Maturational changes in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone by nitric oxide in neonatal rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. L1261-L1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis G. Chicoine ◽  
Michael L. Paffett ◽  
Mark R. Girton ◽  
Matthew J. Metropoulus ◽  
Mandar S. Joshi ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of vasomotor tone in the pulmonary circulation. We tested the hypothesis that the role NO plays in regulating vascular tone changes during early postnatal development. Isolated, perfused lungs from 7- and 14-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Baseline total pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was not different between age groups. The addition of KCl to the perfusate caused a concentration-dependent increase in PVR that did not differ between age groups. However, the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine augmented the K+-induced increase in PVR in both groups, and the effect was greater in lungs from 14-day-old rats vs. 7-day-old rats. Lung levels of total endothelial, inducible, and neuronal NOS proteins were not different between groups; however, the production rate of exhaled NO was greater in lungs from 14-day-old rats compared with those of 7-day-old rats. Vasodilation to 0.1 μM of the NO donor spermine NONOate was greater in 14-day lungs than in 7-day lungs, and lung levels of both soluble guanylyl cyclase and cGMP were greater at 14 days than at 7 days. Vasodilation to 100 μM of the cGMP analog 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)guanosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate was greater in 7-day lungs than in 14-day lungs. Our results demonstrate that the pulmonary vascular bed depends more on NO production to modulate vascular tone at 14 days than at 7 days of age. The observed differences in NO sensitivity may be due to maturational increases in soluble guanylyl cyclase protein levels.

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. F212-F217 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Lau ◽  
O. Nakashima ◽  
G. R. Aalund ◽  
L. Hogarth ◽  
K. Ujiie ◽  
...  

Cytokines increase the expression of the inducible (type II) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in macrophages, liver, and renal epithelial cells. Previously, we found that cultured rat medullary interstitial cells (RMIC) contain high levels of soluble guanylyl cyclase. To determine whether these cells can also produce NO, we studied the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on NO production, NOS II mRNA, and NOS II protein expression. Both TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, in the presence of a low concentration of the other cytokine, caused dose-dependent increases in NO production. Exposure to TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma stimulated the production of NOS II mRNA, as determined by Northern blotting. Restriction mapping of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products indicated that normal cells contained macrophage NOS II, whereas cytokine-stimulated cells contained primarily vascular smooth muscle NOS II and some macrophage NOS II. The appearance of NOS II protein was demonstrated by Western blotting. RMIC cell guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation increased 129-fold in response to the cytokines. NOS inhibitors decreased nitrite production. We conclude that 1) TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma induce the expression of vascular smooth muscle NOS II and production of NO in RMIC, and 2) NO acts as an autocrine activator of the soluble guanylyl cyclase in RMIC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (8) ◽  
pp. F748-F754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanesa D. Ramseyer ◽  
Pablo A. Ortiz ◽  
Oscar A. Carretero ◽  
Jeffrey L. Garvin

In thick ascending limbs (THALs), nitric oxide (NO) decreases NaCl reabsorption via cGMP-mediated inhibition of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2). In angiotensin (ANG II)-induced hypertension, endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced NO production by THALs is impaired. However, whether this alters NO's natriuretic effects and the mechanisms involved are unknown. In other cell types, ANG II augments phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5)-mediated cGMP degradation. We hypothesized that NO-mediated inhibition of NKCC2 activity and stimulation of cGMP synthesis are blunted via PDE5 in ANG II-induced hypertension. Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with vehicle or ANG II (200 ng·kg−1·min−1) for 5 days. ET-1 reduced NKCC2 activity by 38 ± 13% ( P < 0.05) in THALs from vehicle-treated rats but not from ANG II-hypertensive rats (Δ: −9 ± 13%). A NO donor yielded similar results as ET-1. In contrast, dibutyryl-cGMP significantly decreased NKCC2 activity in both vehicle-treated and ANG II-hypertensive rats (control: Δ−44 ± 15% vs. ANG II: Δ−41 ± 10%). NO increased cGMP by 2.08 ± 0.36 fmol/μg protein in THALs from vehicle-treated rats but only 1.06 ± 0.25 fmol/μg protein in ANG II-hypertensive rats ( P < 0.04). Vardenafil (25 nM), a PDE5 inhibitor, restored NO's ability to inhibit NKCC2 activity in THALs from ANG II-hypertensive rats (Δ: −60 ± 9%, P < 0.003). Similarly, NO's stimulation of cGMP was also restored by vardenafil (vehicle-treated: 1.89 ± 0.71 vs. ANG II-hypertensive: 2.02 ± 0.32 fmol/μg protein). PDE5 expression did not differ between vehicle-treated and ANG II-hypertensive rats. We conclude that NO-induced inhibition of NKCC2 and increases in cGMP are blunted in ANG II-hypertensive rats due to PDE5 activation. Defects in the response of THALs to NO may enhance NaCl retention in ANG II-induced hypertension.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (6) ◽  
pp. F1386-F1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukut Sharma ◽  
Zongmin Zhou ◽  
Hiroto Miura ◽  
Andreas Papapetropoulos ◽  
Ellen T. McCarthy ◽  
...  

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with decreased renal nitric oxide (NO) production and increased plasma levels of methylarginines. The naturally occurring guanidino-methylated arginines N-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) and asymmetric dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA) inhibit NO synthase activity. We hypothesized that ADMA and l-NMMA compromise the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier via NO depletion. We studied the effect of ADMA on albumin permeability (Palb) in isolated glomeruli and examined whether this effect involves NO- and superoxide (O2•−)-dependent mechanisms. ADMA at concentrations found in circulation of patients with CKD decreased cGMP and increased Palb in a dose-dependent manner. A similar increase in Palb was caused by l-NMMA but at a concentration two orders of magnitude higher than that of ADMA. NO donor DETA-NONOate or cGMP analog abrogated the effect of ADMA on Palb. The SOD mimetic tempol or the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin also prevented the ADMA-induced increase in Palb. The NO-independent soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator BAY 41–2272, at concentrations that increased glomerular cGMP production, attenuated the ADMA-induced increase in Palb. Furthermore, sGC incapacitation by the heme site-selective inhibitor ODQ increased Palb. We conclude that ADMA compromises the integrity of the filtration barrier by altering the bioavailability of NO and O2•− and that NO-independent activation of sGC preserves the integrity of this barrier under conditions of NO depletion. NO-independent activation of sGS may be a useful pharmacotherapeutic approach for preservation of glomerular function in CKD thereby reducing the risk for cardiovascular events.


1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 4154-4161 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Middendorff ◽  
D. Müller ◽  
S. Wichers ◽  
A. F. Holstein ◽  
M. S. Davidoff

Previous studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) influences Leydig cell function. Here we provide evidence for NO production and activity in seminiferous tubules and blood vessels of the human testis. By immunohistochemistry, the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the intracellular NO receptor, and the second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), were detected in myofibroblasts of the peritubular lamina propria in Sertoli cells, as well as in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of testicular blood vessels. Performed with isolated tubules and blood vessels, the biological activity of sGC could be proved by cGMP generation in response to treatments with the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside. The endothelial and neuronal subtypes of NO synthase (NOS) were localized immunohistochemically to the same cell types that express sGC and cGMP. In isolated tubules and vessels, the presence of endothelial NOS and neuronal NOS was confirmed by immunoblotting, and NOS activity was demonstrated by decreased cGMP production upon incubation with the NOS inhibitor l-nitro arginine methylester. These findings show that peritubular cells, Sertoli cells, and testicular blood vessels may be sites of NO production and activity, possibly involved in relaxation of seminiferous tubules and blood vessels to modulate sperm transport and testicular blood flow, respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (6) ◽  
pp. R704-R715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson G. Hindle ◽  
Kaitlin N. Allen ◽  
Annabelle J. Batten ◽  
Luis A. Hückstädt ◽  
Jason Turner-Maier ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator, which improves perfusion and oxygen delivery during tissue hypoxia in terrestrial animals. The vertebrate dive response involves vasoconstriction in select tissues, which persists despite profound hypoxia. Using tissues collected from Weddell seals at necropsy, we investigated whether vasoconstriction is aided by downregulation of local hypoxia signaling mechanisms. We focused on NO–soluble guanylyl cyclase (GC)-cGMP signaling, a well-known vasodilatory transduction pathway. Seals have a lower GC protein abundance, activity, and capacity to respond to NO stimulation than do terrestrial mammals. In seal lung homogenates, GC produced less cGMP (20.1 ± 3.7 pmol·mg protein−1·min−1) than the lungs of dogs (−80 ± 144 pmol·mg protein−1·min−1 less than seals), sheep (−472 ± 96), rats (−664 ± 104) or mice (−1,160 ± 104, P < 0.0001). Amino acid sequences of the GC enzyme α-subunits differed between seals and terrestrial mammals, potentially affecting their structure and function. Vasoconstriction in diving Weddell seals is not consistent across tissues; perfusion is maintained in the brain and heart but decreased in other organs such as the kidney. A NO donor increased median GC activity 49.5-fold in the seal brain but only 27.4-fold in the kidney, consistent with the priority of cerebral perfusion during diving. Nos3 expression was high in the seal brain, which could improve NO production and vasodilatory potential. Conversely, Pde5a expression was high in the seal renal artery, which may increase cGMP breakdown and vasoconstriction in the kidney. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that alterations in the NO-cGMP pathway facilitate the diving response.


2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (50) ◽  
pp. 46887-46895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Zamora ◽  
Louis Alarcon ◽  
Yoram Vodovotz ◽  
Binnie Betten ◽  
Peter K. M. Kim ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO) is not only an important signaling molecule, but it also regulates the expression of a number of genes in the liver. We have previously shown that apoptosis in hepatocytes exposed to tumor necrosis factor-α and actinomycin D is prevented by NO derived from the inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), by mechanisms that are both dependent on and independent of modulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) subsequent to activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). We hypothesize that one mechanism by which NO exerts these effects is by regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. We used differential display-polymerase chain reaction to isolate NO-regulated genes in hepatocytes fromiNOSknockout mice (to eliminate endogenous inducible NO production). Using this analysis, we identified a NO-suppressed gene fragment homologous with the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding protein BNIP3. Northern analysis confirmed the NO-dependent suppression ofBNIP3in cultured cells. Similarly, the NO donorS-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine (1–1000 μm) down-regulated the expression ofBNIP3in bothiNOSknockout and wild-type hepatocytes. This effect of NO was reversed by the sGC inhibitor 1H-(1,2,4)-oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalon-1-one (ODQ),suggesting the involvement of the sGC/cGMP pathway in the modulation of BNIP3 by NO. We propose that suppression of BNIP3 expression is one sGC/cGMP-dependent mechanism by which NO might affect the process of hepatocyte apoptosis.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (6) ◽  
pp. H2366-H2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam P. Willis ◽  
Charles W. Leffler

Specific cerebrovascular dilatory responses in newborn piglets are entirely prostanoid dependent, but require both nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids in juveniles. We examined endothelial dependency and mechanisms of NO- and prostanoid-mediated cerebrovascular responses in anesthetized newborn and juvenile pigs implanted with closed cranial windows. Light/dye endothelial injury inhibited newborn and juvenile hypercapnic and bradykinin (BK) responses and inhibited dilation to acetylcholine in juveniles. Iloprost and NO act permissively in restoring light/dye inhibited newborn and juvenile responses, respectively. Differences in sensitivity to iloprost and sodium nitroprusside were not observed. Juvenile (not newborn) hypercapnic and BK cerebrovascular responses were sensitive to soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibition. Pial arteriolar diameter and cortical production of prostacyclin, cAMP, and cGMP in response to BK were measured under control conditions, after treatment with indomethacin and/or N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). Indomethacin inhibited BK responses in newborns. Juvenile responses were inhibited by l-NAME, and mildly by indomethacin. Cortical 6-keto-PGF1α, cAMP, and cGMP increased in response to BK in both age groups. Newborn cerebrovascular responses are largely NO independent, but NO becomes more important with maturation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (4) ◽  
pp. H878-H887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele K. Couto ◽  
Suliana M. Paula ◽  
Igor L. Gomes-Santos ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Negrão ◽  
Luciana V. Rossoni

Exercise training (ET) has emerged as a nonpharmacological therapy for cardiovascular diseases because of its helpful milieu for improving vascular function. The aim of the present study was to assess whether ET reverses the alterations in vascular reactivity observed in heart failure (HF)-related coronary arteries and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in these adjustments. Male Wistar rats were subjected to either coronary artery ligation or sham operation. Four weeks after the surgery, rats were divided into two groups: untrained HF (UHF) and exercise-trained HF (THF). ET was conducted on a treadmill for 8 wk. An untrained SO group was included in the study as a normal control. ET restored the impaired acetylcholine (ACh)- and sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation in coronary arteries to levels of the control. Oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide (NO) production were observed in UHF, whereas ET restored both parameters to the levels of the control. Expression levels of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and soluble guanylyl cyclase subunits were increased in coronary arteries of UHF rats but reduced in THF rats. Tetrahydrobiopterin restored ACh-induced NO production in the UHF group, indicating that eNOS was uncoupled. ET increased the eNOS dimer-to-monomer ratio and expression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1, thus increasing NO bioavailability. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that ET reverses the dysfunction of the NO/soluble guanylyl cyclase pathway present in coronary arteries of HF rats. These effects of ET are associated with increased GTP cyclohydrolase 1 expression, restoration of NO bioavailability, and reduced oxidative stress through eNOS coupling. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study provides a molecular basis for the exercise-induced improvement in coronary arteries function in heart failure. Increasing the expression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, exercise training couples endothelial nitric oxide synthase, reduces oxidative stress, and increases nitric oxide bioavailability and sensitivity in coronary arteries of heart failure rats.


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