scholarly journals The fundamental role of increased production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced embryonic resorption in mice

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 95-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Ogando ◽  
D Paz ◽  
M Cella ◽  
AM Franchi

Nitric oxide (NO) fulfils important functions during pregnancy and has a role in implantation, decidualization, vasodilatation and myometrial relaxation. However, at high concentrations, such as those that are produced in sepsis, NO has toxic effects as it is a free radical. The aim of this study was to characterize uterine and decidual NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced embryonic resorption in mice and to determine which isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) take part. LPS produced 100% embryonic resorption at 24 h, with complete fetus expulsions at 48 h. Decidual and uterine NO production were increased by LPS, with maximum production at 6 h. This increase was due to the induction of expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) isoform in the decidua and uterus, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) isoform in the decidua, as detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. LPS increased iNOS expression in decidual and myometrial cells and increased nNOS expression in decidual cells. In addition, LPS caused fibrinolysis and infiltration of mesometrial decidua by macrophages positive for iNOS and CD14 (LPS receptor). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was found in decidual and uterine arteries but LPS did not modify its expression. LPS induced CD14 expression in endometrial glands, and this could have amplified the inflammatory response. Aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of iNOS activity, totally reversed the LPS-induced embryonic resorption. This result could be explained by an inhibition of the increase in NO production but also by an inhibition of the cellular infiltration and fibrinolysis. These results show that NO fulfils a fundamental role in LPS-induced embryonic resorption.

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. L582-L591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neetu Sud ◽  
Stephen Wedgwood ◽  
Stephen M. Black

In this study, we explore the roles of the delta isoform of PKC (PKCδ) in the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells isolated from fetal lambs (FPAECs). Pharmacological inhibition of PKCδ with either rottlerin or with the peptide, δV1-1, acutely attenuated NO production, and this was associated with a decrease in phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177 (S1177). The chronic effects of PKCδ inhibition using either rottlerin or the overexpression of a dominant negative PKCδ mutant included the downregulation of eNOS gene expression that was manifested by a decrease in both eNOS promoter activity and protein expression after 24 h of treatment. We also found that PKCδ inhibition blunted Akt activation as observed by a reduction in phosphorylated Akt at position Ser473. Thus, we conclude that PKCδ is actively involved in the activation of Akt. To determine the effect of Akt on eNOS signaling, we overexpressed a dominant negative mutant of Akt and determined its effect of NO generation, eNOS expression, and phosphorylation of eNOS at S1177. Our results demonstrated that Akt inhibition was associated with decreased NO production that correlated with reduced phosphorylation of eNOS at S1177, and decreased eNOS promoter activity. We next evaluated the effect of endogenously produced NO on eNOS expression by incubating FPAECs with the eNOS inhibitor 2-ethyl-2-thiopseudourea (ETU). ETU significantly inhibited NO production, eNOS promoter activity, and eNOS protein levels. Together, our data indicate involvement of PKCδ-mediated Akt activation and NO generation in maintaining eNOS expression.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (2) ◽  
pp. F231-F235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Herrera ◽  
Jeffrey L. Garvin

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) acutely inhibits NaCl reabsorption by the thick ascending limb (THAL) by activating the ETB receptor, stimulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and releasing nitric oxide (NO). In nonrenal tissue, chronic exposure to ET-1 stimulates eNOS expression via the ETB receptor and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We hypothesized that ET-1 increases eNOS expression in the THAL by binding to ETB receptors and stimulating PI3K. In primary cultures of medullary THALs treated for 24 h, eNOS expression increased by 36 ± 18% with 0.01 nM ET-1, 123 ± 30% with 0.1 nM ( P < 0.05; n = 5), and 71 ± 30% with 1 nM, whereas 10 nM had no effect. BQ-788, a selective ETB receptor antagonist, completely blocked stimulation of eNOS expression caused by 0.1 nM ET-1 (12 ± 25 vs. 120 ± 40% for ET-1 alone; P < 0.05; n = 5). BQ-123, a selective ETA receptor antagonist, did not affect the increase in eNOS caused by 0.1 nM ET-1. Sarafotoxin c (S6c; 0.1 μM), a selective ETB receptor agonist, increased eNOS expression by 77 ± 30% ( P < 0.05; n = 6). Wortmannin (0.01 μM), a PI3K inhibitor, completely blocked the stimulatory effect of 0.1 μM S6c (77 ± 30 vs. −28 ± 9%; P < 0.05; n = 6). To test whether the increase in eNOS expression heightens activity, we measured NO release in response to simultaneous treatment with l-arginine, ionomycin, and clonidine using a NO-sensitive electrode. NO release by control cells was 337 ± 61 and 690 ± 126 pA in ET-1-treated cells ( P < 0.05; n = 5). Taken together, these data suggest that ET-1 stimulates THAL eNOS, activating ETB receptors and PI3K and thereby increasing NO production.


Circulation ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 100 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Cable ◽  
Vincent J. Pompili ◽  
Timothy O’Brien ◽  
Hartzell V. Schaff

Background —Coronary arteries respond to hypoxia with transient relaxations, which increases coronary blood flow, in part, by release of nitric oxide. We hypothesized that increased expression of nitric oxide synthase might further augment blood vessel relaxation during hypoxia. The present study examined the effect of adenovirus-mediated transfer of bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on hypoxia-induced transient relaxations in canine coronary arteries. Methods and Results —Paired segments of coronary arteries were exposed to vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline with albumin) or an adenovirus encoding either E coli β-galactosidase (Ad.CMVLacZ, viral control; 10 10 pfu/mL) or eNOS (Ad.CMVeNOS; 10 10 pfu/mL) for 2 hours at 37°C. Immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody specific for eNOS documented both endothelial and adventitial expression in Ad.CMVeNOS arteries, whereas vehicle and viral controls demonstrated only constitutive expression. Levels of cGMP were increased 5-fold in Ad.CMVeNOS arteries compared with controls. In arteries exposed to Ad.CMVeNOS, maximum contraction to prostaglandin F 2α was reduced compared with viral controls, and this effect was eliminated by pretreatment with a competitive inhibitor of eNOS ( N G -monomethyl- l -arginine, 10 −3 mol/L). Hypoxia-induced transient relaxation (95% N 2 -5% CO 2 ) in Ad.CMVeNOS arteries (45.2±8.8%, n=6) was augmented compared with vehicle (26.3±6.0%) or viral (27.2±7.1%) controls. Conclusions —Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of nitric oxide synthase reduces receptor-dependent contractions and augments hypoxia-induced relaxations in canine coronary arteries; this method of augmentation of NO production might be advantageous for reduction of coronary artery vasospasm.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1156-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toyoaki Murohara ◽  
Bernhard Witzenbichler ◽  
Ioakim Spyridopoulos ◽  
Takayuki Asahara ◽  
Bo Ding ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (11) ◽  
pp. 845-855
Author(s):  
Ulf R. Heinrich ◽  
Irene Schmidtmann ◽  
Regina Meuser ◽  
Benjamin P. Ernst ◽  
Desiree Wünsch ◽  
...  

Constitutively expressed endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is supposed to play a role in noise-induced nitric oxide (NO)-production. It is commonly known that intense noise exposure results in inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and increased NO-production, but knowledge about a contribution of the eNOS isoform is still lacking. Effects of noise exposure on eNOS immunolabeling were determined in male guinea pigs ( n=24). For light microscopic analysis, 11 animals were exposed to 90 dB for 1 hr and 6 animals were used as controls. After exposure, eNOS immunostaining was performed on paraffin sections, and the staining intensities were quantified for 4 cochlear regions. For electron microscopic analysis, 2 animals were exposed for 2 hr to 90 dB and 5 animals were used as controls. The intensity of eNOS immunolabeling was found to be already comprehensively increased 1 hr after noise exposure to 90 dB. At the ultrastructural level, a clear increase in eNOS immunolabeling was found in microtubules-rich areas of cochlear cuticular structures. Hence, our findings indicate that the reticular lamina forming the endolymph–perilymph barrier at the apical side of the organ of Corti is involved in a fast intrinsic otoprotective mechanism of the cochlea.


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