Role of potassium channels in the regulation of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of potassium channels in the regulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ( [Ca²⁺]_i) of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in rats. METHODS: The fluorescence Ca²⁺ indicator Fura-2/AM was used to observe [Ca²⁺]_i of rat PASMCs in normal and chronic hypoxic condition. The influences of potassium channels on PASMCs proliferation were assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: 1. In normoxic condition, [Ca²⁺]_i was (156.91±8.60) nmol/L, and in hypoxic condition, [Ca²⁺]_i was (294.01±16.81) nmol/L. 2. In normoxic condition, the voltage-dependent K⁺-channel antagonist 4-aminopyridine (4AP), but not the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺-channel antagonist tetraethylammonium (TEA) and the ATP-sensitive K⁺-channel antagonist glibenclamide (Glib) increased [Ca²⁺]_i. 3. In hypoxic condition, 4AP and TEA caused the rise in [Ca²⁺]_i , but Glib had no effect on [Ca²⁺]_i. 4. MTT assay showed that 4AP increased the value of absorbing light degree (A value) in normoxic and hypoxic condition (0.582±0.062,0.873±0.043,respectively, P＜0.01), TEA increased A value only in hypoxic condition, and Glib had no effect on the proliferation of PASMCs. CONCLUSIONS: K_V plays an important role in the regulation of [Ca²⁺]_i and proliferation of PASMCs. K_Ca serves as distinct responsive roles in the regulation of proliferation of PASMCs in hypoxic condition. K_ATP has no effect on [Ca²⁺]_i and proliferation of PASMCs in normoxic and hypoxic conditions.     

夹竹桃花挥发油的GC-MS分析及β-葡萄糖苷酶对夹竹桃花的增香和豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌的作用

目的:建立夹竹桃花挥发油GC-MS的色谱分离鉴定方法,分析夹竹桃花挥发油的化学成分和对豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌的作用。方法:采用挥发油提取器提取夹竹桃花挥发油,以GC-MS法进行分析鉴定,建立了豚鼠离体子宫模型。结果:分别从无酶和有酶的夹竹桃花挥发油提取物中确证了58和57个化合物,挥发油对豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌有收缩作用。结论:对夹竹桃的挥发油化学成分进行了比较分析结果表明,β-葡萄糖苷酶对夹竹桃花有较弱增香作用,也能增加豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌收缩。     

Estrogen treatment enhances mesenteric lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock

AIM To investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol （E2） treatment on the mesenteric lymphatic microcirculation and isolated lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock, and to explore the relationship between contractility and the difference between intra- and extracellular calcium ion concentrations （［Ca²⁺］） of lymphatic smooth muscle cells （LSMCs）. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into sham group, shock group and shock+E2 group. The rats were subjected to hemorrhage ［（40±2） mmHg for 90 min］ and resuscitation with or without subcutaneous injection of E2 （2 mg/kg）. After resuscitation for 3 h, the mesenteric lymphatic microcirculation in vivo was observed. Moreover, the isolated mesenteric microlymphatic rings were prepared for the observations of lymphatic contractility evaluated by the indexes including end-systolic diameter, end-diastolic diameter, contraction frequency （CF） and passive diameter. Meanwhile, the difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs was recorded during lymphatic contraction. RESULTS Treatment with E2 significantly enhanced the CF, total contractile fraction and lymphatic dynamics index in vivo in the rats after hemorrhagic shock, and increased the CF, the fractional pump flow and the difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs in isolated lymphatics from the shocked rats （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION Estrogen treatment enhances lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock, which is related to enhancement of difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs.     

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine tracheal smooth muscle

Selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were used to identify muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine trachealis strips. The M₁ receptor antagonist pirenzepine (10^–7 mol/L to 3 × 10^–5 mol/L) and the M₃ receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP, 10^–9 mol/L to 3 × 10^–7 mol/L³) dose dependently inhibited the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). Schild plots yielded a pA₂ value for pirenzepine vs ACh of 6.75 ± 0.09, which is consistent with the affinity for M₂ or M₃ receptors, and a pA₂ value for 4-DAMP vs ACh of 8.47 ± 0.09, which is in agreement with the affinity for M₃ receptors. The M₂ receptor antagonist gallamine (10^–5 mol/L and 10^–4 mol/L) did not affect the response of trachealis to exogenous ACh and low-frequency EFS (0.1–2 Hz) but decreased the responses to high-frequency EFS (4–16 Hz). These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors mediating contractions induced by ACh in equine tracheal smooth muscle are of the M₃ subtype. The lack of an increase in the response to EFS following gallamine suggests that functional prejunctional inhibitory M₂ receptors are not present on the cholinergic nerves innervating equine tracheal smooth muscle.     

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with visceral metastases in a White Carneau pigeon and literature review

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal tumors of smooth muscle origin and are reported occasionally in avian species. A 14-y-old male laboratory White Carneau pigeon (Columba livia) was presented for surgical excision of a cervical soft tissue mass. Ultrasonography with color flow Doppler imaging revealed multiple cavitations of mixed echogenicity within the mass and vascularization. Histologically, the dermis and subcutis were expanded by a densely cellular multinodular mass comprised of fusiform cells forming haphazardly arranged broad streams and short interwoven bundles, often surrounding blood vessels and variably sized cavitations. Neoplastic cells were strongly immunopositive for desmin and α–smooth muscle actin, and negative for pancytokeratin, S100, and von Willebrand factor. Based on histopathology and IHC findings, the cutaneous mass was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The pigeon died 312 d post-operatively. Postmortem examination revealed masses infiltrating the left and right pulmonary airways and one hepatic nodule, but no regrowth at the surgical site. Histologic and IHC evaluation of the pulmonary and hepatic masses were consistent with LMS, representing metastatic foci from the primary cutaneous LMS. Our case highlights the malignant behavior and histomorphologic features of cutaneous LMS in an avian species.     

A STATIC STRESS ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF STRATIFICATION PLANE OF ROCK MASSES ON SMOOTH BLASTING

The influenfial factors of stratification plane to smooth blasting are studied according to the ti eory of smooth blasting and the anslysis of static stress. The results show that the angle p between the maximum principal plane and the rertical line of stratification plane has some influence on the fracture of rock masses.     

Effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D gene on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells induced by Ox-LDL

AIM: To investigate the effects of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene on the proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). METHODS: The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N2/XPD was transfected into HUASMCs by liposome. The cells were divided into blank control group, pEGFP-N2 group, pEGFP-N2/XPD group, Ox-LDL group, Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2 group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group. The proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT and EdU assays. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of XPD, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the expression of XPD was increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group (P<0.05). According to the results of MTT and EdU assays, the cell proliferation in pEGFP-N2/XPD group was reduced compared with blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with Ox-LDL group, the cell proliferation in Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the cell proportion of S phase decreased and the G₀/G₁-phase cell proportion increased significantly in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, repectively (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, the protein level of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: XPD inhibits the proliferation of HUASMCs and promotes their apoptosis, and reduces the promoting effect of Ox-LDL on the proliferation of HUVSMCs. XPD may be the target for treatment of atherosclerosis.     

奇台无芒雀麦地方品种的特征特性

本文报导了国家注册的奇台无芒雀麦地方品种(Bromus inermis L(?)yss.CV.Qitai)的品种来源及分布,品种特征特性以及主要栽培技术和利用方法,为该品种的进一步推广提供了科学依据。     

忍冬藤提取物对兔离体肠平滑肌的舒张作用及其机制

【目的】胃肠平滑肌过度收缩可引起腹痛腹泻等临床常见的疾病。目前,临床上对治疗胃肠平滑肌过度收缩的药物主要以西药为主,如钙离子通道阻断药硝苯地平和抗胆碱药阿托品等,硝苯地平长期使用可引起负性肌力和负性传导的现象,而阿托品由于其不良反应较大,在临床应用中受到一定的限制。因此,开发具有有效防治胃肠平滑肌痉挛、低毒、低残留的天然中草药意义重大。试验以兔离体小肠平滑肌为研究对象,利用丰富的忍冬藤资源,研究忍冬藤提取物对兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的影响,并探讨其作用机制。【方法】采用兔离体小肠平滑肌试验,应用BL-420E生物机能实验系统,观察忍冬藤提取物对正常状态下兔离体小肠平滑肌自发性收缩的影响;进而使用工具药乙酰胆碱、组胺和氯化钡致兔小肠痉挛性收缩后,观察忍冬藤提取物对其痉挛性收缩的影响;为研究忍冬藤提取物抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的作用机制,应用IP_3受体阻断剂肝素(HP)、肌浆网ryanodine受体阻断剂钌红(RR)和一氧化氮合酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME),探明忍冬藤提取物对兔离体小肠平滑肌作用的机制。【结果】忍冬藤提取物可浓度依赖性抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌自发性收缩,药物浓度在7.5 g·L~(-1)时可显著抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的频率(P0.05),药物浓度在5g·L~(-1)时可极显著抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的振幅(P0.05);工具药乙酰胆碱、组胺和氯化钡可显著诱导兔小肠平滑肌收缩的振幅,忍冬藤提取物可显著抑制由乙酰胆碱、组胺和氯化钡诱导的兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的频率(P0.05),可极显著抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的振幅(P0.01)。IP_3受体阻断剂肝素能增强忍冬藤提取物舒张兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的作用(P0.01),而肌浆网ryanodine受体阻断剂钌红对忍冬藤提取物舒张兔小肠平滑肌的作用无明显影响(P0.05)。左旋硝基精氨酸甲酯能够部分阻断忍冬藤提取物舒张兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的作用(P0.01)。【结论】忍冬藤提取物可显著抑制兔离体小肠平滑肌收缩的频率和振幅,其机制可能与增加一氧化氮浓度,抑制IP_3受体介导的内钙释放有关,但对肌浆网ryanodine受体途径引起的内钙释放无关。