Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Apr 2010
Inhibitory effect of fucoidan on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated primary microglia.
1. Microglial activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases by producing various pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microglia-derived nitric oxide (NO) is critical for the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. 2. ⋯ Fucoidan (125 microg/mL) also suppressed phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by approximately 50%, but not that of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. 5. The results provide the first evidence that fucoidan has a potent inhibitory effect against LPS-induced NO production by microglia. The results also suggest that this inhibitory action of fucoidan involves suppression of p38 and ERK phosphorylation.
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Apr 2010
Comparative Study4-Phenyl butyric acid does not generally reduce glucose levels in rodent models of diabetes.
1. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 4-phenyl butyric acid (PBA), a novel chemical chaperone reducing ER stress, on serum glucose level in different strains of normal and diabetic rodents. 2. 4-Phenyl butyric acid (1 g/kg per day, i.g.) was administered to ob/ob Type 2 diabetic mice, alloxan-induced Type 1 diabetic mice and hydrocortisone (HC)-induced Type 2 diabetic mice as well as normal C57BL/6J mice and Kumming mice for 14 days to evaluate its effect on serum glucose levels. ⋯ Normoglycaemia was obtained in ob/ob mice after 4 days of PBA treatment and was maintained for up to 14 days treatment. 4. 4-Phenyl butyric acid had no glucose-lowering effect in alloxan-induced Type 1 diabetic mice, HC-induced Type 2 diabetic mice and non-obese Type 2 diabetic GK rats. In addition, it had no beneficial effects on insulin resistance in HC-treated mice. 5. 4-Phenyl butyric acid did not affect normal serum glucose levels in C57BL/6 J mice, Kunming mice or WKY rats. 6. In conclusion, PBA does not generally reduce glucose levels in rodent models of diabetes, although it can normalize glucose levels in ob/ob diabetic mice, indicating that restoration of ER function as diabetes therapy is limited to conditions under which ER stress is involved in the high glucose levels.
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Mar 2010
Comparative StudyResuscitation with Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor in traumatic haemorrhagic shock: cardiopulmonary performance, oxygen transport and tissue inflammation.
1. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of inhibition of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE-1) on cardiopulmonary performance, oxygen carrying capacity and tissue inflammation in a pig model of traumatic haemorrhage-resuscitation. 2. In 12 instrumented anaesthetized pigs, traumatic haemorrhage was modelled by producing tibia fractures, followed by haemorrhage of 25 mL/kg for 20 min, and then a 4 mm hepatic arterial tear with surgical repair after 20 min. ⋯ In addition, BIIB513 treatment reduced lung tissue levels of interleukin-6 by 80%, tumour necrosis factor-alpha by 37% and myeloperoxidase activity by 38%. Nuclear factor-kappaB DNA binding activity in the lung was also slightly and significantly attenuated following BIIB513 treatment. 4. In conclusion, the present study shows that NHE-1 inhibition facilitates the response to fluid resuscitation after traumatic haemorrhage by improving cardiac function, pulmonary vascular function and oxygen carrying capacity, which results in reduced tissue inflammatory injury.
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Feb 2010
Rosiglitazone-induced myocardial protection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury is mediated via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent pathway.
1. Rosiglitazone is widely used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. However, in recent years it has become evident that the therapeutic effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligands reach far beyond their use as insulin sensitizers. ⋯ Pharmacological inhibition of PI3-K by wortmannin markedly abolished the cardioprotection induced by rosiglitazone. 4. These results indicate that rosiglitazone-induced cardioprotection in I/R injury is mediated via a PI3-K/Akt/GSK-3alpha-dependent pathway. The data also suggest that modulation of PI3-K/Akt/GSK-3alpha-dependent signalling pathways may be a viable strategy to reduce myocardial I/R injury.
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Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. · Nov 2009
Effects of sodium valproate on synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in rat hippocampus.
1. Valproate (VPA) has long been used in the treatment of both generalized and partial seizures. However, its cellular mechanisms of action remain unclear. 2. ⋯ In contrast, 0.3 and 0.6 mmol/L VPA significantly increased spike frequency adaptation from 4.02 +/- 0.47 to 4.72 +/- 0.55 and from 3.47 +/- 0.41 to 4.48 +/- 0.58, respectively (n = 8; P < 0.05). 5. The results of the present study suggest that VPA presynaptically increases inhibitory synaptic activity without modifying excitatory synaptic transmission and reduces neuronal excitability. Any or all of these effects may contribute to its anticonvulsant action.