Relation between prostaglandin E2, F2α, and cyclic nucleotides levels in rat brain and induction of convilsions

Fully convulsant doses of pentamethylenetetrazole cause marked increase in rat brain cortical PGF_2α, PGE₂, cGMP and cAMP during seizures, whereas subconvulsant doses cause an increase of rat brain cortical PGF_2α without affecting the other biochemical parameters considered. Rat cerebellar prostaglandins were not modified by the convulsant agent at either dosage.     

Prostacyclin (PGI2) in pregnant human uterus

Prostacyclin lowers the tonus and reduces the spontaneous motility of isolated pregnant human myometrium. This effect seems to be related to cyclic-AMP accumulation, since PGI₂ increases the formation of this cyclic nucleotide in incubated minces of pregnant and non-pregnant uterus. The ability of this tissue to generate a labile substance which inhibits platelets aggregation, has been demostrated and discussed.     

Atebbania Bernasconii, a New Genus and Species from Subterranean Waters of the Tiznit Plain, Southern Morocco (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)

The new genus Atebbania is described for a new hydrobiid species,A.bernasconii, which lives in groundwaters of southern Morocco.Of the Hydrobiidae generawith known shell and anatomy Moitessieriais the closest to Atebbania. Thetwo share the following characters:shell elongate; teleoconch surface with evidentmicrosculpture;seminal receptacle absent. Atebbania is distinguished from Moitessieriaby: shell ovate; penis with a) apical stylet, b) one lobe bentdownward on left(inner) side and c) penial duct running nearthe right (outer) side; posterior end of foot indented. Atebbaniabernasconii n. sp., lives in a limited area, the Tiznit plainin southernMorocco. Other stygobiont hydrobiids from otherareas of Morocco are currently being studied.None of them appearsto be closely related to A. bernasconii or to the species ofMoitessieria (Received 10 February 1998; accepted 30 April 1998)     

The pulmonary pharmacology of [4-methoxy-N1-(4-trans-nitrooxycyclohexyl)-N3-(3-pyridinylmethyl)-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide] (2NTX-99), an anti-atherotrombotic compound with therapeutic potential in pathological conditions that target lung vasculature

The pharmacological activity of 2NTX-99 ([4-methoxy-N1-(4-trans-nitrooxycyclohexyl)-N3-(3-pyridinylmethyl)-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide]) was investigated in vitro in the intact, rat pulmonary vasculature and in guinea pig airways. Rat lungs were perfused at constant flow and changes in vascular tone recorded. Challenge with the TXA? analogue 9,11-dideoxy-9α11α-methanoepoxy ProstaglandinF? (U46619, 0.5 μM) increased vessel tone (32.48±1.5 vs 13.13±0.56 mmHg; n=12). 2NTX-99 (0.1-100 μM; n=5), caused a concentration-dependent relaxation, prevented by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10 μM, n=4), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. Acetylcholine (0.1-10 μM; n=3) and a reference NO-donor, isosorbide-5-mononitrate (5-100 μM; n=4), were ineffective. Intraluminal perfusion of washed human platelets (2 × 10? cells/ml) increased intravascular pressure after challenge with arachidonic acid (AA, 2 μM; n=5), an increase abolished by acetylsalicylic acid and significantly reduced by 2NTX-99 (40 μM; n=5). TXB? in the lung perfusate was detected after platelet activation, 2NTX-99 inhibited TXA? synthesis (6.45±0.6 and 1.10±0.2 ng/ml, respectively). 2NTX-99 did not alter central or peripheral airway responsiveness to Histamine (0.001-300 μM; n=6), U46619 (0.001-3 μM, n=3) or LTD? (1 pM-1 μM; n=6). 2NTX-99 vasodilates the pulmonary vasculature via the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reduces intraluminal, AA-induced, TXA? formation. The combined activity of 2NTX-99 as an NO-donor and a TXA?-synthesis inhibitor provides strong support for its potential therapeutic use in pathologies of the pulmonary vascular bed (e.g. pulmonary hypertension).