• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.11.1-11.9
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• 2018

Estrogen has diverse effects on cardiovascular function, including regulation of the contractile response to vasoactive substances such as serotonin. The serotonin system recently emerged as an important player in the regulation of vascular tone in humans. However, hyperreactivity to serotonin appears to be a critical factor for the pathophysiology of hypertension. In this study, we examined the modulatory mechanisms of estrogen in serotonin-induced vasoconstriction by using a combinatory approach of isometric tension measurements, molecular biology, and patch-clamp techniques. $17{\beta}$-Estradiol (E2) elicited a significant and concentration-dependent relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction in deendothelialized aortic strips isolated from male rats. E2 triggered a relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction even in the presence of tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that E2-induced changes are not mediated by estrogen receptor. Patch-clamp studies in rat arterial myocytes showed that E2 prevented Kv channel inhibition induced by serotonin. Serotonin increased Src activation in arterial smooth muscle required for contraction, which was significantly inhibited by E2. The estrogen receptor-independent inhibition of Src by E2 was confirmed in HEK293T cells that do not express estrogen receptor. Taken together, these results suggest that estrogen exerts vasodilatory effects on serotonin-precontracted arteries via Src, implying a critical role for estrogen in the prevention of vascular hyperreactivity to serotonin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.281-291
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• 1990

The $Ca^{2+}-substitutional$ roles of strontium for the contractile processes were investigated in the rabbit renal artery. The contractions induced by either norepinephrine or high $K^+$ in the condition which intra- and extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ were replaced by $Sr^{2+}$, i.e. $Sr^{2+}-mediated$ contractions, were dose-dependent. And then the maximal amplitude of contraction, as compared with $Ca^{2+}-mediated$ contraction, was about 50% in norepinephrine and about 70% in high $K^+$. The $Sr^{2+}-mediated$ contractions were independent in the contraction by norepinephrine $(10^{-5}M)$ but dependent in those by high $K^+(100\;mM)$ on the extracellular $Sr^{2+}$ concentration. Also $Sr^{2+}-mediated$ contractions induced by norepinephrine were observed in the $Sr^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution. The $Sr^{2+}-mediated$ contractions induced by either norepinephrine or high $K^+$ were suppressed by verapamil, a $Ca^{2+}-channel$ blocker. By extracellular addition of $Sr^{2+}$, the $Ca^{2+}-mediated$ contractions induced by norepinephrine $(10^{-5}M)$ or 40 mM $K^+$ were inhibited but those by high $K^+(100\;mM)$ were increased. And the $Sr^{2+}-mediated$ contractions were increased by extracellular addition of $Ca^{2+}$ but did not reach the level of $Ca^{2+}-mediated$ contraction. Therfore it is suggested that in the vascular smooth muscle of rabbit renal artery $Sr^{2+}$ could enter the smooth muscle cells easily through the potential-operated calcium channel (POC) but not easily through the receptor-operated calcium channel (ROG), and $Sr^{2+}$ might be stored in the intracellular $Ca^{2+}-binding$ site and released by NE and induced the contraction by a way of activating directly the contractile apparatus.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2000

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive optical method which measures arterial oxygen saturation with two different wavelength. We can obtain the pulsating component of the arterial blood superimposed on DC level attenuated by venous blood, skin and other nonpulsatile components. This study is based on computing algorithm of oxygen saturation using the integral ratio of pulsatile components. In this algorithm, we used the half cycle of the pulsatile signal rely on arterial contraction. It's period is about 1/4 in 1 cycle. In the result, Our algorithm with 1/4 period of 1 cycle is similar to existing model. Because of removal that A part have low amplitude and possession in long term from calculating, the effect of the motion-artifact is decrease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.376-381
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of curcumin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. We hypothesized that curcumin, the primary ingredient of Curcuma longa, plays a role in vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae. Denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric tensions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Interestingly, curcumin inhibited fluoride-induced contraction but didn't inhibit phorbol ester-induced contraction suggesting that additional pathways different from endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. Furthermore, curcumin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels. On the other hand, it didn't significantly inhibit phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels suggesting the mechanism involving inhibition of fluoride-induced MYPT1 phosphorylation. This study provides evidence that curcumin induces vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.337-342
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• 2014

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of diosgenin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. We hypothesized that diosgenin, the primary ingredient of Dioscorea villosa, plays a role in vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae. Denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric tensions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Interestingly, diosgenin inhibited fluoride-induced contraction but didn't inhibit phorbol ester-induced contraction suggesting that additional pathways different from endothelial nitric oxide synthesis such as inhibition of Rho-kinase might be involved in the vasorelaxation. Furthermore, diosgenin didn't inhibit thromboxane $A_2$-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels suggesting the mechanism excluding inhibition of thromboxane $A_2$-induced increases in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This study provides evidence that diosgenin induces vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 1988

To delineate the mechanisms of vasoconstriction and vasodilation in cerebral arteries the effects of some vasoconstrictors and calcium antagonists on the basilar artery (BA) and arterial circle of Willis (WC) were examined and also the role of endothelium in the action of these drugs was investigated in pigs, cats and rabbits. In pig cerebral arteries, dose-dependent contractile responses were elicited by KCI, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and angiotensin, but norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE) and epinephrine (EP) elicited dose-dependent contractions only under pretreatment with propranolol 10-6 M. The magnitudes of maximal contractile effects of these drugs were different from each other, and 5-H~ was the largest and angiotensin the smallest. Some calcium antagonists dose-dependently inhibited KCI (35 mM)-induced contraction and the order of potency in inhibiting the contraction was nifedipine > > diltiazem > flunarizine > oxybutynin > isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) > glyceryl trinitrate. 5-HT (10-6 M)-induced contraction was dosedependently inhibited by nifedipine but slightly inhibited by diltiazem and ISDN. In rings with intact endothelium, KCI (35 mM)-induced contraction was not affected by acetylcholine (ACh) but $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ (lO-SM)-induced contraction was dose-dependently relaxed by ACh and adenosine. This endothelium-dependent relaxation was not affected by nifedipine (l0-6M)-pretreatment but markedly inhibited by methylene blue (50,uM)-pretreatment. In the porcine arterial rings without endothelium, ACh had no effect or even contracted the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}-induced$ contraction. However, the dosedependent relaxing effect of ACh appeared when the deendothelized porcine ring and rabbit thoracic aorta with intact endotheli urn were simultaneously suspended into a bath and this relaxing effect was also inhibited by methylene blue-pretreatment. In cat cerebral arteries, 5-HT and NE elicited dose-dependent contractile responses and ACh also produced dose-dependent contraction regardless of the existence of endothelium. ACh-induced contraction was most prominent. 5-HT (IO-SM)induced contraction was not relaxed but contracted additionally by ACh even in the intact endothelial ring. In rabbit cerebral arteries, 5-HT and NE elicited dose-dependent contractile responses and 5-HT-induced contraction was more prominent. In the intact endothelial preparations, 5-HT (lO-s M)-induced contraction was markedly relaxed by the addition of ACh( IO-SM) and this endothelium-dependent relaxing effect was inhibited by atropine (l0-7M)-pretreatment but notaffected by diltiazem (l0-6M)-pretreatment. These results suggest that ACh elicits endotheliumdependent relaxing effect mediated by muscarinic receptors in cerebral arteries of pig and rabbit, and that ACh acts as vasoconstrictor in cat cerebral artery.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2011

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of resveratrol on U-46619 (high concentration)-induced vasoconstriction. Agonist-induced vascular smooth muscle contractions involve the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in resveratrol-induced relaxation in rat aortae contracted with high U-46619. We hypothesized that MEK or Rho-kinase inhibition plays a role in vascular relaxation evoked by resveratrol in rat aortae. Endothelium-denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Resveratrol fully inhibited U-46619 in low concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. However, resveratrol partially decreased U-46619 in high concentration-induced contraction regardless of endothelial function. Interestingly, only in U-46619 (high concentration)-induced contraction, no significant decrease was observed in phospho-ERK1/2 levels and slight decrease in phospho-MYPT1 levels suggesting that additional pathways different from them or endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the vasorelaxation. In conclusion, in high U-46619-contracted rat aortae, resveratrol showed relaxation response regardless of endothelial function significantly but slightly decreasing MYPT1 phosphorylation rather than ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2011

Arteria radialis is a branch of the brachial artery extending down the forearm around the wrist where it closes to skin surface. In the oriental medicine, the skin above arteria radialis has an important role because oriental medicine practitioners put their finger tips on the area, and diagnose patient's health conditions by feeling the pulsation of the arterial contraction. The finger tip diagnostic method relies on subjective decision of the practitioner; and there is a need to develop an objective diagnostic modality. The pulsation of the arterial contraction appears not only a movement on the site but also as temperature fluctuation due to pulsatile feeding of warmer blood. The goal of this study is to demonstrate a feasibility of using an infrared camera quantitatively to detect the temperature fluctuation on the skin. Clinical important three different areas, called chon, gwan, chuk, near a wrist where the arteria radialis reaches close to skin surface are marked with small pieces of surgical tape. A high-speed and high-resolution infrared camera with a 3 cm of field of view measures these areas for 10 second at 200 frames per second with a 320*240 pixel size. The pulsatile temperature fluctuation is calculated after passing a band pass filter to remove any stationary temperature over 10 second. The temperature fluctuation of a healthy male volunteer is measured at a room temperature as a control, and is compared with another measurement performed after 20 minutes staying in a room at a 40 degree Celsius. This comparison is repeated for three times, and indicates that the fluctuation increases after staying 20 minutes in the warm room. This increase becomes smaller when the person stays in the warm room with an acupuncture treatment that decreases body temperature. So that an objective diagnostics on the site may become feasible.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.161-170
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• 1990

The effects of $H^{+}$ on the arterial contraction and their mechanisms were investigated in the renal artery of a rabbit. The helical strips of isolated renal artery were immersed in the HEPES-buffered or $CO_{2}/HCO_{3}^{-}$-buffered Tyrode's solution. The contractions induced by agonists (norepinephrine, histamine, serotonin and angiotensin II) or high $K^{+}$ were observed with change of extracellular or intracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. The contractions induced by norepinephrine, histamine, serotonin, angiotensin II or high $K^{+}$ in HEPES-buffered Tyrode's solution were inhibited by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration and potentiated by decrease in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. The degrees of these effects were most evident in the contraction induced by serotonin and angiotensin II, moderate in those by histamine and high $K^{+}$, and least in those by norepinephrine. Maximal contraction by norepinephrine, histamine and high $K^{+}$ were not influenced by change in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration, but influenced in those contration by serotonin and angiotensin II. The attenuated contractions by an acidic pH were not returned to the level of contraction at normal pH (7.4) by elevation of extracellular $Ca{2+}$ concentration. The agonists (norepinephrine, histamine and serotonin)-induced contractions in $Ca{2+}$-free Tyrode's solution were also attenuated by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration and potentiated by decrease in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration. Elevation of $Pco_{2}$ in the $CO_{2}/HCO_{3}^{-}$-buffered Tyrode's solution, which increase the intracellular $H^{+}$ concentration, at constant extracellular pH (7.4), increased the contraction by 30 mM $K^{+}$. From the above results, it is suggested that the decrease in contractions by increase in extracellular $H^{+}$ concentration may be resulted from that $H^{+}$ make the receptors less sensitive to agonists and cell membrane hyperpolarize and then inhibit the $Ca{2+}$ influx as well as $Ca{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca{2+}$ storage site.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.15-32
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• 1997

This study was undertaken to define the mechanism of Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation in rabbit common carotid artery contracted by agonists. In order to investigate the effect of Siegesbeckiae Herba on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation, Siegesbeckiae Herba extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by agonists after treatment of lanthanum chloride, indomethacin, atropine, $N\omega-nitro-{_L}-arginine$, cobalt chloride or methylene blue. The relaxation effect of Siegesbeckiae Herba was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by Siegesbeckiae Herba was suppressed by the pretreatment of lanthanum chloride, $N\omega-nitro-{_L}-arginine$, cobalt chloride or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or atropine. These results demonstrated that Siegesbeckiae Herba may inhibit agonist-induced contraction through an increase in the cyclic GMP by the production of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.