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Biomedical subjects

Y Kasuya

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kasuya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endothelin-1-induced downregulation of ETB receptor mRNA: participation of cAMP.

In this study we examined the participation of cAMP formation in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced downregulation of ETB receptor mRNA in ROS 17/2 rat osteosarcoma cells. Dibutyryl cAMP induced downregulation of ETB receptor mRNA in a time-dependent manner. ET-1 induced production of inositol phosphates and an increase of cAMP level in ROS 17/2 cells. A stimulatory effect on cAMP level was also observed when A23187 plus PMA was added to the cells. The increase in cAMP level induced either by ET-1 or by A23187 plus PMA was inhibited by indomethacin. The downregulation of ETB receptor mRNA induced by ET-1 was significantly inhibited by indomethacin. These results suggest that the ET-1-induced downregulation of ETB receptor mRNA in ROS 17/2 cells may be partly mediated through the increase in cAMP level secondary to the activation of the phosphoinositide hydrolysis/Ca2+ transduction cascade.

Animals

Increased endothelin-1 binding sites in the cardiac membranes in rats with chronic heart failure.

The effects of experimental chronic heart failure (CHF) on the density and affinity for endothelin-1 (ET-1) binding was studied in the rat heart. Because it has been reported that ET-1 binding sites on cultured cardiocytes are downregulated by pretreatment with ET-1, we also studied the plasma concentrations of ET-1 in rats with CHF. Three weeks after ligation of the left coronary artery, rats developed chronic heart failure (CHF rats). The plasma concentrations of ET-1, as measured by a sandwich-enzyme immunoassay, were significantly higher in CHF rats than in sham-operated rats [4.80 +/- 0.33 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.11 (mean +/- SEM) pg/ml; p < 0.01]. [125I]ET-1 binding experiments on rat cardiac membranes revealed that the binding site density (Bmax) was significantly higher in the CHF rats than in the sham-operated rats (243.0 +/- 20.0 vs. 154.8 +/- 17.4 fmol/mg protein; p < 0.05), whereas the values for the dissociation constant (Kd) were not different between the two groups (28.7 +/- 7.0 vs. 29.8 +/- 1.9 pM). Therefore, in the CHF rats, although plasma concentrations of ET-1 were elevated, the density of myocardial ET receptors was increased. Because ET-1 has potent inotropic and hypertrophic effects on cardiac myocytes, it is suggested that the effects of endogenous ET-1 in the heart are different between the CHF rats and the sham-operated rats.

Animals

Altered production of endothelin-1 in the hypertrophied rat heart.

Although endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to have potent hypertrophic effects in cultured cardiac myocytes, there is no evidence that the production of ET-1 is altered in the hypertrophied heart in vivo. We investigated mRNA and peptide levels of ET-1 in the rat heart hypertrophied due to pressure or volume overload. One week after surgery of abdominal aortic banding (AB) or aortic valve regurgitation (AR; the aortic valve was destroyed by a polyethylene catheter), the rats were sacrificed. Control sham-operated rats were also studied (AB-sham and AR-sham). The left ventricular (LV) weight to body weight ratio was significantly higher in AB rats than in AB-sham rats. It was also significantly higher in AR rats than in AR-sham rats. Therefore, AB rats and AR rats developed LV hypertrophy due to pressure and volume overload, respectively. The expression of ET-1 mRNA in the LV was markedly higher in AB rats than in AB-sham rats. The peptide level of ET-1 was also significantly higher in the LV of AB rats than in that of AB-sham rats. However, the expression of ET-1 mRNA in the LV of AR rats was similar to that of AR-sham rats. The present findings suggest that the production of ET-1 in the heart differs between pressure and volume overload-induced hypertrophy in rats.

Animals

Possible sources of endothelin-1 in damaged rat brain.

We investigated the sources of endothelin-1 (ET-1) detected in the damaged brain tissue of rats after cold injury. ET-1 in the injured sites was increased 1-5 days after the injury. Physiologic observations revealed that breakdown of the blood-brain barrier occurred and that plasma-derived albumin exuded into the brain parenchyma after cold injury. Radiolabeled ET-1, which was injected into the left cardiac ventricle, was detected in the tissue at the injury site, and ET-1-like immunoreactivity was observed in the brain capillaries in the damaged tissues. TGF-beta 1, which is a tissue regeneration factor, potently induced the expression of ET-1 mRNA in cultured astrocytes. These results suggest that ET-1 is produced through a variety of ways in the damaged brain.

Animals

Relationship between contractile responses and cytosolic free calcium levels in response to phorbol ester (PMA) in isolated rat aorta.

We examined the relationship between phorbol ester (PMA)-induced contractile response and cytosolic free calcium level in the rat aorta. PMA (10(-6)M) produced biphasic contraction, i.e., sustained contraction followed by a phasic response superimposed on the sustained contraction. Increase in [Ca2+]i was accompanied by a phasic but not sustained contraction. These results suggest that PMA-induced phasic contraction is dependent on Ca2+ influx but sustained contraction may be due to an increase in Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile protein.

Animals

Endothelin-1 activates mitogen-activated protein kinases through two independent signalling pathways in rat astrocytes.

Northern blot analysis and displacement study revealed that the endothelin (ET) receptor functionally expressed in rat primary cultured astrocytes is the ETB receptor. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) in the cells were activated by 10 nM ET-1, a dose that maximally stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. This activation was potently inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) which leads to protein kinase C (PKC) down-regulation and was slightly inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX). Pretreatment of the cells with PMA plus PTX completely inhibited the ET-1-augmented MAP kinase activity. Activation of MAP kinases was also induced by 0.1 nM ET-1, which hardly stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. This activation was fully inhibited by pretreatment with PTX but insensitive to pretreatment with PMA. ET-1-stimulated production of inositol phosphates was not affected by pretreatment with PTX. These results suggest that activation of MAP kinases secondary to stimulation of the ETB receptor with ET-1 in rat primary cultured astrocytes was mediated through two independent signalling pathways. PKC-dependent pathway and PTX-sensitive G protein-mediated pathway.

Animals

Effects of diabetes on the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in mice.

The effects of diabetes on the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction were examined in mice. The Straub tail reaction induced by s.c. administration of morphine was significantly less in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The morphine-induced Straub tail reaction was significantly reduced following pretreatment with beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Furthermore, the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction was also significantly reduced in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice following pretreatment with naloxonazine, a selective mu1-opioid receptor antagonist. These results suggest that mice with diabetes are hypo-responsive to mu1-opioid receptor-mediated Straub tail reaction.

Animals

Effects of diabetes on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice.

Spontaneous locomotor activity in diabetic mice was significantly greater than that in non-diabetic mice. Haloperidol and SCH23390, a selective dopamine D1-receptor antagonist, significantly reduced spontaneous locomotor activity in diabetic mice, but not in non-diabetic mice. Spontaneous locomotor activity in diabetic mice was also reduced by pretreatment with naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, and 7-benzylidenenaltrexone, a selective delta1-opioid receptor antagonist. The rate of dopamine turnover in the limbic forebrain in diabetic mice was significantly higher than that in non-diabetic mice. These findings suggest that the enhanced spontaneous locomotor activity in diabetic mice may result from increased dopamine neurotransmission, which might be due to an increase in dopamine release in mesolimbic dopamine systems. The increased dopamine neurotransmission in diabetic mice may also be due to the up-regulation of delta-opioid receptor-mediated functions.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid

Antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine in mice.

The present study examined the opioid receptors involved in the antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine in mice. Dihydroetorphine suppressed coughs dose dependently at doses between 0.1-1 micrograms/kg i.p. Blockade of mu-opioid receptors by pretreatment with beta-funaltrexamine significantly reduced the antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine. Furthermore, the antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine was also antagonized by nor-binaltorphimine, a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist. However, pretreatment with naltrindole, a delta-opioid receptor antagonist, did not affect the antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine. These results indicate that the antitussive effect of dihydroetorphine is mediated by the activation of mu-opioid receptors and of kappa-opioid receptors, but not delta-opioid receptors.

Alkylating Agents

Decrease in vasodilator effects of platelet-activating factor in resistance vessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We studied the endothelium-dependent vasodilator effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on the mesenteric arterial bed of Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and found that vasodilation induced by PAF was significantly attenuated in SHRs. We discovered no significant differences in reactivity or sensitivity of the mesentery to acetylcholine between WKYs and SHRs. Our results strongly suggest that the attenuated vasodilator effects of PAF on the SHR mesenteric arterial bed may be due in part to desensitization rather than impairment of the endothelium.

Animals

Determination of rhoifolin and daidzin in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A method for determining flavonoids in human plasma is presented for application to pharmacokinetic studies of two flavonoids, rhoifolin and daidzin. Isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used with genistin as an internal standard and solid-phase extraction using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. The mobile phases were acetonitrile-0.1 M ammonium acetate solution (20:80, v/v) for rhoifolin and methanol-0.1 M ammonium acetate solution (33:67, v/v) for daidzin. The detection limits on-column were 2 ng for rhoifolin and 0.5 ng for daidzin.

Acetates

Activin A stimulates mitogenesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts without activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Activin A stimulated DNA synthesis and transient c-fos expression in quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. The activin A-induced DNA synthesis was dose-dependent with a half-maximal effect obtained at 0.3 nM. The maximal response obtained at 10 nM was comparable with that induced by 5 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor. Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts expressed abundant high affinity binding sites for 125I-labeled activin A with a Kd value of 0.63 nM and the number of binding sites at 24,000/cell. Northern blot analysis revealed that Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts express a high level of type II activin receptor mRNA. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of mitogenic action of activin A, we examined the effect of activin A on mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Unexpectedly, however, activin A did not induce kinase activation under conditions in which basic fibroblast growth factor and endothelin-1 at similar or even less potent mitogenic concentrations did. Furthermore, activin A did not induce phosphorylation of the Erk2 species of mitogen-activated protein kinase. These observations strongly suggest that the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase is not a necessary step for activin A-induced DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

3T3 Cells

Antinociceptive effect of L-arginine in diabetic mice.

The antinociceptive effect of L-arginine in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice was examined. Although s.c. administration of L-arginine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the tail-flick response in both non-diabetic and diabetic mice, the antinociceptive response was greater in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The antinociceptive effects of L-arginine in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice were significantly antagonized by s.c. administration of naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist. However, neither beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, nor nor-binaltorphimin ++, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, significantly affected the antinociceptive effect of L-arginine in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. These results suggest that L-arginine produces a marked antinociceptive effect in diabetic mice through the activation of delta-opioid receptors.

Analgesics

Antitussive effect of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 in mice.

We examined the effect of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (MEAP) on the capsaicin-induced cough reflex in mice. Intracerebroventricular administration of MEAP significantly decreased the number of coughs in a dose-dependent manner. The antitussive effect of MEAP was blocked by nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist. However, beta-funaltrexamine, a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, had no effect on the antitussive effect of MEAP. On the other hand, the antinociceptive effect of MEAP, as determined in the tail-flick test, was blocked by both nor-binaltorphimine and beta-funaltrexamine. Naltrindole, a delta-opioid receptor antagonist, had no effect on either the antitussive effect or the antinociceptive effect of MEAP. These data suggest that MEAP exerts its antitussive effect in mice through the stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors, whereas the antinociceptive effect of MEAP is mediated through the simulation of both kappa- and mu-opioid receptors.

Animals

Involvement of delta 1-opioid receptor antagonism in the antitussive effect of delta-opioid receptor antagonists.

The effects of 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (BNTX), a selective delta 1-opioid receptor antagonist, and naltriben, a selective delta 2-opioid receptor antagonist, on the capsaicin-induced cough reflex were studied in mice. I.p. administration of BNTX in doses from 0.1 to 3.0 mg/kg reduced the number of coughs dose dependently. The antitussive effect of BNTX was antagonized by [D-Pen2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE), a selective delta 1-opioid receptor agonist, while [D-Ala2]deltorphin II, a selective delta 2-opioid receptor agonist, had no effect on the antitussive effect of BNTX. Pretreatment with nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, had no significant effect on the antitussive effect of BNTX. I.p. administration of naltriben, in doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg, also significantly decreased the number of coughs. Although the antitussive effect of naltriben was antagonized by nor-binaltorphimine, the antitussive effect of naltriben was not attenuated by either DPDPE or [D-Ala2]deltorphin II. The antitussive effects of neither BNTX nor naltriben were antagonized by beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Thus, it seems likely that the delta 1-opioid receptor antagonism may be involved in the antitussive effect of delta-opioid receptor antagonists.

Animals

Antinociceptive effect of lipopolysaccharide from Pantoea agglomerans on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The antinociceptive effect of lipopolysaccharide from Pantoea agglomerans (LPSp) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice was examined. Although subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of LPSp produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the tail-flick response in both non-diabetic and diabetic mice, the antinociceptive response was greater in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The antinociceptive effects of LPSp in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice were significantly antagonized by s.c. administration of naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist or nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, but not by beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist. These results suggest that LPSp produces a marked antinociceptive effect in diabetic mice through the activation of delta- and kappa-opioid receptors.

Analgesics

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes selectively reduces antinociception mediated by mu 1-opioid receptors, but not that mediated by mu 2-opioid receptors.

We assessed the effect of naloxonazine, a selective mu 1-opioid receptor antagonist, on antinociception produced by intrathecal or intracerebroventricular injections of morphine in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The antinociceptive effect of morphine (10 micrograms), administered i.c.v., was significantly less in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. The antinociceptive effect of i.c.v. morphine was significantly reduced in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice following pretreatment with naloxonazine. There were no significant differences in the antinociceptive effect of morphine (1 microgram, i.t.) in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Furthermore, naloxonazine had no significant effect on the antinociceptive effect of i.t. morphine in either diabetic or non-diabetic mice. On the other hand, the antinociceptive effects of i.c.v. and i.t. morphine were significantly reduced following pretreatment with beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice. In conclusion, mice with diabetes are selectively hyporesponsive to supraspinal mu 1-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception, but are normally responsive to activation of spinal mu 2-opioid receptors.

Analgesics