125–400 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally 30 min prior to LPS, NO production in the brain was reduced with increasing PBN dose (250 mg/kg suppressed 80% at 8.5h after LPS injection), and white blood cells (WBC) in CSF were significantly decreased. We concluded that reduction of NO generation during bacterial meningitis contributes to the neuroprotective effect of PBN in addition to its possible direct scavenging of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI).     

Effect of IL-1alpha on prostaglandin synthesis of oestrogenized rat uterus is mediated by nitric oxide

We examined the possible relationship between cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins in the oestrogenized rat uterus. Results indicate that: IL-1alpha but not IL-2 enhances the synthesis of prostaglandins in oestrogenized rat uteri; IL-1alpha but not IL-2 induced an augmention of NO production in this tissue; the effect of IL-1alpha on prostaglandin synthesis is abolished by NMMA, an NO antagonist; NS-398, a COX-2 inhibitor, prevents the augmention of prostaglandins produced by IL-1alpha. These results suggest that there is an interaction between IL-1alpha, NO and prostaglandins and that this interrelationship involves COX-2. This mechanism might be important during implantation and labor.     

Hypertension alters role of iNOS, COX-2, and oxidative stress in bradykinin relaxation impairment after LPS in rat cerebral arteries

This study was performed to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species and inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) metabolites in the lipopolysaccharide effect on bradykinin-induced relaxation in middle cerebral arteries from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). LPS exposure (10 microg/ml for 1-5 h) reduced bradykinin relaxation; this effect appeared earlier and was greater in arteries from SHR than WKY rats. LPS also reduced the relaxation to the NO donor diethylamine (DEA)-NO; however, LPS modified neither the bradykinin relaxation after inhibiting NO synthesis with N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (0.1 mM) nor endothelial NOS expression. In arteries from WKY rats, the respective iNOS and COX-2 inhibitors aminoguanidine (0.1 mM) and NS-398 (10 microM) and the superoxide anion scavenger SOD (100 U/ml) reduced the LPS effect on bradykinin relaxation; however, the thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2))PGH(2) receptor antagonist SQ-29548 (1 microM) and the H(2)O(2) scavenger catalase (1,000 U/ml) did not modify the LPS effect. In arteries from SHR, all of these drugs reduced the LPS effect. LPS exposure (5 h) increased superoxide anion levels in arteries from both strains and TxA(2) levels only in SHR. COX-2 expression rose to a similar level in arteries from both strains after 1 and 5 h of LPS incubation, whereas expression of Cu/Zn- and Mn-SOD only increased after 5 h. In conclusion, in segments from WKY rats, LPS reduced bradykinin-induced relaxation through increased production of NO (from iNOS) and superoxide anion. The greater LPS effect observed in arteries from SHR seems to be related to higher participation of reactive oxygen species and contractile prostanoids (probably TxA(2)).     

Tissue levels of prostaglandins and what do they mean? Studies on the guinea-pig uterus

The ratios of the concentrations of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in guinea-pig uterine horns, which were removed and placed in ethanol in 1.5 to 2 min, were 0.3:1.0:0.6 on day 7 and 13.8:1.0:0.8 on day 15 of the oestrous cycle. Adding indomethacin (10 micrograms/ml) to the ethanol had no significant effect on the tissue levels observed. These ratios were similar to the ratios of the outputs of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from the guinea-pig uterus (0.6:1.0:0.9 on day 7 and 7.6:1.0:1.5 on day 15), but were different (particularly on day 7, but only for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha on day 15) to the ratios of the amounts of the three PGs synthesized by homogenates of the guinea-pig uterus (7.2:1.0:2.4 on day 7 and 11.7:1.0:3.3 on day 15). Consequently, the measurement of tissue levels of PGs in the guinea-pig uterus reflects PG synthesis by intact tissue and changes in this synthesis, rather than PG synthesis by homogenates (broken cell preparations). Therefore, it appears meaningful to measure levels of PGs in the guinea-pig uterus since they reflect uterine PG output. Separation of the endometrium from the myometrium, which involved handling and mild trauma, stimulated uterine PG levels, but the ratio of the levels of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the endometrium was still similar to that found in the non-separated uterus.