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)

Pulmonary levels of cGMP and cAMP in mice sensitized to methacholine and histamine with B. pertussis were examined to determine whether sensitization could be the result of an alteration in the metabolism of these cyclic nucleotides. The results presented show that in sensitized mice, methacholine raised cGMP to levels that were about double those produced without sensitization. In analogous experiments, histamine raised cGMP by approximately 100% in sensitized mice without producing significant increases in nonsensitized groups. Atropine completely blocked the cGMP rises produced by methacholine but did not eliminate those produced by histamine, thus indicating that cholinergic, but not the histaminergic elevation of cGMP involves activation of muscarinic receptors. The influence of pertussis on cAMP appeared to be opposite in direction from cGMP, i.e., a small but significant drop in cAMP levels was found following methacholine administration to sensitized, but not to nonsensitized mice. It was concluded that pertussis sensitization increases the responsiveness of the pulmonary guanylate cyclase-cGMP system to methacholine and histamine, and that the altered patterns of cGMP accumulation may contribute to the biochemical mechanism of sensitization.
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PMID:Effects of methacholine, histamine and atropine on pulmonary guanosine-3', 5'-monophosphate levels in hypersensitive mice. 18 63

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is released from platelets during aggregation. Because we thought that EGF played a role in vascular tone, we investigated its vascular reactivity using isolated rat aortic strips with and without the endothelium. In the presence of endothelium, EGF relaxed vascular smooth muscle precontracted with 40 mM K+, 10(-5) M prostaglandin F2 alpha or 10(-6) M norepinephrine. The relaxation induced by EGF was more prominent on the prostaglandin F2 alpha- and norepinephrine-induced contractions than on the K(+)-induced contraction. Atropine (10(-5) M) and aspirin (10(-5) M) had no effect on the EGF-induced relaxation, but methylene blue (10(-5) M) partly abolished the relaxation evoked by EGF. These results suggest that EGF relaxes vascular smooth muscle in the presence of the endothelium. They also suggest that EGF has an effect on the endothelium to produce relaxing factor independent of cyclooxygenase; the releasing factor activates soluble guanylate cyclase, resulting in relaxation of vascular smooth muscle through the production of cyclic GMP.
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PMID:Vascular smooth muscle relaxation induced by epidermal growth factor is endothelium-dependent. 236 6

The present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that, during acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, a factor(s) is released from endothelial cells which directly activates soluble guanylate cyclase. We attempted to determine what similarities or differences existed between this factor and endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The study was performed on segments of rabbit aorta and canine femoral artery. Purified soluble guanylate cyclase was injected into the lumen of these vascular segments, together with its substrate, for intraluminal incubation of the enzyme. In endothelium-intact vascular segments, the activity of guanylate cyclase was enhanced over control values obtained by incubation in test tubes. The stimulation was further increased by acetylcholine in concentrations which caused relaxation of the vascular segments. The stimulating principle could not be transferred from the vessel lumen to an external solution of guanylate cyclase, indicating a short life-time. Removal of the endothelium prevented formation and release of the guanylate cyclase stimulating factor(s). Atropine, mepacrine, or nordihydroguaiaretic acid, which inhibit acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations, also inhibited acetylcholine-induced endothelium-mediated activation of guanylate cyclase. The results support the hypothesis that acetylcholine-induced endothelium-derived relaxing factor increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels of vascular smooth muscle by a stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase.
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PMID:Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase by an acetylcholine-induced endothelium-derived factor from rabbit and canine arteries. 287 Aug 26

The effect of the acidic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Vipera russelli venom on the rat aortic ring was studied and compared with that of acetylcholine (ACh). PLA2 induced relaxation of the aortic ring precontracted with noradrenaline (NA) in a dose-dependent manner. Removal of the endothelium did not reduce the relaxant effect of PLA2. Replacement of Ca2+ by Sr2+ in the medium to inhibit the PLA2 enzyme activity reduced the relaxant effect. Atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, did not affect the relaxant response. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, when equilibrated for 50 min, potentiated the relaxation. The lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) partially reduced the relaxation. This relaxation was also partially reduced by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue. In contrast, the relaxation elicited by ACh was abolished by de-endothelialization, atropine, NDGA or methylene blue. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (degradation product of prostacyclin) and PGE2 produced by aortic rings were measured by radioimmunoassay. PLA2 (3 X 10(-6) g/ml) increased the output of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha about 10-fold. The production of PGE2 was also increased but to a lesser extent. ACh also increased the output of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2. However, prostacyclin released by PLA2 and ACh appears not to contribute to the relaxant effect, since prostacyclin does not relax the rat aorta. It is concluded that the relaxation elicited by PLA2 in the rat aorta is endothelium-independent and partially mediated by lipoxygenase product(s) and cyclic GMP whereas the relaxation induced by ACh was endothelium-dependent, mediated by lipoxygenase product(s) and cyclic GMP, and blocked by atropine.
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PMID:Relaxant effect of phospholipase A2 from Vipera russelli snake venom on rat aorta. 408 46

The responses of the bovine retractor penis muscle to field stimulation of intramural nerves in vitro was investigated using micro-electrode and extracellular (sucrose gap) techniques. In the absence of tone single pulses or trains of stimuli (1-50 Hz 0.1-0.5 m.sec) produced e.j.p.s and a decrease in membrane resistance; spike potentials were not observed. E.j.p.s often small in amplitude (3-5 mV to single pulse) and accompanied by contractions in almost all preparations were noradrenergic, abolished by guanethidine (1-3 x 10(-5) M) and tetrodotoxin (3.5 x 10(-6) M) but not by prazosin (0.05 - 1.4 x 10(-6) M). Prazosin abolished the depolarization and contraction produced by added NA (0.02 - 2 x 10(-8) moles). TEA (10(-2) M) depolarized the membrane and initiated spontaneous activity; e.j.p.s and contractions were enhanced and prolonged but no spikes were observed. Atropine (0.5 x 10(-6) M) increased and physostigimine (1-5 x 10(-6) M) decreased e.j.p.s and contractions indicating a cholinergic regulatory component in the release of the excitatory transmitter. In the presence of tone, nerve stimulation produced i.j.p.s. and relaxations which were unaffected by apamin (5 x 10(-7) M), atropine (3 x 10(-6) M), guanethidine (3 x 10(-5) M), phentolamine (5 x 10(-6) M) and propranolol (4 x 10(-6) M) but were abolished by tetrodotoxin (3.5 x 10(-7) M) suggesting their mediation by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves. Sodium nitroprusside (10(-10) - 10(-8) moles), which increases cyclic GMP, also hyperpolarized the membrane and relaxed the BRP. Those responses and those to inhibitory nerve stimulation were antagonized by oxyhaemoglobin which inhibits guanylate cyclase. 2-O-propoxyphenyl-8-azapurin-6-one (M & B 22948 3-9 x 10(-6) M) which inhibits cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase, enhanced the relaxation but not the i.j.p. TEA (10(-2) M) initially depolarized the membrane potential and raised tone. In the sucrose gap inhibitory potentials were abolished; the mechanical relaxation was not and a small contractile component emerged. Electrical and mechanical inhibitory components in the bovine retractor penis may not be correlated.
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PMID:Electrical and mechanical responses of the bovine retractor penis to nerve stimulation and to drugs. 615 68

The acetylcholine (ACh) stores of cholinergic neurons of the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig ileum were labelled by preincubation with 3H-(methyl)-choline. The secretion of labelled transmitter evoked by electrical field stimulation at 1 Hz in the presence of eserine increased by 55% after addition of 0.5 mM 8-Br adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br cAMP). Atropine further enhanced the secretory response, but not more than in the absence of 8-Br cAMP. 8-Br guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br cGMP, 0.5 mM) did not change the secretory response to 0.5 or 1 Hz stimulation, either at 1.8 mM or at 0.6 mM calcium, in the absence of eserine. Nor did 1 mM 8-Br cGMP alter the effects of atropine or of oxotremorine. Activation of guanylate cyclase by 0.1 mM N-methyl-N'-nit-ro-N-nitroso guanidine failed to alter the secretory response to 0.5 Hz stimulation in the absence of eserine, or to influence the depression of the secretion caused by oxotremorine. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (a mM) neither altered the secretory response in the presence of eserine, nor the enhancing effect of atropine. The results suggest that cyclic nucleotides are probably not critically involved as "second messengers" in the muscarinic "autoinhibition" of ACh secretion from cholinergic myenteric neurons of guinea-pig ileum.
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PMID:Secretion of 3H-acetylcholine from guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus is enhanced by 8-Br adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate but not changed by 8-Br guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate. 618 55

The action of highly purified Clostridium difficile toxin A was studied in the jejunum of rats in vivo. C. difficile toxin A reversed dose-dependently net fluid absorption into net fluid secretion, accompanied by an increase in prostaglandin E2 but not 5-hydroxytryptamine output into the gut lumen. Accordingly, indomethacin but not the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists ketanserin plus tropisetron were able to inhibit toxin A-induced fluid secretion. Atropine and hexamethonium were without effect on the action of toxin A, such excluding a nervous mechanism. The cyclic nucleotides cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP appear not to be involved in the mediation of the secretory response. The reduced cyclic GMP levels are most likely the result of a complete destruction of the villus membranes, where the guanylate cyclase is located. Histological studies revealed massive damage to intestinal villi, whereas the majority of the crypts seem to be unaffected. In conclusion, toxin A-induced intestinal fluid secretion appears to be caused mainly by severe mucosal damage. PGE2-release may be the consequence of the inflammation accompanying this damage. The mechanism seems to be completely different to those of cholera toxin or Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin.
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PMID:Effects of purified Clostridium difficile toxin A in the small intestine of the rat in vivo. 790 88

1. The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in enteric neural pathways underlying reflex responses of the longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) layers activated by mucosal stimulation was examined in the isolated guinea-pig distal colon. 2. A segment of colon spanned two partitions (10 mm apart), which divided the organ bath into three chambers: a recording chamber where LM and CM tension was measured; a stimulation chamber where mucosal stimulation was applied; and a middle chamber separating them. 3. Brushing the mucosa anal and oral to the recording site evoked simultaneous oral contraction and anal relaxation of both the LM and CM. 4. N omega-nitro-L-argininel-NA; 100 microM) or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 microM) applied to the middle chamber or stimulation chamber decreased the oral contractile response of the LM and CM (by about 30-40 %), but increased the anal relaxation (> 600 %) and exposed an anal contraction (> 1000 % increase) of both muscles. The addition of L-NA to the recording chamber reduced the anal relaxation of the LM and CM and the anal contraction of the LM, but slightly increased the anal contraction of the CM. 5. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP; 10 microM), an NO donor, reversed the effects of L-NA in the middle or stimulation chambers. 6. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 microM), a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, mimicked the effects of L-NAin the middle chamber or stimulation chamber, but these effects were not reversed by SNAP. 7. The oral contractile responses, and the anal relaxation and contractile responses of the LM and CM produced by L-NA in the stimulation or middle chambers, were blocked by hexamethonium (300 microM) in any chamber. Atropine (1 microM) in the recording chamber reduced the contractile responses of the LM and CM. 8. In conclusion, endogenous NO facilitates and depresses release of acetylcholine from interneurons in ascending and descending nervous pathways, respectively. These NO effects are mediated through soluble guanylate cyclase in cholinergic interneurons
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PMID:Nitric oxide modulates cholinergic reflex pathways to the longitudinal and circular muscle in the isolated guinea-pig distal colon. 976 30

We investigated the mechanisms of contractile and relaxant responses to nerve stimulation by electrical pulses and nicotine in isolated monkey uterine artery strips denuded of the endothelium. In the strips contracted with prostaglandin F(2alpha), transmural electrical stimulation (5 Hz, 40 s) produced a contraction which was partially attenuated by prazosin and abolished or reversed to a relaxation by additional treatment with alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The relaxation was abolished by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) and restored by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. Atropine, D-NA, aminophylline and suramin, an inhibitor of P(2Y) purinoceptors, were without effect. The neurogenic relaxation was abolished by 1H-(1,2, 4)oxadiazolo(4,3)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. Nicotine (10(-4) mol/l) elicited contraction or relaxation of uterine arteries; the contraction was reversed by combined treatment with prazosin and alpha,beta-methylene ATP. Nicotine-induced relaxations were abolished by L-NA and restored by L-arginine. The relaxation induced by exogenously applied NO (acidified NaNO(2) solution) was not influenced by L-NA but abolished by ODQ. It is concluded that contractions induced by nerve stimulation are mediated by norepinephrine and ATP liberated from sympathetic nerves that stimulate alpha(1)-adrenoceptors and P(2x) purinoceptors, respectively. The neurogenic relaxation seems to be mediated exclusively by nitric oxide synthesized from L-arginine in perivascular nerves that activates guanylate cyclase and produces cyclic GMP in smooth muscle.
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PMID:Mechanisms underlying contraction and relaxation induced by nerve stimulation in monkey uterine arteries. 1109 77

1. Muscarinic cholinoceptor stimulation leads to an increase in guanylyl cyclase activity and to a decrease in adenylyl cyclase activity. This study examined the effects of cocaine and methylecgonidine (MEG) on muscarinic receptors by measurement of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP content in cultured human embryonic lung (HEL299) cells which specifically express M(2) muscarinic receptors. 2. A concentration-dependent increase in cyclic GMP production was observed in HEL299 cells incubated with carbachol, cocaine, or MEG for 24 h. The increase in cyclic GMP content was 3.6 fold for 1 microM carbachol (P < 0.01), 3.1 fold for 1 microM cocaine (P < 0.01), and 7.8 fold for 1 microM MEG (P < 0.001), respectively. This increase in cyclic GMP content was significantly attenuated or abolished by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine or the M(2) blocker methoctramine. 3. In contrast, cocaine, MEG, and carbachol produced a significant inhibition of cyclic AMP production in HEL299 cells. Compared to the control, HEL299 cells treated with 1 microM cocaine decreased cyclic AMP production by 30%. MEG and carbachol at 1 microM decreased cyclic AMP production by 37 and 38%, respectively. Atropine or methoctramine at 1 or 10 microM significantly attenuated or abolished the cocaine-induced decrease in cyclic AMP production. However, the antagonists alone had neither an effect on cyclic GMP nor cyclic AMP production. Pretreatment of HEL299 cells with pertussis toxin prevented the cocaine-induced reduction of cyclic AMP production. 4. Western blot analysis showed that HEL299 cells specifically express M(2) muscarinic receptors without detectable M(1) and M(3). Incubation of HEL299 cells with cocaine, carbachol, and atropine did not alter the expression of M(2) protein levels. However, the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced in the presence of cocaine or carbachol and this induction was significantly attenuated after addition of atropine or methoctramine. 5. The present data show that cocaine and MEG significantly affect cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP production in cultured HEL299 cells. Our results also show that these effects result from the drug-induced stimulation of M(2) muscarinic receptors accompanied with no alterations of receptor expression. However, the induction of iNOS by cocaine may result in the increase in cyclic GMP production.
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PMID:Evidence for cocaine and methylecgonidine stimulation of M(2) muscarinic receptors in cultured human embryonic lung cells. 1115 94


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