Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
 8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The role of the L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway in morphine-induced central analgesia was investigated in two nociceptive tests: PGE2-induced hind paw hyperalgesia and tail-flick. The central analgesic effect of morphine was potentiated by MY5445, a specific cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. I.c.v. injections of morphine or carbachol caused dose-dependent analgesia, which was prevented by methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. The NO synthase inhibitor, N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine, prevented carbachol-induced analgesia, but did not affect morphine-induced analgesia. Our results suggest that activation of cGMP may underlies analgesia induced by morphine and carbachol. The activation of guanylate cyclase by carbachol seems to depend on the L-arginine-NO pathway, but that caused by morphine remains to be further characterized.
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PMID:The molecular mechanism of central analgesia induced by morphine or carbachol and the L-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway. 133 72

1. Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) nerves mediate vasodilatation in guinea-pig pulmonary artery (PA) by both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms. The transmitter(s) involved in the endothelium-independent pathway have not yet been identified. We have therefore investigated the possibility that nitric oxide (NO) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) may mediate this neural vasodilator response in guinea-pig branch PA rings denuded of endothelium. 2. Electric field stimulation (EFS, 50 V, 0.2 ms) induced a frequency-dependent (1-24 Hz), tetrodotoxin-sensitive relaxation of the U44069-precontracted PA rings in the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic blockade. 3. The NO synthase inhibitors NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA, 100 microM) and NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 30 microM), and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (5 microM) inhibited the EFS (16 Hz)-induced relaxation by 53 +/- 5, 74 +/- 9 and 82 +/- 9% respectively (n = 5-7, P < 0.01, compared with control rings). 4. Excess concentrations of L-, but not D-arginine (300 microM) completely reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA. 5. The EFS-elicited relaxation (4 Hz) was potentiated by 1 microM zaprinast, a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor which inhibits guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) degradation, but was unaffected by 0.1 microM zardaverine, a type III/IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor which inhibits cyclic AMP degradation. 6. EFS (50 V, 0.2 ms, 16 Hz) induced a 3 fold increase in tissue cyclic GMP content, an action which was inhibited by L-NMMA (100 microM). 7. Pyrogallol (100microM), a superoxide anion generator, also inhibited the EFS-induced relaxation by 53 +/- 9%, and this effect was prevented by superoxide dismutase.8. Chemical sympathetic denervation with 6-hydroxydopamine had no effect on the relaxant response to EFS in the endothelium-denuded PA rings.9. In endothelium-denuded branch PA rings at resting tone, L-NMMA (100 microM) significantly augmented the adrenergic contractile response, an effect which was completely reversed by L-arginine,but not by D-arginine. In the same groups of vessel rings, L-NMMA had no significant effect on the matched contractile response to exogenous noradrenaline.10. These results suggest that NO may be released from intramural nerve endings other than adrenergic nerves (probably NANC nerves), and this leads to vasodilatation via activation of guanylyl cyclase.
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PMID:Role of nitric oxide and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in mediating nonadrenergic, noncholinergic relaxation in guinea-pig pulmonary arteries. 133 45

The role of cGMP in compensatory renal growth (CRG) is uncertain, since inconsistent changes in renal cGMP have been reported following uninephrectomy (UNx) in the rat. The aim of this study was to reassess the change in cGMP following UNx in the conscious rat by sequential measurements of cGMP excretion and to determine the contribution of nitric oxide, an activator of guanylate cyclase, using L-NAME an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. In the conscious rat a sustained increase in the urinary excretion of cGMP was produced in the 7-day period following UNx. L-NAME (20 mg/kg per day) prevented the increase in cGMP excretion following UNx, but not compensatory renal growth. Total kidney DNA, however, was reduced by L-NAME. These observations dissociate the increase in cGMP after UNx from the process of renal hypertrophy.
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PMID:Differential effect of L-nitroarginine methyl ester on urinary cGMP and kidney growth in the conscious rat following uninephrectomy. 133 57

Three different guanylyl cyclase cell receptors are known, but others will likely be discovered within the next few years. The general function of these receptors appear to relate to the regulation of fluid volume or fluid movement. New receptors, or possibly the currently known receptors, therefore, may be discovered in areas of the body where fluid volume regulation is important. Such fluids whose volume or composition might be regulated by guanylyl cyclase receptors include synovial fluid, uterine/oviductal luminal fluid, follicular fluid, aqueous humor, cerebral spinal fluid, seminiferous tubule luminal fluid, epididymal luminal fluid, seminal plasma, and airway luminal fluid. The function of the heterodimeric forms of guanylyl cyclase appear to relate to a primary regulation of nitric oxide (or similar molecules) concentrations, which are in turn regulated by a Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive nitric oxide synthase.
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PMID:Receptor guanylyl cyclases. 135 64

Cyclic nucleotides are major intracellular mediators in the signal transduction events in synaptic neurotransmission of the CNS. Intracellular Ca2+ is known to regulate adenylyl cyclase (AC) in a calmodulin (CaM)-dependent manner, and guanylyl cyclase (GC), in an indirect manner through CaM-sensitive nitric oxide synthase. To ascertain the physiological significance of cyclic nucleotide second messenger systems, we have localized the mRNAs encoding AC, GC, and CaM in the rat brain by in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled RNA probes. The AC mRNA is widely distributed throughout the brain; strong hybridization signal was observed in the granular layers of the cerebellum, in the pyramidal and granule cells of the hippocampus, and in the olfactory system. These AC mRNA localizations are compatible with the distribution of Ca2+/CaM-sensitive AC activities. In contrast to AC mRNA distribution, GC mRNA has a more limited distribution. Significant signals were observed in the striatum, in the pyramidal and granule cells of the hippocampus, in the olfactory system, in the inferior and superior colliculus, in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, in the locus coeruleus, and in many pyramidal cells in the layers II-III and V of the cerebral cortex, and mainly, in the occipital cortex. In some discrete brain regions, a close correlation was found between enzyme activity and mRNA hybridization signal of GC. The distinct distribution of AC and GC mRNAs suggests that different cyclic nucleotide second messenger systems have specialized functions. On the other hand, CaM mRNA was colocalized with the AC and GC mRNA, but its distribution was more abundant and specific for neuronal cells, since there was little hybridization signal with CaM probe in neuronal fiber regions such as the corpus callosum and the anterior commissure. The high expression of CaM mRNA in neuronal cells is in agreement with its biochemical role in the regulation of various enzymes. Results of the present study should help in analyzing the role of cyclic nucleotides and CaM in physiological and pathological situations in the CNS.
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PMID:Localization of adenylyl and guanylyl cyclase in rat brain by in situ hybridization: comparison with calmodulin mRNA distribution. 135 44

(6R)-5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-L-biopterin (R-THBP) is a cofactor not only for aromatic amino acid hydroxylases in mammalian tissues but also for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) induced by endotoxins or cytokines in some kinds of cells. Recently it has been reported that nitric oxide (NO) has biological activity in endothelium and in brain as well. NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). Superoxide reacts with NO easily and shortens the half-life of NO actions. We found, in a study using rat cerebellar cytosol fraction, that R-THBP itself did not directly activate sGC, but activated sGC at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 microM only under NO generating conditions of activated NOS and in the presence of sodium nitroprusside. In addition, R-THBP (1 microM) did not alter the NOS activity, which was determined by L-citrulline formation. These results suggest that R-THBP may regulate sGC activity associated with NO formation in the central nervous system.
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PMID:(6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin modulates nitric oxide-associated soluble guanylate cyclase activity in the rat cerebellum. 135 30

1. The signal transduction pathway for vasorelaxation induced by human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (human alpha-CGRP) was studied in rat thoracic aortic rings preconstricted with noradrenaline (10(-7) M). 2. Vasorelaxation by human alpha-CGRP was inhibited by haemoglobin (10(-6) M) and methylene blue (10(-5) M) but was unaffected by ibuprofen (10(-5) M). 3. Acetylcholine caused a 16 fold increase in levels of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) with levels of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) being unaltered. Human alpha-CGRP caused a 12 fold increase in levels of cyclic GMP but, in contrast to acetylcholine, evoked a 2.5 fold rise in levels of cyclic AMP. The rises in cyclic nucleotides evoked by human alpha-CGRP and acetylcholine were dependent on the presence of an intact endothelium. 4. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG: 10(-5) M), which inhibits nitric oxide synthetase, inhibited the relaxant response to human alpha-CGRP and cyclic GMP accumulation without affecting the cyclic AMP accumulation. 5. The data presented in this paper suggests that human alpha-CGRP relaxes the rat thoracic aorta by releasing nitric oxide and stimulating guanylate cyclase. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by human alpha-CGRP probably precedes the activation of nitric oxide synthase but could be unrelated to the relaxant response.
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PMID:Human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase and relaxes rat thoracic aorta by releasing nitric oxide. 136 70

Treatment of mesangial cells with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) has been shown to increase cGMP formation, most probably due to induction of nitric oxide synthase. Here we report that maximum stimulation of cGMP formation over a 24-h period required the presence of IL-1 beta or TNF alpha during the first 18 h of induction. N4-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) was a potent inhibitor of cytokine-induced cGMP formation while N4-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) was less active. Formation of nitric oxide was detected in the cytosol of cytokine-treated mesangial cells by activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase and was stimulated by tetrahydrobiopterin, but not by calcium calmodulin. Treatment of cells with IL-1 beta or TNF alpha markedly attenuated the contractile response to a subsequent challenge with angiotensin II. Furthermore, conditioned medium from IL-1 beta-treated cells increased cGMP in untreated control cells.
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PMID:Interleukin 1 beta and tumour necrosis factor alpha induce a macrophage-type of nitric oxide synthase in rat renal mesangial cells. 137 Apr 9

In primary cultures of astrocytes and granule cells from neonatal rat cerebellum, the activity and function of nitric oxide (NO) synthase were measured by the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline and the accumulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), respectively. The glutamate receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 stimulated NO synthase activity in cerebellar granule cells but not in astrocytes. In granule cells, NMDA, A23187, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) elicited an accumulation of cGMP, whereas only SNP was active in astrocytes. However, in astrocytes that were incubated together with granule cells, NMDA induced a more than 3-fold increase in the concentration of cGMP; this increase was blocked by both the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (MeArg) and the allosteric NMDA receptor antagonist (+)5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzocyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801). Thus, cerebellar astrocytes do not appear to express NO synthase but do contain guanylate cyclase, which can be activated by an NO-like factor produced by cerebellar granule cells after stimulation by NMDA.
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PMID:In vitro interaction between cerebellar astrocytes and granule cells: a putative role for nitric oxide. 137 59

Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) is a Mr 22,000 protein produced by Staphylococcus aureus. It is thought to be the cause of toxic shock syndrome. We investigated the hypothesis that TSST-1 induces nitric oxide (NO) synthase and that the NO formed may be involved in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome. We used the murine monocyte-macrophage cell line J744.2 that responds to TSST-1 and also expresses NO synthase activity upon immunological stimulation. J774.2 macrophages stimulated with TSST-1 (10-100 nM) generated nitrite, a breakdown product of NO, and induced concentration-dependent elevations of cGMP in the pig kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1). This latter effect was due to the generation of L-arginine-derived NO for it was (i) abolished by oxyhemoglobin (10 microM), a scavenger of NO, or by methylene blue (10 microM), an inhibitor of NO-activated guanylate cyclase; (ii) potentiated by superoxide dismutase (100 units/ml), which prolongs the life of NO; (iii) inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (0.3 mM), an inhibitor of NO synthase; (iv) significantly decreased when L-arginine (0.4 mM) in the medium was replaced by D-arginine (0.4 mM). Moreover, TSST-1 (100 nM) enhanced the activity of cytosolic NO synthase in J774.2 cells. Hydrocortisone (1 microM) but not indomethacin (5 micrograms/ml) or salicylic acid (5 micrograms/ml) prevented the generation of NO2- and the increases in cGMP levels in LLC-PK1 cells induced by J774.2 cells stimulated with TSST-1. The effects of hydrocortisone were partially reversed by coincubation with RU 486 (1 microM), an antagonist of glucocorticoid receptors. Thus, TSST-1 and perhaps other exotoxins produced by Gram-positive bacteria induce NO synthase and the increased NO formation may contribute to toxic shock syndrome and possibly to changes in the immune responses that accompany infection.
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PMID:Induction of nitric oxide synthase activity by toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in a macrophage-monocyte cell line. 137 33


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