Objective To observe the effects of nitric oxide ( NO) inhalation on lung inflammation of acute lung injury ( ALI) in rats. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, ie. a normal control group, an ALI group, a 20 ppm NO inhalation group, and a 100 ppm NO inhalation group. ALI model was established by LPS instillation intratracheally and the control group was instilled with normal saline. Then they were ventilated with normal air or NO at different levels, and sacrificed 6 hours later. Pathological changes were evaluated by HE staining. The expression of TLR4 in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. IL-6 level in lung homogenate was measured by ELISA. Results In the ALI group, the inflammation in bronchus and bronchioles was more apparently, and the expressions of TLR4and IL-6 were elevated significantly compared with the control group. 20 ppm NO inhalation significantly decreased the expression of TLR4 and IL-6, and alleviated the inflammation of ALI. However, 100 ppm NO inhalation did not change TLR4 expression and lung inflammation significantly, and increased IL-6 level.Conclusions Inhalation low level of NO( 20 ppm) can alleviate lung inflammation possibly by reducing theexpression of TLR4 and IL-6.
Objective To study the changes of endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) in the local site of vein transfer with delayed breaking pedicle and the relation with vasospasm and vein transfer in rabbits. MethodsThe ET concentration of blood was determined with the radioimmunoassay method. The plasma NO-2,NO-3 levels in the local site of vein transfer with delayed breaking pedicle, which reflected NO levels indirectly, were detected with Ultravioletvisible (UvVIS ) spectrophotometer. ResultsThe endothelin concentration of blood was increased significantly at 2, 4 hour after the operation (P＜0.01), and at 8 hour after the operation (P＜0.05). The plasma NO level was significantly decreased at 2, 4 hour after the operation (P＜0.01). But at 24 hour after the operation, the plasma NO level was increased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion The recovery of ET concentration of blood and the increase of plasma NO at 24 hour after the operation are the cause of the reduced incidence of vascular crisis of vein transfer with delayed breaking pedicle, and the very time point is the optimum moment for pedicle breaking.
Objective To observe the effects of culture medium of amniotic cells on NO and NOS in retinal tissues of rabbits in vitro in order to provide a protective method for antioxidation in retina transplantation. Methods Thirty adult healthy rabbits (30 right eyes) were divided into 3 groups. Group I: fresh retinal tissue; group II: routine culture medium; group III: culture medium of amniotic cells. The retinal tissues in group II and III were cultured in the corresponding culture medium for 1 week. The content of NO and NOS in retinal tissues in the 3 groups were determined. Results Compared with group I, the content of NO and NOS of group II increased obviously (t=3.821, 3.854; P＜0.001). There was no statistical difference of content of NO and NOS between group I and III (t=1.657, 1.745; P＞0.05). Conclusion Culture medium of amniotic cells may remove free radicals and enhance the ability of antioxidation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：366-368)
Objective To investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the renal function in acute biliary infection. Methods 35 Wistar rats were divided randomly into acute biliary infection group (AC), group of AC with Larginine(L), group of L-NAME(N), group of simple biliary obstruction(O) and a sham-operated group(SO), and serum NO、 BUN、 Cr and NOS were determined and pathologic changes of liver and kidney were observed. Results NO and NOS were significantly higher in L group than in any other groups (P＜0.05), BUN and Cr were significantly lower than in AC and N groups (P＜0.05), but showed no significance compared with O group (P＞0.05). The pathology of kidney in L group showed a less severe change than that in AC group; NO and NOS in N group were lower than those in other groups. BUN and Cr were higher than those in other groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion NO has a protection for renal function in acute biliary infected rats the mechanism being related to its dilative effect on renal vessels and increased renal blood perfusion.
Objective To analyse the changes of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in rat retina under acute high ocular pressure and study the effect of nitric oxide in rat retinal damage under hypertension. Methods Sixty Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups:Ocular hypertension 30 min,60 min,90 min and 12 h,24 h after reperfusion．Elevation of the ocular pressure in the anterior chamber of the rat eye ca used retina ischemic damage．The changes of retinal nitric oxide content were ob served indirectly by measuring NO2－/NO3－ content in retina.The distribution and changes of neuronal constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ncNOS)were studied by immunocytochemical localization of ncNOS. Results ncNOS positive neurons were distributed in the inner nuclear layer (INL),ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner plexiform layer of the normal and ischemic rat retina.During acute high IOP 30 min,60 min and 90 min,NO content decreased gradually and ncNOS immune activity weakens.During reperfusion,NO content increased remarkably (Plt;0.05) as compared with the groups of hypertension 90 min and decreased remarkably as compared with the normal rat retina.But ncNOS positive neurons continue to decrease compared with the groups of hypertension 90 min. Conclusion NO participates the rat retinal injury by acute elevated intraocular pressure, and nitric oxide synthetized by ncNOS may play an important role in protecting the retina from ischemic and post-ischemic injury.
OBJECTIVE To study the protective effects of Schwann cell derived neurotrophic factor (SDNF) on motoneurons of spinal anterior horn from spinal root avulsion induced cell death. METHODS Twenty SD rats were made the animal model of C6.7 spinal root avulsion induced motoneuron degeneration, and SDNF was applied at the lesion site of spinal cord once a week. After three weeks, the C6.7 spinal region was dissected out for motoneuron count, morphological analysis and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme histochemistry. RESULTS 68.6% motoneurons of spinal anterior horn death were occurred after 3 weeks following surgery, the size of survivors was significantly atrophy and NOS positive neurons increased. However, in animals which received SDNF treatment, the death of motoneurons was significantly decreased, the atrophy of surviving motoneurons was prevented, and expression of NOS was inhibited. CONCLUSION SDNF can prevent the death of motoneurons following spinal root avulsion. Nitric oxide may play a role in these injury induced motoneuron death.
Objective To investigate the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine on pancreas islets cultured with cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in rats. Methods Islets isolated from Wistar rats were purified and cultured. According to whether cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and aminoguanidine were added into the medium respectively or not, islets were divided into 4 groups: cultured with islet only was taken as blank control group, cultured with TNF-α+IL-1β as cytokine group, cultured with aminoguanidine as aminoguanidine group, and cultured with TNF-α+IL-1β and aminoguanidine as aminoguanidine+cytokine group. NO level in culture medium and iNOS activity in islets tissue (Test Kit), apoptosis (TUNEL method) and viability of islets cell (acridine orange/ethidium bromide stain), and the function of islets (insulin release test) were measured. Results Compared with blank control group, the activity of iNOS in islet tissue and level of NO in culture medium increased, and the mass mortality and apoptosis appeared in islet cells, while insulin secretion decreased in cytokine group (P＜0.01). Compared with cytokine group, the activity of iNOS 〔（3.17±0.51） U/ml vs. （38.93±4.72） U/ml〕 and level of NO 〔（50.5±10.4） μmol/L vs. （313.0±35.4） μmol/L〕 decreased, the survival 〔（72.73±3.14）% vs. （57.07±5.07）%〕 increased and the apoptosis rate 〔（20.11±8.48）% vs. （41.17±6.87）%〕 decreased, the insulin secretion (secretion index: 3.50±0.27 vs. 1.96±0.19) improved； There were all significant differences in 2 groups (P＜0.01). Conclusion The iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine could prevent the islet from the damage of iNOS/NO, alleviate the impairment of cytokines to islets, and ameliorate the survival and function of islets.
ObjectiveTo detect the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in immunostimulated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to seek for the supplying of the arginine, a substrate for NOS; as well as the effects of produced NO on the tight junction of RPE-J cells. MethodsRat′s RPE-J cells were treated with interferon-γ(INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Northern and Western blotting were applied to analyze the expression of the citrulline-NO cycle enzymes and related enzymes and the effect of dexamethasone and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp) on the expression of iNOS. Immunocytochemistry reaction and Western blotting were used to evaluate the effect of produced NO on the tight junctions of RPE-J cells.ResultsiNOS and argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) were highly induced at both mRNA and protection levels in immunostimulated RPE cells while arginiosuccinate lyase (AL) was not induced. NO was produced by cells after stimulation with TNFα, IFNγ and LPS. The induction of iNOS mRNA and the production of NO by these immunostimulated cells was further enhanced by cAMP. NO was produced from citrulline as well as from arginine. And the produced NO impaired the tight junction of RPE-J cells, decreased the production of tight junction related protein ZO-1.ConclusionIn activated RPE-J cells, citrullinearginine recycling is important for NO production, and the produced NO weakened the function of tight junction of RPE-J cells.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:32-36)