Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Impaired vascular contractility is a hallmark of sepsis and endotoxemia. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine mechanisms responsible for the abnormal contractility in sepsis using the rat cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) model. 24 h after CLP or sham surgery, rats were anesthetized with halothane and a segment of the thoracic aorta removed. Aortic rings measuring 1.6-2.0 mm in length were mounted in a water bath and stretched to optimal diameter. Aortic rings from control rats demonstrated a 57% increase in maximum contraction to phenylephrine and a 68% increase to KCl compared to aortic rings from rats with sepsis (p < .01). There was no difference in the concentrations of phenylephrine or KCl which elicited a half-maximal contraction (EC50) in control versus septic aortic rings. Removal of the endothelium increased the sensitivity of aortas to both phenylephrine and KCl in septic and control aortic rings but did not reverse the defects in contraction in sepsis. Treatment of the aortic rings with N gamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, increased contraction in aortic rings from both septic and control rats but also failed to correct the contractile defect in sepsis. The frequency and amplitude of the oscillations in wall tension which occurred with phenylephrine were slower, i.e., .07 +/- .10 vs. .17 +/- .02 Hz, for septic and control rings, respectively (p < .05), and had a greater amplitude .65 +/- .01 vs. .41 +/- .09 mN/mm, for septic and control rings, respectively (p < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Sepsis decreases phenylephrine- and KCl-induced aortic ring contraction and decreases the frequency of oscillations in active wall tension. 772 82

Nephrotoxicity caused by cyclosporin A (CSA) is the result of vasoconstriction of the renal microcirculation. The endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide (NO) regulates microvascular blood flow in various tissues, and mediates the microcirculatory response during hypertension and sepsis. This study investigated the role of NO in CSA-induced renal vasoconstriction. Hydronephrotic kidneys in rats were suspended in an environmentally controlled tissue bath, and interlobular, afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters and blood flow were measured by in vivo videomicroscopy. CSA was administered alone, with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or with exogenous NOS substrate L-arginine. CSA significantly constricted the whole of the renal microvasculature whereas L-NAME alone preferentially constricted the preglomerular vessels. L-Arginine reversed the vasoconstriction induced by CSA whereas L-NAME had no further effect. Preglomerular basal vascular tone is dependent on continuous production of NO and alterations in the L-arginine-NO pathway contribute to CSA-induced renal vasoconstriction.
 ...
PMID:An experimental study of altered nitric oxide metabolism as a mechanism of cyclosporin-induced renal vasoconstriction. 774 87

We have previously reported differential impairment of pulmonary and systemic vascular contractility in hyperdynamic sepsis. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine whether the magnitude of this phenomenon depends on the control group chosen for comparison, and (2) to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this altered vascular contractility. Rats were randomized to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or to one of two control procedures. The Sepsis group had a jugular venous line for fluid administration, laparotomy, and CLP. Control group 1 (Control) had only a jugular venous line inserted, while group 2 (Sham) had a jugular venous line inserted and an abdominal incision. All rats were killed 24 h after surgery. Vascular contractility of small pulmonary arterial and thoracic aortic rings was assessed in vitro by obtaining cumulative dose-response curves to the contractile agonists potassium chloride (KCl), phenylephrine (PE), and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). Pulmonary vessels from animals in the Sepsis and Sham groups exhibited significant attenuation of the contractile responses to KCl, PE, and PGF2 alpha compared with the Control group. In contrast, contractility of the aortic rings to KCl, PE, and PGF2 alpha was not significantly different in the three groups studied. Incubation of pulmonary and aortic vessels with NG-nitro-L-argine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 microM) caused an increase in the response to KCl, PE, and PGF2 alpha in pulmonary vessels in Sepsis and Sham rats but not in Control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Vascular reactivity in sepsis: importance of controls and role of nitric oxide. 788 60

Among the important pathophysiologic alterations in the brain in bacterial meningitis are abnormalities of cerebral circulation and metabolism; however, the precise mechanisms by which these disturbances occur are not completely delineated. It has been recently recognized that cytokines are produced by tissues in the central nervous system in meningitis and play a critical role in the host inflammatory response. Because these mediators are involved in circulatory and metabolic disturbances in other tissues in sepsis, we investigated the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the central nervous system in a rabbit model. We found that injection of recombinant human TNF into the cisterna magna in the rabbit led to an acute reduction in cerebral oxygen uptake and a more prolonged reduction in cerebral blood flow. This was accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure and an increase in cerebrospinal fluid lactate. Reduction in oxygen uptake and increases in intracranial pressure and CSF lactate were blocked by pretreatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Reduction in cerebral blood flow was not affected by L-NAME treatment and was due to increased cerebrovascular resistance and reduced oxygen demand. These results suggest that TNF may be a critical mediator of changes in cerebral circulation and metabolism and that some of these changes occur via the nitric oxide pathway.
 ...
PMID:Effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on cerebral oxygen uptake, cerebrospinal fluid lactate, and cerebral blood flow in the rabbit: role of nitric oxide. 788 56

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of the hemodynamic response to sepsis; however, its visceral microcirculatory effects are largely unknown. To determine the role of NO in renal microvascular responses to bacteremia, rat hydronephrotic kidneys with intact neurovascular supplies were exteriorized into a tissue bath. Videomicroscopy was used to measure vessel diameters (interlobular artery, ILA; afferent arteriole, AFF; efferent arteriole, EFF) and optical Doppler velocimetry was used to quantitate ILA flow. In controls, topical L-arginine (L-Arg; 10(-4) M), the NO synthase (NO-S) substrate, resulted in mild pre- and postglomerular dilation and increased flow. Inhibition of NO-S by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME: 10(-4) M) caused preglomerular constriction (ILA = -22%; AFF = -20% from baseline) and reduced ILA flow by 39%, while postglomerular diameters (EFF) were unchanged. Bacteremic rats had similar alterations (ILA = -22%; AFF = -20%; flow = -56%). Topical L-NAME in bacteremic rats resulted in further constriction (ILA = -38%; AFF = -37%), decreased ILA flow (-75%) and constricted EFF (-30%). L-Arg ameliorated constriction (ILA = -11%; AFF = -7%) and flow (-34%) during bacteremia. We conclude that: (1) NO is important in basal preglomerular tone; (2) Escherichia coli causes selective preglomerular constriction and hypoperfusion; (3) maintenance of EFF tone during bacteremia is NO dependent; and (4) different pre- and postglomerular NO mechanisms exist during basal and bacteremic states. These data indicate that NO is an important mediator of renal microvascular responses to sepsis.
 ...
PMID:Renal microvascular responses to sepsis are dependent on nitric oxide. 801 6

All phenomena seen under ovine endotoxemia or bacteremia are typically observed in septic humans as well. The lethality (approximately 20%) in both sepsis models underlines the severity of the experimental sepsis in these models. As mentioned above, both models are ideal to objectify the effects of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of sepsis, because they provide stable conditions. We tested the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in both models: Nitric oxide is the main mediator of the vasodilation and the hyperdynamic circulation seen in sepsis. Since the restoration of the perfusion pressure is the major therapeutic goal to prevent further tissue damage (Chernow et al. 1990), the blockade of the nitric oxide synthase seems to be a logical approach for the treatment of hyperdynamic sepsis. Therefore, we tested the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the endotoxemic sheep model as well as in the bacteremic model. L-NAME reversed the hyperdynamic circulation of sepsis (Meyer et al.1992; Dehring et al.1993). The cardiac output was lowered back to baseline, and at the same time, the arterial pressure was elevated to baseline niveau, both resulting in a marked increase in systemic vascular resistance (figure 3). The pulmonary artery pressure showed only a slight increase, but due to the marked reduction in cardiac output the pulmonary vascular resistance increased significantly. The oxygen extraction was elevated to an extent, which prevented the oxygen consumption to fall, although the oxygen delivery dropped significantly because of the lowered cardiac output (figure 4). The intrapulmonary shunt was brought back to baseline (Meyer et al.1994a), allowing an improved pulmonary oxygen uptake. The renal function improved significantly after nitric oxide synthase inhibition in endotoxemia as well as in bacteremia (Hinder et al.1994; Lingnau et al.1994). Not only was the creatinine clearance elevated, but the urine output also increased, lowering the positive fluid balance. Another inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase N(W)-Mono-Methyl-L-Arginine (L-NMMA) was recently tested in these models as well. This drug is now already in clinical trials. The fact that the effects of these nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in septic humans are similar to the effects in the described experimental sepsis models proves the clinical relevance of the endotoxemic and the bacterimic sheep model.
 ...
PMID:Endotoxin versus bacteremia: a comparison focusing on clinical relevance. 852 47

Nitric oxide has been implicated in the regulation of cardiac contractile function as well as the depressed myocardial contractility associated with sepsis and endotoxemia. We examined the effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and a nitric oxide generator on contractile responses of left atrial preparations and ventricular myocytes isolated from endotoxemic guinea pigs, which exhibit depressed myocardial contractile function. The NOS inhibitor L-NAME had no effect on contractile tension developed by control atria or atria isolated from guinea pigs 4 or 16 h after an intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin. Similarly, contraction of ventricular myocytes isolated from control or endotoxemic guinea pigs (4 h after endotoxin injection) was unchanged by exposure to several NOS inhibitors. In addition, neither Ca(2+)-dependent nor Ca(2+)-independent ventricular NOS activity was affected by endotoxemia. These data suggest that nitric oxide alone is not responsible for the cardiac contractile dysfunction of endotoxemic guinea pigs.
 ...
PMID:Endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction: is there a role for nitric oxide? 859 20

We evaluated the effects on survival of three different strategies for blocking the actions of nitric oxide (NO) during Gram-negative sepsis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent placement of a jugular vein catheter and i.p. implantation of a gelatin capsule containing a paste (.11 +/- 0.1 g final weight) consisting of sterile rat feces mixed with a suspension (.2 mL) of viable Escherichia coli (strain sm 18; 5.7 x 10(5) colony-forming units) in saline. Beginning at T = 6h, all animals received i.v. ampicillin (85 mg/kg every 12 h) until death or the administration of five doses. At the same time points, pairs of animals received an i.v. dose of either an experimental treatment agent or an appropriate control substance. The following experimental regimens were tested: 5 mg/kg per dose of S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMT), a selective inhibitor of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS); 10 mg/kg per dose or 25 mg/kg per dose of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of the inducible and constitutive isoforms of NOS; 200 mg/kg per dose of cross-linked human hemoglobin (HGB), an NO scavenger. SMT significantly prolonged survival in septic rats, although cumulative survival at T = 168 h was approximately equivalent in SMT- or saline-treated animals. In contrast, HGB and the higher dose of L-NAME significantly shortened survival times. At T = 20 h, arterial PO2 was significantly lower in rats treated with HGB as compared to time-matched controls. We conclude that SMT, a compound with reported activity as a selective inhibitor of the inducible isoform of NOS, prolongs survival in a rat model of antibiotic-treated Gram-negative sepsis.
 ...
PMID:A selective inhibitor of inducible in nitric oxide synthase prolongs survival in a rat model of bacterial peritonitis: comparison with two nonselective strategies. 870 88

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that pulmonary microvascular reactivity is depressed in sepsis and that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes to the vascular hyporeactivity. Rats were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture. After 16 h, pulmonary vascular reactivity was evaluated by measurement of perfusion pressures while the vasculature was challenged with angiotensin II and KCl. The results showed that vascular reactivity was significantly depressed in lungs from septic rats in comparison to sham-operated controls. Pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM) restored the depressed vasoreactivity while the nitric oxide (NO) synthase substrate L-arginine (1 mM) reversed the contraction-restoring effect of L-NAME. NO production in lungs from septic rats increased about 4-fold in comparison to sham-operated controls. iNOS protein was expressed in lung tissues, mainly the resistance vessels, from septic rats but not from sham-operated controls. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction also showed a strong induction of iNOS mRNA in lung tissues from septic rats. These results suggest that increased iNOS expression and NO production may contribute to depressed pulmonary vascular reactivity in sepsis.
 ...
PMID:Role of nitric oxide in sepsis-induced hyporeactivity in isolated rat lungs. 870 89

Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in the intestine and may contribute to intestinal injury in sepsis. However, the tissue expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA throughout the digestive tract and its relation with the mucosal damage after endotoxin challenge remain unknown. We therefore measured tissue expression of mRNA encoding iNOS by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription PCR. The iNOS mRNA was detectable at 1 h, peaked at 4 h, and remained faint at 24 h after endotoxin injection in esophagus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon, but not in the stomach. Pre-treatment with dexamethasone attenuated the rise of iNOS mRNA. Both dexamethasone and NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, ameliorated the endotoxin-induced increase in intestinal mucosal permeability. Our results indicate that there is tissue-specific expression of iNOS mRNA in the digestive tract. The manipulations that decrease NO production may have therapeutic potential in preserving intestinal mucosal integrity in sepsis.
 ...
PMID:Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in rat digestive tissues after endotoxin and its role in intestinal mucosal injury. 871 10


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>