Chronic Nitric Oxide Deficiency is Associated with Altered Leutinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Release in Ovariectomized Rats1

2002 ◽  
Vol 227 (9) ◽  
pp. 817-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria J. Barnes ◽  
Karen Lapanowski ◽  
Jose A. Rafols ◽  
David M. Lawson ◽  
Joseph C. Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gonadotropin Secretion ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Ovx Rats ◽  
Nos Inhibitor ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

Nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) has been found in the gonadotrophs and folliculo-stellate cells of the anterior pituitary. Previous observations from our laboratory suggest that NO may play a role in regulating gonadotropin secretion. Because estrogen secretion by the ovary can influence gonadotropin secretion, we investigated the hypothesis that chronic in vivo NO deficiency has a direct estrogen-independent effect on luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. Chronic NO deficiency was induced by adding an NOS inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 0.6 g/l) to the drinking water of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The control OVX rats were untreated. After 6–8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the pituitaries were removed and perfused continuously for 4 hr in the presence of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH, 500 ng/pulse) every 30 min. S-Nitroso-l-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP, an NO donor, 0.1 mM) or l-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an NOS inhibitor, 0.1 mM) was added to the media and perfusate samples were collected at 10-min intervals. GnRH-stimulated LH and FSH levels were significantly lower in pituitaries from OVX/NO-deficient pituitaries compared with pituitaries from the OVX control group. The addition of SNAP significantly decreased LH and FSH secretion by pituitaries from OVX control animals, but significantly increased their secretion by pituitaries from the OVX/NO-deficient animals. L-NAME also suppressed LH and FSH secretion by pituitaries from the OVX control animals and stimulated their release by pituitaries from the NO-deficient/OVX animals. Immunohisto-chemistry of frontal sections through the hypothalamus demonstrated that OVX/NO deficiency is associated with increased GnRH in the median eminence. We conclude that NO has a chronic stimulatory effect on LH and FSH release and the subsequent altered secretory responsiveness to NO agonist or antagonist is the result of chronic NO suppression.

Increased prostaglandin E generation and enhanced nitric oxide synthase activity in the non-insulin-dependent diabetic embryo during organogenesis

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Jawerbaum ◽  
Elida T. Gonzalez ◽  
Virginia Novaro ◽  
Alicia Faletti ◽  
Debora Sinner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Congenital Abnormalities ◽  
Prostaglandin E ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Insulin Dependent ◽  
Nos Inhibitor ◽  
Insulin Dependent Diabetic ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Embryonic development, prostaglandin E (PGE) generation and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity during organogenesis were evaluated in an experimental rat model of non-insulin- dependent diabetes (NIDD) generated by neonatal administration of streptozotocin. Gross malformations were detected in 5% of NIDD embryos and these embryos were all non-viable; in the other 95%, growth was retarded but no congenital abnormalities were found. Control embryos were all alive and not malformed. The NIDD 11-day embryos secreted more PGE into the incubation medium than did controls. The NO donor SIN–1 increased PGE production in both control and NIDD embryos. A NOS inhibitor (L-NMMA) reduced PGE generation in both experimental groups, suggesting a modulatory role of NO on embryonic PGE production. Activity of NOS was higher in NIDD 11-day embryos than in controls. Treatment in vivo of control and NIDD rats (Days 7–11 of gestation) with a NOS inhibitor (L-NAME; 5 mg kg-1 i.p.) reduced embryonic PGE production and induced a higher resorption rate and an increase in neural-tube defects. The results suggest that NO modulates PGE generation in the organogenetic embryo. In the NIDD model, overproduction of NO is observed, this NO probably enhancing embryonic PGE production. The relationship between PGE generation and the appearance of congenital abnormalities is discussed.

Lamprey GnRH-III Acts on Its Putative Receptor via Nitric Oxide to Release Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Specifically

2002 ◽  
Vol 227 (9) ◽  
pp. 786-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.H. Yu ◽  
S. Karanth ◽  
C.A. Mastronardi ◽  
S. Sealfon ◽  
C. Dean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
The Other ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Lh Rh ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

Lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III (I-GnRH-III), the putative follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-releasing factor (FSHRF), exerts a preferential FSH-releasing activity in rats both in vitro and in vivo. To test the hypothesis that I-GnRH-III acts on its own receptors to stimulate gonadotropin release, the functional activity of this peptide at mammalian (m) leutinizing hormone (LH)RH receptors transfected to COS cells was tested. I-GnRH-III activated m-LHRH receptors only at a minimal effective concentration (MEC) of 10–6 M, whereas m-LHRH was active at a MEC of 10–9 M, at least 1,000 times less than that required for I-GnRH-III. In 4-day monolayer cultured cells, I-GnRH-III was similarly extremely weak in releasing either LH or FSH, and, in fact, it released LH at a lower concentration (10–7 M) than that required for FSH release (10–6 M). In this assay, m-LHRH released both FSH and LH significantly at the lowest concentration tested (10–10 M). On the other hand, I-GnRH-III had a high potency to selectively release FSH and not LH from hemipituitaries of male rats. The results suggest that the cultured cells were devoid of FSHRF receptors, thereby resulting in a pattern of FSH and LH release caused by the LHRH receptor. On the other hand, the putative FSH-releasing factor receptor accounts for the selective FSH release by I-GnRH-III when tested on hemipituitaries. Removal of calcium from the medium plus the addition of EGTA, a calcium chelator, suppressed the release of gonadotropins induced by either I-GnRH-III or LHRH, indicating that calcium is required for the action of either peptide. Previous results showed that sodium nitroprusside, a releaser of nitric oxide (NO), causes the release of both FSH and LH from hemipituitaries incubated in vitro. In the present experiments, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, L-NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (300 μM) blocked the action of I-GnRH-III or partially purified FSHRF. The results indicate that I-GnRH-III and FSHRF act on putative FSHRF receptors by a calcium-dependent NO pathway.

Selective iNOS Inhibition Attenuates Acetylcholine- and Bradykinin-induced Vasoconstriction in Lipopolysaccharide-exposed Rat Lungs 

1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 1724-1724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars G. Fischer ◽  
Damian J. Horstman ◽  
Klaus Hahnenkamp ◽  
Nancy E. Kechner ◽  
George F. Rich
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Exhaled Nitric Oxide ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Biochemical Engineering ◽  
Inos Inhibitor ◽  
Nos Inhibitor ◽  
Inos Inhibitors ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Inos Inhibition ◽  
Dose Dependent

Background Nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition has detrimental effects in sepsis because of inhibition of the physiologically important endothelial NOS (eNOS). The authors hypothesized that selective inducible NOS (iNOS) inhibition would maintain eNOS vasodilation but prevent acetylcholine- and bradykinin-mediated vasoconstriction caused by lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial dysfunction. Methods Rats were administered intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (15 mg/kg) with and without the selective iNOS inhibitors L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (L-NIL, 3 mg/kg), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), or the nonselective NOS inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 5 mg/kg). Six hours later, the lungs were isolated and pulmonary vasoreactivity was assessed with hypoxic vasoconstrictions (3% O2), acetylcholine (1 microg), Biochemical Engineering, and bradykinin (3 microg). In additional lipopolysaccharide experiments, L-NIL (10 microM) or 4-Diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP, 100 microM), a selective muscarinic M3 antagonist, was added into the perfusate. Results Exhaled nitric oxide was higher in the lipopolysaccharide group (37.7+/-17.8 ppb) compared with the control group (0.4+/-0.7 ppb). L-NIL and dexamethasone decreased exhaled nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide rats by 83 and 79%, respectively, whereas L-NAME had no effect. In control lungs, L-NAME significantly decreased acetylcholine- and bradykinin-induced vasodilation by 75% and increased hypoxic vasoconstrictions, whereas L-NIL and dexamethasone had no effect. In lipopolysaccharide lungs, acetylcholine and bradykinin both transiently increased the pulmonary artery pressure by 8.4+/-2.0 mmHg and 35.3+/-11.7 mmHg, respectively, immediately after vasodilation. L-NIL and dexamethasone both attenuated this vasoconstriction by 70%, whereas L-NAME did not. The acetylcholine vasoconstriction was dose-dependent (0.01-1.0 microg), unaffected by L-NIL added to the perfusate, and abolished by 4-DAMP. Conclusions In isolated perfused lungs, acetylcholine and bradykinin caused vasoconstriction in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats. This vasoconstriction was attenuated by administration of the iNOS inhibitor L-NIL but not with L-NAME. Furthermore, L-NIL administered with lipopolysaccharide preserved endothelium nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation, whereas L-NAME did not.

Increasing dihydrobiopterin causes dysfunction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in rats in vivo

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (3) ◽  
pp. H721-H729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuhiko Noguchi ◽  
Naobumi Hamadate ◽  
Toshihiro Matsuzaki ◽  
Mayuko Sakanashi ◽  
Junko Nakasone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Enos Uncoupling ◽  
Nos Inhibitor ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide ◽  
First Time

An elevation of oxidized forms of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), especially dihydrobiopterin (BH2), has been reported in the setting of oxidative stress, such as arteriosclerotic/atherosclerotic disorders, where endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is dysfunctional, but the role of BH2 in the regulation of eNOS activity in vivo remains to be evaluated. This study was designed to clarify whether increasing BH2 concentration causes endothelial dysfunction in rats. To increase vascular BH2 levels, the BH2 precursor sepiapterin (SEP) was intravenously given after the administration of the specific dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor methotrexate (MTX) to block intracellular conversion of BH2 to BH4. MTX/SEP treatment did not significantly affect aortic BH4 levels compared with control treatment. However, MTX/SEP treatment markedly augmented aortic BH2 levels (291.1 ± 29.2 vs. 33.4 ± 6.4 pmol/g, P < 0.01) in association with moderate hypertension. Treatment with MTX alone did not significantly alter blood pressure or BH4 levels but decreased the BH4-to-BH2 ratio. Treatment with MTX/SEP, but not with MTX alone, impaired ACh-induced vasodilator and depressor responses compared with the control treatment (both P < 0.05) and also aggravated ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations ( P < 0.05) of isolated aortas without affecting sodium nitroprusside-induced endothelium-independent relaxations. Importantly, MTX/SEP treatment significantly enhanced aortic superoxide production, which was diminished by NOS inhibitor treatment, and the impaired ACh-induced relaxations were reversed with SOD ( P < 0.05), suggesting the involvement of eNOS uncoupling. These results indicate, for the first time, that increasing BH2 causes eNOS dysfunction in vivo even in the absence of BH4 deficiency, demonstrating a novel insight into the regulation of endothelial function.

scholarly journals Role of nitric oxide in heparin-induced attenuation of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling

2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 2012-2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian J. Horstman ◽  
Lars G. Fischer ◽  
Peter C. Kouretas ◽  
Robert L. Hannan ◽  
George F. Rich
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Pulmonary Vasculature ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Antiproliferative Effects ◽  
Coculture Model ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Nos Inhibitor

Heparin and nitric oxide (NO) attenuate changes to the pulmonary vasculature caused by prolonged hypoxia. Heparin may increase NO; therefore, we hypothesized that heparin may attenuate hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling via a NO-mediated mechanism. In vivo, rats were exposed to normoxia (N) or hypoxia (H; 10% O2) with or without heparin (1,200 U · kg−1 · day−1) and/or the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 20 mg · kg−1 · day−1) for 3 days or 3 wk. Heparin attenuated increases in pulmonary arterial pressure, the percentage of muscular pulmonary vessels, and their medial thickness induced by 3 wk of H. Importantly, althoughl-NAME alone had no effect, it prevented these effects of heparin on vascular remodeling. In H lungs, heparin increased NOS activity and cGMP levels at 3 days and 3 wk and endothelial NOS protein expression at 3 days but not at 3 wk. In vitro, heparin (10 and 100 U · kg−1 · ml−1) increased cGMP levels after 10 min and 24 h in N and anoxic (0% O2) endothelial cell-smooth muscle cell (SMC) coculture. SMC proliferation, assessed by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation during a 3-h incubation period, was decreased by heparin under N, but not anoxic, conditions. The antiproliferative effects of heparin were not altered byl-NAME. In conclusion, the in vivo results suggest that attenuation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling by heparin is NO mediated. Heparin increases cGMP in vitro; however, the heparin-induced decrease in SMC proliferation in the coculture model appears to be NO independent.

Nitric oxide increases GLUT4 expression and regulates AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. E1062-E1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor A. Lira ◽  
Quinlyn A. Soltow ◽  
Jodi H. D. Long ◽  
Jenna L. Betters ◽  
Jeff E. Sellman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Ampk Signaling ◽  
L6 Myotubes ◽  
Glut4 Expression ◽  
Compound C ◽  
Cgmp Analog

Nitric oxide (NO) and 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are involved in glucose transport and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. Here, we examined whether NO regulates the expression of the major glucose transporter in muscle (GLUT4) and whether it influences AMPK-induced upregulation of GLUT4. At low levels, the NO donor S-nitroso- N-penicillamine (SNAP, 1 and 10 μM) significantly increased GLUT4 mRNA (∼3-fold; P < 0.05) in L6 myotubes, and cotreatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C ablated this effect. The cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP, 2 mM) increased GLUT4 mRNA by ∼50% ( P < 0.05). GLUT4 protein expression was elevated 40% by 2 days treatment with 8-Br-cGMP, whereas 6 days treatment with 10 μM SNAP increased GLUT4 expression by 65%. Cotreatment of cultures with the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one prevented the SNAP-induced increase in GLUT4 protein. SNAP (10 μM) also induced significant phosphorylation of α-AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase and translocation of phosphorylated α-AMPK to the nucleus. Furthermore, L6 myotubes exposed to 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) for 16 h presented an approximately ninefold increase in GLUT4 mRNA, whereas cotreatment with the non-isoform-specific NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, prevented ∼70% of this effect. In vivo, GLUT4 mRNA was increased 1.8-fold in the rat plantaris muscle 12 h after AICAR injection, and this induction was reduced by ∼50% in animals cotreated with the neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases selective inhibitor 1-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-imidazole. We conclude that, in skeletal muscle, NO increases GLUT4 expression via a cGMP- and AMPK-dependent mechanism. The data are consistent with a role for NO in the regulation of AMPK, possibly via control of cellular activity of AMPK kinases and/or AMPK phosphatases.

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