Erratum to: New insights into biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, and evolution of marine zooplankton based on molecular approaches

: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease (MND) characterised by the death of upper and lower motor neurons (corticospinal tract) in the motor cortex, basal ganglia, brain stem, and spinal cord. The patient experiences the sign and symptoms between 55 to 75 years of age included impaired motor movement, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, grip loss, muscle atrophy, spasticity and sometimes associated with memory and cognitive impairments. Median survival is 3 to 5 years after diagnosis and 5 to 10% beyond 10 years of age. The limited intervention of pharmacologically active compounds that are used clinically is majorly associated with the narrow therapeutic index. Pre-clinically established experimental models where neurotoxin methyl mercury mimics the ALS like behavioural and neurochemical alterations in rodents associated with neuronal mitochondrial dysfunctions and downregulation of adenyl cyclase mediated cAMP/CREB is the main pathological hallmark for the progression of ALS in central as well in the peripheral nervous system. Despite the considerable investigation into neuroprotection, it still constrains treatment choices to strong care and organization of ALS complications. Therefore, current review specially targeted in the investigation of clinical and pre-clinical features available for ALS to understand the pathogenic mechanisms and to explore the pharmacological interventions associated with up-regulation of intracellular adenyl cyclase/cAMP/CREB and mitochondrial-ETC coenzyme-Q10 activation as a future drug target in the amelioration of ALS mediated motor neuronal dysfunctions.

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Neuronal nitric oxide synthase and systemic vasodilation in rats with cirrhosis

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.2000.279.6.f1110 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 279 (6) ◽

pp. F1110-F1115 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Lieming Xu ◽

Ethan P. Carter ◽

Mamiko Ohara ◽

Pierre-Yves Martin ◽

Boris Rogachev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Sodium Balance ◽

Hyperdynamic Circulation ◽

Molecular Approaches ◽

Advanced Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Oxide Synthase

Cirrhosis is typically associated with a hyperdynamic circulation consisting of low blood pressure, low systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and high cardiac output. We have recently reported that nonspecific inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with nitro-l-arginine methyl ester reverses the hyperdynamic circulation in rats with advanced liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Although an important role for endothelial NOS (eNOS) is documented in cirrhosis, the role of neuronal NOS (nNOS) has not been investigated. The present study was carried out to specifically investigate the role of nNOS during liver cirrhosis. Specifically, physiological, biochemical, and molecular approaches were employed to evaluate the contribution of nNOS to the cirrhosis-related hyperdynamic circulation in CCl4-induced cirrhotic rats with ascites. Cirrhotic animals had a significant increase in water and sodium retention. In the aorta from cirrhotic animals, both nNOS protein expression and cGMP concentration were significantly elevated compared with control. Treatment of cirrhotic rats for 7 days with the specific nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) normalized the low SVR and mean arterial pressure, elevated cardiac index, and reversed the positive sodium balance. Increased plasma arginine vasopressin concentrations in the cirrhotic animals were also repressed with 7-NI in association with diminished water retention. The circulatory changes were associated with a reduction in aortic nNOS expression and cGMP. However, 7-NI treatment did not restore renal function in cirrhotic rats (creatinine clearance: 0.76 ± 0.03 ml · min−1· 100 g body wt−1in cirrhotic rats vs. 0.79 ± 0.05 ml · min−1· 100 g body wt−1in cirrhotic rats+7-NI; P NS.). Taken together, these results indicate that nNOS-derived NO contributes to the development of the hyperdynamic circulation and fluid retention in cirrhosis.

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