Significance of chronic transplant nephropathy on early protocol biopsies for graft outcome in pediatric renal transplantation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
H Ono
Publications and source records attributed to H Ono.
Wondering about the wandering cyclopean eye.
Arguments against recent claims (Erkelens, Muijs & van Ee (1996). Vision Research, 36, 2141-2147; Mansfield & Legge (1996). Vision Research, 36, 27-41. (1997), Vision Research, 37, 1610-1613) that the position of the cyclopean eye is stimulus specific are presented. Critical to these arguments are the differences between relative and absolute visual direction tasks (Howard (1982). Human visual orientation. Wiley, New York; Ono & Mapp (1995). A restatement and modification of Wells-Hering's laws of visual direction. Perception, 24, 237-252), and between physical and perceptual descriptions of visual direction (Ono, Ohtsuka & Lillakas (1998). Proceedings of the international workshop on advances in research on visual cognition, Tsukuba, Japan (pp. 125-136); Ono & Lillakas (1997). Proceedings of the fourth international display workshop, Nagoya, Japan (pp. 831-834)).
Convergence, Ocular↗
Mumefural, citric acid derivative improving blood fluidity from fruit-juice concentrate of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc).
The effects of food components on blood fluidity were studied by in vitro assay using a dedicated microchannel instrument for model capillaries. We found that the fruit-juice concentrate of the Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc), a traditional Japanese food, markedly improved the fluidity of human blood. Using HPLC, we isolated the active compounds and characterized them using UV, MS, IR, and NMR. They included a novel compound, 1-[5-(2-formylfuryl)methyl] dihydrogen 2-hydroxypropane-1,2, 3-tricarboxylate (mumefural), and a related compound, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF). Mumefural markedly improved blood fluidity in all subjects, while HMF worked differently in different individuals. The flow rate of blood spiked with mumefural or HMF was compared to that of the two predominant organic acids in the fruit. Citric acid, malic acid, and furfuryl alcohol also improved fluidity in all subjects. The activity of P. mume is derived from not only artifacts produced during thermal processing, such as mumefural, but also from endogenous organic acids.
Beverages↗
The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.
BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in NUD patients. METHODS: : Forty-six NUD patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive NUD patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after cure of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of NUD patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in NUD patients. H. pylori-positive NUD patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed group, the normal group, and the rapid group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by eradication. There was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying NUD group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in NUD. H. pylori-induced disturbed gastric emptying may cause some NUD symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying; H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying.
Acetaminophen↗
The effect of helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.
BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. In addition, it has been reported that Helicobacter pylori induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. METHODS: A total of 46 non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after being cured of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: A total of 67.4% of the non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed gastric emptying group, the normal gastric emptying group, and the rapid gastric emptying group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the gastric emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by the eradication therapy. However, there was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying non-ulcer dyspepsia group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Helicobacter pylori infection, inducing disturbed gastric emptying, may cause some non-ulcer dyspepsia symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying. H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying.
Adult↗
Molecular cloning of cDNAs of mouse peptidylarginine deiminase type I, type III and type IV, and the expression pattern of type I in mouse.
Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), a group of post-translational enzymes, catalyze the conversion of protein-bound arginine residues to citrulline residues in a calcium ion-dependent manner and are widely distributed in various organs of vertebrates. Although the existence of four isoforms of PAD (types I, II, III, and IV) is reported in rodents, the relative functions of the isoforms with respect to their colocation in the tissues have yet to be explored. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA encoding mouse PAD type I by screening a uterine cDNA library and using the RACE method. This cDNA consists of an open reading frame of 1989 bases encoding 662 amino acids (73,823 Da), a 5'-untranslated region of 127 bases and a 3'-untranslated region of 1639 bases. Comparative reverse transcription-PCR and Northern-blot analyses detected PAD type I mRNA only in the epidermis and uterus. Administration of estrogen to adult ovariectomized mice increased the content of PAD type I mRNA in the uterus, providing evidence that its expression is under the control of the sex steroid hormone. We also cloned the full-length cDNAs of mouse PAD type III and type IV by the reverse transcription-PCR and RACE methods. The primary structure of PAD type III contains 664 amino acids (75,098 Da) deduced from the coding region of 1995 bases, and the primary structure of PAD type IV consists of 666 amino acids (74,475 Da) deduced from the coding region of 2001 bases. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of all four isoforms of PAD showed about 50% identity with each other, the 3' regions being highly homologous compared with the 5' regions.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Transient galactosemia detected by neonatal mass screening.
BACKGROUND: The Paigen method has detected not only persistently galactosemic patients, but also many children with transient galactosemia during the neonatal period. The diagnosis and clinical course of 389 patients with transient galactosemia detected by neonatal mass-screening from 1986 to 1996 in the Hiroshima prefecture were evaluated. METHODS: Enzyme assays for galactose metabolism, measurement of blood galactose levels, erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate levels, serum total bile acid (TBA) levels and liver function tests were performed at the first visit by patients to our hospital. Liver function and the mental and physical development of patients were evaluated during the follow-up period (approximately 1 year). RESULTS: The diagnoses were classified as follows: 253 patients with unknown cause, 128 heterozygotes and two homozygotes for galactose enzyme deficiency (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase, galactokinase, UDP-galactose 4-epimerase) and six heterozygotes for Duarte variant. Twelve patients showed high serum levels of TBA (> 80 mumol/L), which suggests the presence of portal-systemic shunts during the neonatal period causing galactosemia. Most patients showed normal mental and physical development during infancy. However, of 25 patients with mild to moderate abnormal liver function tests of unknown etiology after the neonatal period, five showed poor weight gain coincident with liver dysfunction. In almost all patients, levels of transferase decreased to the normal range by 1 year of age. CONCLUSION: We found that the prognosis of transient galactosemia was almost always favorable. However, patients should be followed for at least 1 year, because late liver dysfunction, which might cause poor weight gain, occurred in 6% of our patients.
Bile Acids and Salts↗
Removal of stem cell factor or addition of monoclonal anti-c-KIT antibody induces apoptosis in murine melanocyte precursors.
Previous findings indicate that the protein c-KIT and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF) play a crucial role in the development of melanocytes from their precursors in the embryonic neural crest cells. Using a monoclonal anti-c-KIT antibody, ACK2, which is an antagonistic blocker of c-KIT function, we and colleagues demonstrated that mouse melanocytes disappeared with the injection of ACK2 during certain periods of embryonic and postnatal life. The precise mechanisms of this disappearance, however, remain unclear. Because melanocytes disappeared without any inflammation in these in vivo studies, we suspect that apoptosis was a main cause of their disappearance. In this study, to clarify the underlying mechanism, we studied whether ACK2 induces apoptosis in c-KIT-positive melanoblasts, which appear in mouse neural crest cells cultured with SCF from 9.5 d old mouse embryos. With an in situ apoptosis detection kit, a significant increase in apoptosis was detected after the removal of SCF, which further increased with the addition of ACK2 during SCF-dependent periods. The occurrence of apoptosis in the cultured cells was also demonstrated by a DNA analysis and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical double staining confirmed that the apoptotic cells were c-KIT positive, and the electron microscopy showed that these apoptotic cells were melanocyte precursors. It was therefore demonstrated that apoptosis was induced in the SCF-dependent c-KIT-positive melanocytes in vitro when the SCF/c-KIT interaction was obstructed. These findings elucidate the mechanism of the regulation of melanocyte development, and the survival and proliferation of these precursor cells, by SCF/c-KIT interaction.
Animals↗
Choline acetyltransferase activity in collateral sprouting of peripheral nerve after surgical intervention: experimental study in rats.
The purpose of this study was to establish an assay of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity to investigate the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve, repaired by end-to-end or end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Murine sciatic and peroneal nerves were exposed, and the peroneal nerve was transected at a site 5 mm from its ramification. For end-to-side neurorrhaphy, an epineurotomy producing a 5-x5-mm window was carried out on the tibial nerve, just above the level of gastrocnemius muscle ramification. The peroneal nerve stump was then sutured end-to-side to the tibial nerve window. For end-to-end neurorrhaphy, the peroneal stump was directly sutured end-to-end. ChAT activity was measured at a site distal to the peroneal stump at 1 to 3 months postoperatively, and the results were compared among four groups: 1) end-to-end neurorrhaphy group; 2) end-to-side neurorrhaphy group; 3) unrepaired group; and 4) positive controls. ChAT activity in the end-to-side neurorrhaphy yielded approximately two-thirds the value of the end-to-end neurorrhaphy, and more than half the value of positive controls at 3 months postoperatively. Histologic sections of the end-to-side and end-to-end sutured peroneal nerve demonstrated large numbers of myelinated axons and Schwann cells at the third postoperative month. All the results demonstrated that end-to-side neurorrhaphy is comparable to well-performed end-to-end neurorrhaphy, thus providing another option for surgical treatment of avulsion nerve injury and massive nerve defect.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Free vascularized fibula grafts in surgery of the upper limb.
Twenty patients with intractable diseases in the upper extremity were treated using free vascularized fibula grafts. There were 13 men and seven women. Three patients had traumatic bone defects, five had post-traumatic nonunions, two had congenital pseudoarthroses, seven had defects after tumor resection, and three had other lesions. The reconstructed sites were the humerus in two patients, the radius and/or ulna in 17, and the metacarpal and phalangeal bones in one. The length of the bone defect ranged from 3 to 18 cm (mean: 8.4 cm). Follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 204 months. No patient required additional bone grafts. The mean period required to obtain radiographic bone union was 4.4 months. There were no cases with fractures of the grafted bone, but malunion occurred in four cases. The vascularized fibula graft is indicated in patients with large bone defects or intractable nonunions in the humerus, radius, and/or ulna.
Adolescent↗
Ecologically invalid monocular texture leads to longer perceptual latencies in random-dot stereograms.
Two experiments were conducted to explore Gillam and Borsting's (1988, Perception 17 603-608) report that uncorrelated monocular texture facilitates stereopsis by shortening the latency to see depth in random-dot stereograms. Experiment 1 used stereograms similar, in pattern but not disparity, to Gillam and Borsting's with monocular texture present or absent. A third condition, where monocular texture was dissimilar to the binocular panels and background, was also used. We were unable to generalize the findings of Gillam and Borsting for a depth step of 6 min of arc to a larger depth step of 24 min of arc. That is, we observed no significant difference in latencies between the conditions with monocular texture absent and present at a disparity of 24 min of arc. We found latencies to be significantly longer in the monocular-texture-different condition than the monocular-texture-absent condition, however. We account for this, ad hoc, by arguing that the monocular-texture-different stereogram depicts a rare or 'accidental' visual scenario. This account was supported by the results of experiment 2 which showed that stereograms depicting accidental views yielded longer latencies than those depicting generic views. We conclude that the ecological validity of monocular texture must also be considered when assessing the effects of monocular texture on stereopsis.
Depth Perception↗
L-arginine reverses severe nephrosclerosis in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats.
OBJECTIVE: Acute and prolonged effects of L-arginine on systemic and renal hemodynamics and on renal pathological changes were examined in 85-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). RESULTS: After 3 weeks of L-arginine administration (n = 9; 2 g/l in drinking water), mean arterial pressure remained unchanged, although the cardiac index increased (187 +/- 26 versus 263 +/- 15 ml/min per kg; P < 0.05) and total peripheral resistance decreased (1.15 +/- 0.18 versus 0.67 +/- 0.06 AU; P < 0.05); the glomerular filtration rate increased (0.41 +/- 0.07 versus 0.79 +/- 0.07 ml/min; P < 0.01). Control untreated, aged SHR (n = 10) demonstrated severe nephrosclerosis histologically, but those treated with L-arginine demonstrated a markedly reduced glomerular injury score (164 +/- 22 versus 83 +/- 9; P < 0.005), and their urinary protein excretion (39 +/- 5 versus 19 +/- 5 mg/100 g body weight per day; P < 0.05) and serum creatinine concentration (1.4 +/- 0.1 versus 0.9 +/- 0.1 mg/dl; P < 0.05) diminished. Intravenous L-arginine (300 mg/kg body weight) given to untreated SHR reduced mean arterial pressure, increased the cardiac index (+98 versus +1%; P < 0.05) and decreased total peripheral resistance (+56 versus +13%, P < 0.005); however, these variables remained unchanged after 3 weeks of L-arginine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Three weeks of treatment with L-arginine improved systemic hemodynamics, renal function and renal histologic changes in aged SHR with naturally occurring nephrosclerosis. These data provide an important insight into the pathophysiology of nephrosclerosis in hypertension and with aging, which is seen clinically.
Animals↗
Insertion/deletion angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism affects the microvascular structure of the kidney in patients with nondiabetic renal disease.
OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that the deletion allele of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and progressive renal disease, including immunoglobulin A nephropathy. We therefore investigated the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism and intrarenal microvascular structure in 56 patients with nondiabetic renal disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We determined various cardiovascular hormones of the renin-angiotensin system and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism in 56 patients with nondiabetic renal diseases who underwent a renal biopsy. The patients were divided into three groups by angiotensin converting enzyme genotype (insertion/insertion, n = 21; insertion/deletion, n = 23; deletion/deletion, n = 12) using polymerase chain reaction methods. The angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/ deletion and deletion/deletion genotypes were associated with a significantly higher interlobular artery wall : lumen ratio than the insertion/insertion genotype (insertion/insertion 0.27 +/- 0.01, insertion/deletion 0.32 +/- 0.01, deletion/deletion 0.33 +/- 0.02; P < 0.05). Afferent arteriolar and tubulo-interstitial injury scores were similar among the three genotypes. Although serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity was higher in the deletion/deletion than in the other two genotypes (insertion/insertion 9.7 +/- 0.7, insertion/deletion 10.7 +/- 0.9, deletion/deletion 14.0 +/- 2.4 IU/I; P < 0.05), other factors of the renin-angiotensin system, including blood pressure and serum creatinine levels, were not different among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The angiotensin converting enzyme deletion/deletion genotype may be considered a risk factor for the development of microvascular wall thickening in nondiabetic renal diseases.
Adult↗
Adult onset of inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus.
Adult onset of inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) is reported in a 44-year-old Japanese man. A mild pruritic eruption appeared one year earlier and extended from the left dorsal foot to the gluteal region. Histologically, acanthosis and papillomatous thickening of epidermis as well as spongiotic edema and exocytosis with lymphocytes and neutrophils were observed. Topical tacalcitol was not effective, but the pruritus as well as the eruption slightly improved with topical corticosteroid and vaseline containing salicylic acid. This adult onset of ILVEN is considered to be a rare case.
Administration, Topical↗
Characterization of biosynthetic enzymes for ectoine as a compatible solute in a moderately halophilic eubacterium, Halomonas elongata.
1,4,5,6-Tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid (ectoine) is an excellent osmoprotectant. The biosynthetic pathway of ectoine from aspartic beta-semialdehyde (ASA), in Halomonas elongata, was elucidated by purification and characterization of each enzyme involved. 2,4-Diaminobutyrate (DABA) aminotransferase catalyzed reversively the first step of the pathway, conversion of ASA to DABA by transamination with L-glutamate. This enzyme required pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and potassium ions for its activity and stability. The gel filtration estimated an apparent molecular mass of 260 kDa, whereas molecular mass measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was 44 kDa. This enzyme exhibited an optimum pH of 8.6 and an optimum temperature of 25 degreesC and had Kms of 9.1 mM for L-glutamate and 4.5 mM for DL-ASA. DABA acetyltransferase catalyzed acetylation of DABA to gamma-N-acetyl-alpha,gamma-diaminobutyric acid (ADABA) with acetyl coenzyme A and exhibited an optimum pH of 8.2 and an optimum temperature of 20 degreesC in the presence of 0.4 M NaCl. The molecular mass was 45 kDa by gel filtration. Ectoine synthase catalyzed circularization of ADABA to ectoine and exhibited an optimum pH of 8.5 to 9.0 and an optimum temperature of 15 degreesC in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl. This enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 19 kDa by SDS-PAGE and a Km of 8.4 mM in the presence of 0. 77 M NaCl. DABA acetyltransferase and ectoine synthase were stabilized in the presence of NaCl (>2 M) and DABA (100 mM) at temperatures below 30 degreesC.
Acetyltransferases↗
Ultrasound biomicroscopic measurement of development of anterior chamber angle.
AIM: To establish normative values for the anterior segment in normal infants and children in relation to age. METHODS: Anterior segments were measured in 46 normal infants and children (21 males and 25 females, aged from 1 to 60 months (mean 17.09 (SD 16.99) months)), by use of ultrasound biomicroscopy. RESULTS: Anterior chamber depth, trabecular-iris angle, angle opening (trabecular-iris) distances at 250 and 500 microm from the scleral spur, and the thickness of the thickest part of the iris were 1724-3473 microm (2505 (SD 480) microm), 15.35-44.79 degrees (28.74 (7.46) degrees ), 116-367 microm (247.4 (65.9) microm), 166-509 microm (349.5 (87.1) microm), and 249-579 microm (434.6 (74.6) microm), respectively. All factors in this study showed a significant correlation with logarithm of age (r = 0.937, p = 0. 0001; r = 0.867, p = 0.0001; r = 0.929, p = 0.0001; r = 0.917, p = 0. 0001; r = 0.748, p = 0.0001), and significantly correlated with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a powerful tool for obtaining precise images and measurement of the development of the anterior segment in infants and children. Normative values were established for anterior segment dimensions in relation to age. Anterior chamber depth, trabecular-iris angle, angle opening distances at 250 and 500 microm from the scleral spur, and iris thickness showed linear increases in relation to logarithm of age.
Anterior Chamber↗
Differential effects of T- and L-type calcium antagonists on glomerular dynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
To determine whether there is a difference in the effects of T- and L-type calcium antagonists on systemic, renal, and glomerular hemodynamics, the pathological changes of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-exacerbated nephrosclerosis and clinical alterations were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Seven groups of 17-week-old male SHRs were studied: Group 1, control; Group 2, mibefradil, 50 mg. kg(-1). d(-1); Group 3, L-NAME in drinking water, 50 mg/L; Group 4, L-NAME (50 mg/L) plus mibefradil (50 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)); Group 5, L-NAME (50 mg/L) plus amlodipine (10 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)); Group 6 and 7, L-NAME (50 mg/L) for 3 weeks followed by mibefradil (50 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)) or amlodipine (10 mg. kg(-1). d(-1)), respectively, for the subsequent 3 weeks. Both the T- and L-channel calcium antagonists similarly reduced mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance index. These changes were associated with significant decreases in afferent and efferent glomerular arteriolar resistances and the ultrafiltration coefficient (P<0.01). Furthermore, the histopathological glomerular and arterial injury scores and urinary protein excretion were also significantly improved (P<0.01), and left ventricular and aortic masses were significantly diminished in all treated groups. Both drugs, mibefradil and amlodipine, had effects of increasing the single-nephron glomerular filtration ratio (SNGFR), and single-nephron plasma flow (SNPF), and of reducing glomerular afferent arteriolar resistance and urinary protein excretion. Thus, the T-type (mibefradil) and L-type (amlodipine) calcium antagonists each prevented and reversed the pathophysiological alterations of L-NAME-exacerbated hypertensive nephrosclerosis in SHR. The T-type calcium antagonist (mibefradil) seemed to have been more effective than the L-type amlodipine antagonist and it produced a greater reduction in afferent arteriolar resistance while preserving SNGFR.
Amlodipine↗
Apoptosis, coronary arterial remodeling, and myocardial infarction after nitric oxide inhibition in SHR.
This study was designed to investigate the relationship between apoptosis (programmed cell death) and coronary arterial remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) following prolonged nitric oxide synthesis inhibition. In addition, we evaluated whether the development of coronary arterial smooth muscular cell apoptosis was related to hemodynamics or to vascular hypertrophy. Three groups of 20-week-old male SHR were investigated: controls, and two groups that received two doses of N(G)-nitro-L arginine (L-NAME, 50 mg/L and 80 mg/L) each for 3 weeks. Mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance index increased whereas cardiac index diminished with L-NAME. Pathohistological study demonstrated increased pericardiac fibrosis and coronary arterial injury score in the L-NAME group in a dose-dependent manner. The high dose of L-NAME (Group 3) produced myocardial infarction in 78% of the rats. The wall:lumen ratio of epicardial coronary arteries was greater in L-NAME treated SHR (0.23+/-0.02 versus 0.16+/-0.02; P<0.05) and was associated with markedly increased apoptosis (15.3+/-6 versus 1. 9+/-1; P<0.05) without smooth muscle cell proliferation (PCNA positive cells). Apoptosis occurred predominantly in hypertrophic coronary arterial smooth muscular cells; myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrosis were exacerbated by impaired hemodynamics induced by L-NAME. These data suggest that coronary endothelial dysfunction and myocardial ischemic disease induced by L-NAME were responsible for apoptosis of coronary arterial smooth muscle cells, myocardial fibrosis, and infarction, all pathological findings that are consistent with what may be found in clinical hypertensive heart disease.
Animals↗