Endothelial vasodilator production by uterine and systemic arteries. VI. Ovarian and pregnancy effects on eNOS and NOx

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (4) ◽  
pp. H1692-H1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald R. Magness ◽  
Jeremy A. Sullivan ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Terrance M. Phernetton ◽  
Ian M. Bird

Normal pregnancy and the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle are both estrogen-dominated physiological states that are characterized by elevations in uterine blood flow and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression in the uterine artery (UA) endothelium. It is unknown if elevations in mRNA level account for the changes in protein or eNOS activity. We tested the hypothesis that pregnancy and the follicular phase are associated with increases in eNOS mRNA and the consequent elevated expression of eNOS protein results in increased circulating nitric oxide (NO) levels. UA were obtained from pregnant (PREG; n = 8; 110–130 days gestation; term = 145 ± 3 days), nonpregnant luteal (LUT; n = 6), nonpregnant follicular (FOL; n= 6), and nonpregnant ovariectomized (OVEX; n = 6) sheep. Circulating NO levels were analyzed as total NO2-NO3 (NOx). Western analysis performed on UA endothelial-isolated proteins demonstrated that eNOS protein levels were OVEX = LUT ≤ FOL < PREG ( P < 0.05), whereas eNOS mRNA expression (RT-PCR) in UA endothelial cells obtained by limited collagenase digestion was OVEX < LUT < FOL < PREG ( P < 0.05). Pregnancy dramatically elevated eNOS protein (4.1- to 6.9-fold) and mRNA (2.4- to 6.9-fold) over LUT controls ( P < 0.01). Circulating NOx levels were not altered by ovariectomy or the ovarian cycle but were elevated from 4.4 ± 1.1 μM in LUT to 12 ± 4, 22 ± 3, and 41 ± 3 μM at 110, 120, and 130 days gestation ( P < 0.01). Systemic NOxlevels in singleton (12.5 ± 1.6 μM) were less ( P < 0.01) than in multiple (twin 27.6 ± 6.5 μM; triplet = 46 ± 10 μM) pregnancies. Therefore, the follicular phase and, to a much greater extent, pregnancy are associated with elevations in UA endothelium-derived eNOS expression, although significant increases in systemic NOx levels were only observed in the PREG group (multiple > singleton). Thus, although UA endothelial increases in eNOS protein and mRNA levels are associated with high estrogen states, increases in local UA NO production may require additional eNOS protein activation to play its important role in the maintenance of uterine blood flow in pregnancy.

2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (4) ◽  
pp. H1182-H1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu-Xian Yi ◽  
Derek S. Boeldt ◽  
Ronald R. Magness ◽  
Ian M. Bird

Pregnancy is a time of greatly increased uterine blood flow to meet the needs of the growing fetus. Increased uterine blood flow is also observed in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle. Simultaneous fura-2 and 4,5-diaminofluoresceine (DAF-2) imaging reveals that cells of the uterine artery endothelium (UA Endo) from follicular phase ewes produce marginally more nitric oxide (NO) in response to ATP than those from luteal phase. However, this is paralleled by changes in NO in response to ionomycin, suggesting this is solely due to higher levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein in the follicular phase. In contrast, UA Endo from pregnant ewes (P-UA Endo) produces substantially more NO (4.62-fold initial maximum rate, 2.56-fold overall NO production) in response to ATP, beyond that attributed to eNOS levels alone (2.07-fold initial maximum rate, 1.93-fold overall with ionomycin). The ATP-stimulated intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) response in individual cells of P-UA Endo comprises an initial peak followed by transient [Ca2+]i bursts that are limited in the luteal phase, not altered in the follicular phase, but are sustained in pregnancy and observed in more cells. Thus pregnancy adaptation of UA Endo NO output occurs beyond the level of eNOS expression and likely through associated [Ca2+]i cell signaling changes. Preeclampsia is a condition of a lack of UA Endo adaptation and poor NO production/vasodilation and is associated with elevated placental VEGF165. While treatment of luteal NP-UA Endo and P-UA Endo with VEGF165 acutely stimulates a very modest [Ca2+]i and NO response, subsequent stimulation of the same vessel with ATP results in a blunted [Ca2+]i and an associated NO response, with P-UA Endo reverting to the response of luteal NP-UA Endo. This demonstrates the importance of adaptation of cell signaling over eNOS expression in pregnancy adaptation of uterine endothelial function and further implicates VEGF in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (5) ◽  
pp. H1845-H1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Vagnoni ◽  
Cynthia E. Shaw ◽  
Terrance M. Phernetton ◽  
Beth M. Meglin ◽  
Ian M. Bird ◽  
...  

During the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, when the local estrogen-to-progesterone ratio is elevated, uterine blood flow is elevated. This vasodilatory response is reproduced by exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2β) administration via a nitric oxide (NO)-mediated mechanism. We hypothesized that endogenous ovarian estrogen and exogenous E2β treatment elevate expression of endothelial cell-derived NO synthase (eNOS) in uterine, but not in systemic, arteries. Uterine, mammary, and systemic (renal and/or omental) arteries were collected from 1) ewes synchronized to the follicular ( day −1 to day 0) or luteal ( day 10) phases of the ovarian cycle ( n = 4 per phase), 2) ovariectomized ewes 120 min after systemic vehicle or E2β (5 μg/kg iv) treatment, and 3) ovariectomized ewes on days 0, 3, 6, 8, and 10 of E2β (5 μg/kg iv, followed by 6 μg/kg per day) treatment. Expression of eNOS was localized primarily to the endothelium rather than vascular smooth muscle (VSM) in all arteries examined by immunohistochemistry and Western analysis; inducible NOS was not detected in either endothelium or VSM. Expression of eNOS protein was greater ( P < 0.05) in uterine, but not in systemic, artery endothelium-isolated protein collected from follicular versus luteal phase ewes. Acute systemic E2β treatment of ovariectomized ewes increased ( P < 0.05) eNOS protein levels in uterine artery endothelium. Prolonged E2β administration progressively increased uterine, but not systemic, artery endothelial eNOS protein expression. Therefore, the increased local estrogen-to-progesterone ratio during the follicular phase locally elevates eNOS expression, which possibly elevates uterine blood flow. These responses can be partly reproduced with E2β administration.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (2) ◽  
pp. R623-R626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazue Kikuchi-Utsumi ◽  
Bihu Gao ◽  
Hiroshi Ohinata ◽  
Masaaki Hashimoto ◽  
Noriyuki Yamamoto ◽  
...  

It has been shown that norepinephrine (NE) can mediate vasodilatation by stimulating the production of nitric oxide (NO) in brown adipose tissue (BAT), resulting in an increase in BAT blood flow. We speculated that constitutive NO synthase (NOS) is involved in this NO production. However, it is not known whether constitutive NOS is expressed in BAT. To answer this question, we assessed the expression of two types of constitutive NOS, endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS), in BAT of rats. eNOS was abundantly expressed in both BAT and isolated brown adipocytes, whereas nNOS was not. Cold exposure, which is known to stimulate NE release from sympathetic nerve terminals in BAT, led to a significant increase in eNOS mRNA in this tissue. In contrast, very low levels of inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA were expressed, and cold stimulation failed to increase iNOS mRNA levels in BAT. These results suggest that eNOS is the primary isoform that is responsible for NO production in BAT and that its expression may be under sympathetic control.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. H60-H66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Dumont ◽  
Pierre Hardy ◽  
Krishna G. Peri ◽  
Xin Hou ◽  
Stéphane Molotchnikoff ◽  
...  

We investigated if prostaglandins might regulate the increased choroidal endothelial (e) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the perinate. Prostaglandins, eNOS mRNA, immunoreactive protein and activity, and nitrite [stable metabolite of nitric oxide (NO)] production were markedly higher in newborn (1 day old) than juvenile (6–8 wk old) pig choroid. Treatment of isolated newborn choroids with the prostaglandin synthase inhibitor ibuprofen for 24 h reduced eNOS mRNA and nitrite production to values in juveniles. This effect was equally observed with the PGD2 receptor (DP) blocker BW A868C and was prevented by cotreatment with PGD2 but not other prostaglandins; similar observations were made on NOS activity in vivo. PGD2 also increased eNOS expression on choroids of juveniles, and this effect was blocked by BW A868C. The manifestation of this upregulation of eNOS by PGD2 on the control of choroidal vasomotor response was tested by using NO-dependent vasorelaxants, ACh, bradykinin (Bk), and substance P (SP). ACh-, Bk-, and SP-elicited choroidal vasorelaxation was greater in saline-treated newborn than juvenile pigs. Ibuprofen (24 h) decreased ACh-, Bk-, and SP-evoked vasorelaxation in newborns, whereas PGD2 increased that in juveniles and prevented the ibuprofen-induced attenuated relaxation in newborns; infusion of N ω-monomethyl-l-arginine in choroids of those animals treated with PGD2 reversed the augmented vasorelaxation to ACh, Bk, and SP. Finally, PGD2-induced upregulation of NOS in the perinate was also reflected by curtailed choroidal blood flow autoregulatory response to increased perfusion pressure. In conclusion, PGD2 exhibits a major role in upregulating eNOS expression and activity in the choroid, which in turn results in greater NO-mediated vasorelaxation; a new mechanism for eNOS regulation via DP is hereby disclosed. The relationship between PGD2 and eNOS in the developing subject provides an explanation for the interactive role of these two factors in the absent choroidal blood flow autoregulation in the perinate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haidy A. Saleh ◽  
Eman Ramdan ◽  
Mohey M. Elmazar ◽  
Hassan M. E. Azzazy ◽  
Anwar Abdelnaser

AbstractDoxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy is associated with the release of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages. This has been suggested to be, in part, due to DOX-mediated leakage of endotoxins from gut microflora, which activate Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in macrophages, causing severe inflammation. However, the direct function of DOX on macrophages is still unknown. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that DOX alone is incapable of stimulating inflammatory response in macrophages. Then, we compared the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin (CUR), resveratrol (RES) and sulforaphane (SFN) against lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN-γ)-mediated inflammation in the absence or presence of DOX. For this purpose, RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ (10 ng/mL/10 U/mL) in the absence or presence of DOX (0.1 µM). Our results showed that DOX alone is incapable of stimulating an inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, after 24 h of incubation with LPS/IFN-γ, a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels was observed. Similarly, nitric oxide (NO) production and TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels were significantly upregulated. Moreover, in LPS/IFN-γ-treated macrophages, the microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-21 were significantly overexpressed. Interestingly, upon testing CUR, RES, and SFN against LPS/IFN-γ-mediated inflammation, only SFN was able to significantly reverse the LPS/IFN-γ-mediated induction of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-6 and attenuate miR-146a and miR-155 levels. In conclusion, SFN, at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, exhibits potent immunomodulatory action against LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated macrophages, which may indicate SFN as a potential treatment for DOX-associated inflammation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (6) ◽  
pp. F1324-F1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish M. Tiwari ◽  
Robert W. Brock ◽  
Judit K. Megyesi ◽  
Gur P. Kaushal ◽  
Philip R. Mayeux

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent and serious complication of endotoxemia caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and contributes significantly to mortality. The present studies were undertaken to examine the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and caspase activation on renal peritubular blood flow and apoptosis in a murine model of LPS-induced ARF. Male C57BL/6 mice treated with LPS ( Escherichia coli) at a dose of 10 mg/kg developed ARF at 18 h. Renal failure was associated with a significant decrease in peritubular capillary perfusion. Vessels with no flow increased from 7 ± 3% in the saline group to 30 ± 4% in the LPS group ( P < 0.01). Both the inducible NO synthase inhibitor l- N6-1-iminoethyl-lysine (l-NIL) and the nonselective caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD) prevented renal failure and reversed perfusion deficits. Renal failure was also associated with an increase in renal caspase-3 activity and an increase in renal apoptosis. Both l-NIL and Z-VAD prevented these changes. LPS caused an increase in NO production that was blocked by l-NIL but not by Z-VAD. Taken together, these data suggest NO-mediated activation of renal caspases and the resulting disruption in peritubular blood flow are an important mechanism of LPS-induced ARF.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. E464-E470 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Magness ◽  
C. R. Rosenfeld ◽  
B. R. Carr

Elevated uterine blood flow is associated with increases in local estrogen-to-progesterone ratios during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle and late pregnancy. Because protein kinase C (PKC) activation increases arterial tone, decreased PKC activity may mediate vasodilation. Therefore, we determined uterine (UA) and systemic artery (SA, omental) PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular (n = 6), early luteal (n = 4), and late luteal (n = 3) phases of the sheep ovarian cycle, and at 110 +/- 3 (n = 4) and 130 +/- 1 (n = 8) (+/- SE) days of ovine gestation. The stage of the ovarian cycle was verified by the presence of follicles (high estrogen) or corpora lutea (high progesterone) on the ovary and by plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations. UA-PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular phase was 100 +/- 18 and increased progressively to 155 +/- 28 during the early luteal phase and to 219 +/- 37 (P less than 0.05) during the late luteal phase; SA-PKC activity was unchanged. A local utero-ovarian relationship was observed, i.e., UA-PKC activity was lower (P less than 0.001) in UA ipsilateral to ovaries with only follicles (105 +/- 14) when compared with UA adjacent to ovaries with corpora lutea (224 +/- 26), which was similar to SA-PKC activity (184 +/- 35). UA-PKC activity fell from 344 +/- 70 at 110 days to 109 +/- 12 at 130 days gestation (P less than 0.05); SA-PKC activity was unchanged. During the ovarian cycle and latter one-third of ovine pregnancy, increased estrogen production is associated with decreased UA-PKC activity; thus local ovarian and placental steroids may alter PKC activity, thereby regulating UA tone and blood flow.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (3) ◽  
pp. C849-C856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Ning Qi ◽  
Zuo-Qin Yan ◽  
Peter G. Whang ◽  
Qi Zhou ◽  
Long-En Chen ◽  
...  

This study examined mRNA and protein expressions of neuronal (nNOS), inducible (iNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS) in peripheral nerve after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Sixty-six rats were divided into the ischemia only and I/R groups. One sciatic nerve of each animal was used as the experimental side and the opposite untreated nerve as the control. mRNA levels in the nerve were quantitatively measured by competitive PCR, and protein was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that, after ischemia (2 h), both nNOS and eNOS protein expressions decreased. After I/R (2 h of ischemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion), expression of both nNOS and eNOS mRNA and protein decreased further. In contrast, iNOS mRNA significantly increased after ischemia and was further upregulated (14-fold) after I/R, while iNOS protein was not detected. The results reveal the dynamic expression of individual NOS isoforms during the course of I/R injury. An understanding of this modulation on a cellular and molecular level may lead to understanding the mechanisms of I/R injury and to methods of ameliorating peripheral nerve injury.


2000 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 1381-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan T. Demchenko ◽  
Albert E. Boso ◽  
Thomas J. O'Neill ◽  
Peter B. Bennett ◽  
Claude A. Piantadosi

We have tested the hypothesis that cerebral nitric oxide (NO) production is involved in hyperbaric O2 (HBO2) neurotoxicity. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and electroencephalogram (EEG) were measured in anesthetized rats during O2 exposure to 1, 3, 4, and 5 ATA with or without administration of the NO synthase inhibitor ( N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester), l-arginine, NO donors, or the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor inhibitor MK-801. After 30 min of O2 exposure at 3 and 4 ATA, rCBF decreased by 26–39% and by 37–43%, respectively, and was sustained for 75 min. At 5 ATA, rCBF decreased over 30 min in the substantia nigra by one-third but, thereafter, gradually returned to preexposure levels, preceding the onset of EEG spiking activity. Rats pretreated with N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and exposed to HBO2 at 5 ATA maintained a low rCBF. MK-801 did not alter the cerebrovascular responses to HBO2at 5 ATA but prevented the EEG spikes. NO donors increased rCBF in control rats but were ineffective during HBO2 exposures. The data provide evidence that relative lack of NO activity contributes to decreased rCBF under HBO2, but, as exposure time is prolonged, NO production increases and augments rCBF in anticipation of neuronal excitation.


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