Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0406810 (NAME)
13,345 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Gender differences in the incidence of stroke and migraine appear to be related to circulating levels of estrogen; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. Using resistance-sized arteries pressurized in vitro, we have found that myogenic tone of rat cerebral arteries differs between males and females. This difference appears to result from estrogen enhancement of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production. Luminal diameter was measured in middle cerebral artery segments from males and from females that were either untreated, ovariectomized (Ovx), or ovariectomized with estrogen replacement (Ovx + Est). The maximal passive diameters (0 Ca2+ + 1 mM EDTA) of arteries from all four groups were identical. In response to a series of 10-mmHg step increases in transmural pressure (20-80 mmHg), myogenic tone was greater and vascular distensibility less in arteries from males and Ovx females compared with arteries from either untreated or Ovx + Est females. In the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 microM), an NO synthase inhibitor, myogenic tone was increased in all arteries, but the differences among arteries from the various groups were abolished. Addition of L-arginine (1 mM) in the presence of L-NAME restored the differences in myogenic tone, suggesting that estrogen works through an NO-dependent mechanism in cerebral arteries. To determine the target of NO-dependent modulation of myogenic tone, we used tetraethylammonium (TEA; 1 mM) to inhibit large-conductance, calcium-activated K+ (BKCa) channels. In the presence of TEA, the myogenic tone of arteries from all groups increased significantly; however, myogenic tone in arteries from males and Ovx females remained significantly greater than in arteries from either untreated or Ovx + Est females. This suggests that activity of BKCa channels influences myogenic tone but does not directly mediate the effects of estrogen. Estrogen appears to alter myogenic tone by increasing cerebrovascular NO production and/or action.
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PMID:Estrogen reduces myogenic tone through a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism in rat cerebral arteries. 968 26

1. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of nicotine-evoked relaxation of the guinea-pig isolated basilar artery and to study the effects of drugs associated with the aetiology or treatment of migraine on the nicotine response. 2. The guinea-pig isolated basilar artery, pre-contracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), in the presence of atropine (3 microM) and guanethidine (3 microM), relaxed on addition of nicotine (0.1 mM) in approximately 50% of preparations. The responses to nicotine were of short duration and blocked in preparations pre-treated for 10 min with capsaicin (1 microM) and are therefore probably a consequence of the stimulation of trigeminal C fibre terminals. 3. Responses to nicotine were reduced in the presence of 5-carboxamidotryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and sumatriptan in that order of potency. This is consistent with a 5-HT1 receptor mechanism. These agonists evoked small additional contractions in vessels pre-contracted with PGF2alpha. 4. Indomethacin (0.3-10 microM), aspirin (10-30 microM), and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 mM) reduced nicotine-evoked relaxation of the basilar artery, suggesting the involvement of both nitric oxide and cyclo-oxygenase products in this response. 5. Progesterone (1 microM) markedly reduced the response to nicotine, a possible reflection of the ion channel blocking activity of high concentrations of this compound. 6. The guinea-pig basilar artery is a preparation in which the effects of drugs on responses to stimulation of trigeminal nerve terminals can be studied in vitro and may thus be of interest in assessing the actions of drugs used in treatment of headache.
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PMID:The inhibition of nicotine-evoked relaxation of the guinea-pig isolated basilar artery by some analgesic drugs and progesterone. 1019 81

Primary neurovascular headaches, such as migraine and cluster headache probably involve activation of trigeminovascular pain structures projecting to the trigeminocervical complex of neurons in the caudal brain stem and upper cervical spinal cord. It has recently been demonstrated that blockade of the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) by an NO synthesis inhibitor can abort acute migraine attacks and thus it is of interest to determine whether there is an influence of NO generation on trigeminocervical neurons. Cats were anaesthetised with alpha-chloralose (60 mg/kg, i.t.). supplemental 20 mg/kg, intravenously (i.v.)) and halothane for surgery (0.5-3% by inhalation). A circular midline craniotomy was performed to isolate the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) for electrical stimulation (0.3 Hz, 150 V, 250 micros duration for 2 h). Two groups were compared, one stimulated after administration of vehicle and the other stimulated after administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME: 100 mg/kg, i.v.). After stimulation of the SSS Fos immunoreactivity was observed in lamina I/IIo of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and dorsal horns of C1 and C2 to a median total of 136 cells (range 122-146). After L-NAME treatment Fos expression was significantly reduced to 40 cells (24-54; P < 0.02). In conclusion, inhibition of NO synthesis L-NAME markedly reduces Fos expression in the trigeminocervical complex of the cat. These data taken together with the clinical observations of the effect of NO synthesis blockade in migraine suggest a role for NO generation in mediating nociceptive transmission in acute migraine.
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PMID:Fos expression in the trigeminocervical complex of the cat after stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus is reduced by L-NAME. 1046 1

1. Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed to be a key molecule in the pathogenesis of migraine pain and other headaches that are linked to vascular disorders. Several lines of evidence indicate that the meningeal vascularization is crucially involved in the generation of these headaches. In an experimental model in the rat a dominating role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in causing neurogenic vasodilatation and increased blood flow has been shown. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of NO in this model with regard to the meningeal blood flow. 2. The blood flow in and around the medial meningeal artery (dural arterial flow) was recorded in the exposed parietal dura mater encephali of barbiturate anaesthetized rats using laser Doppler flowmetry. Local electrical stimulation of the dura mater (pulses of 0.5 ms delivered at 7.5 - 17.5 V and 5 or 10 Hz for 30 s) caused temporary increases in dural arterial flow for about 1 min that reached peaks of 1.6 - 2.6 times the basal flow. The effects of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors on the basal flow and the electrically evoked increases in flow were examined. 3. Systemic (i. v.) administration of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at cumulative doses of 10 and 50 mg kg(-1) lowered the basal flow to 87 and 72%, respectively, of the control and reduced the evoked increases in blood flow to 82 and 44% on an average. Both these effects could partly be reversed by 300 mg kg(-1) L-arginine. The systemic arterial pressure was increased by L-NAME at both doses. Injection of the stereoisomer D-NAME at same doses did not change basal flow and evoked increases in flow. 4. 4. Topical application of L-NAME (10(-4) - 10(-2) M) was effective only at the highest concentration, which caused lowering of the basal blood flow to 78% of the control; the evoked increases in flow were not changed. Topical application of 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine (AMT), a specific inhibitor of the inducible NOS, at concentrations of 10(-4) - 10(-2) M lowered the basal flow to 89, 87.5 and 85%, respectively, but did not significantly change the evoked flow increases. Same concentrations of 7-nitroindazole monosodium salt (7-NINA), a specific inhibitor of the neuronal NOS, had no significant effects on basal flow and evoked increases in flow. 5. It is concluded that NO is involved in the maintenance of the basal level of dural arterial blood flow as well as in the electrically evoked flow increases, which have been shown to be mainly mediated by CGRP released from dural afferent fibres. The most important source of NO is probably the endothelium of dural arterial vessels. The synergistic effect of NO and CGRP on the stimulated blood flow may be in part due to a NO mediated facilitation of the CGRP release.
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PMID:Involvement of nitric oxide in the modulation of dural arterial blood flow in the rat. 1074 95

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a temporary disruption of local ionic homeostasis that propagates slowly across the cerebral cortex. Cortical spreading depression promotes lesion progression in experimental stroke, and may contribute to the initiation of migraine attacks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the marked increase of nitric oxide (NO) formation that occurs with CSD. Microdialysis electrodes were implanted in the cortex of anesthetized rats to perform the following operations within the same region: (1) elicitation of CSD by perfusion of high K+ medium; (2) recording of CSD elicitation; (3) application of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME); and (4) recording of dialysate pH changes. The primary effect of l-NAME (0.3 to 3.0 mmol/L in the perfusion medium) was a marked widening of individual CSD wave, resulting essentially from a delayed initiation of the repolarization phase. This change was due to NO synthase inhibition because it was not observed with the inactive isomer d-NAME, and was reversed by l-arginine. This effect did not appear to be linked to the suppression of a sustained, NO-mediated vascular change associated with the superposition of NO synthase inhibition on high levels of extracellular K+. The delayed initiation of repolarization with local NO synthase inhibition may reflect the suppression of NO-mediated negative feedback mechanisms acting on neuronal or glial processes involved in CSD genesis. However, the possible abrogation of a very brief, NO-mediated vascular change associated with the early phase of CSD cannot be ruled out.
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PMID:Nitric oxide formation during cortical spreading depression is critical for rapid subsequent recovery of ionic homeostasis. 1204 66

Nitric oxide is thought to control transmitter release and neuronal activity in the spinal dorsal horn and the spinal trigeminal nucleus, where nociceptive information from extra- and intracranial tissues is processed. Extracellular impulse activity was recorded from neurons in the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus with afferent input from the cranial dura mater. In contrast to the inactive isomer D-NAME, infusion of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (20 mg/kg) significantly reduced neuronal activity and increased systemic blood pressure. It is concluded that nitric oxide production contributes to the ongoing activity of sensitized neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The results suggest that nitric oxide may be involved in the generation and maintenance of primary headaches such as migraine.
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PMID:Nitric oxide synthase inhibition lowers activity of neurons with meningeal input in the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus. 1259 35

The compound m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), which is known to trigger migraine-like head pain in some subjects, was evaluated for its ability to induce dural plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in guinea pigs. Intravenous mCPP dose-dependently increased PPE. This effect was inhibited by non-selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonists (methysergide, LY53857, LY215840), by a peripherally restricted 5-HT2 receptor antagonist (xylamidine) and by a 5-HT2B selective receptor antagonist (LY202146). These data suggests that peripheral 5-HT2B receptors mediate mCPP-induced PPE. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME and 5-HT1 agonist sumatriptan also blocked mCPP-induced PPE, suggesting a role for nitric oxide (NO) and the trigeminal system, respectively. NO release has been linked to activation of the 5-HT2B receptor on the vascular endothelium. However, LY202146 did not block PPE induced by electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. These data are consistent with activation of peripheral 5-HT2B receptors initiating PPE and the theory that selective 5-HT2B antagonists might be effective prophylactic therapies for migraine.
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PMID:Neurogenic dural protein extravasation induced by meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) involves nitric oxide and 5-HT2B receptor activation. 1260 68

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a transient disruption of local ionic homeostasis that may promote migraine attacks and the progression of stroke lesions. We reported previously that the local inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) delayed markedly the initiation of the recovery of ionic homeostasis from CSD. Here we describe a novel method for selective, controlled generation of exogenous NO in a functioning brain region. It is based on microdialysis perfusion of the NO donor, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)-diazenolate-2-oxide (DEA/NO). As DEA/NO does not generate NO at alkaline pH, and as the brain has a strong acid-base buffering capacity, DEA/NO was perfused in a medium adjusted at alkaline (but unbuffered) pH. Without DEA/NO, such a microdialysis perfusion medium did not alter CSD. DEA/NO (1, 10 and 100 microM) had little effect on CSD by itself, but it reversed in a concentration-dependent manner the effects of NOS inhibition by 1 mM L-NAME. These data demonstrate that increased formation of endogenous NO associated with CSD is critical for subsequent, rapid recovery of cellular ionic homeostasis. In this case, the molecular targets for NO may be located either on brain cells to suppress mechanisms directly involved in CSD genesis, or on local blood vessels to couple flow to the increased energy demand associated with CSD.
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PMID:Effects of the nitric oxide donor, DEA/NO on cortical spreading depression. 1272 26

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a temporary disruption of local ionic homeostasis that propagates slowly across the cerebral cortex, and may contribute to the pathophysiology of stroke and migraine. Previous studies demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) formation promotes the repolarisation phase of CSD, and this effect may be cyclic GMP (cGMP)-mediated. Here, we have examined how phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition, either alone or superimposed on NO synthase (NOS) inhibition, alters CSD and the associated changes in extracellular cGMP. Microdialysis probes incorporating an electrode were implanted into the frontoparietal cortex of anaesthetised rats for quantitative recording of CSD, pharmacological manipulations, and dialysate sampling for cGMP measurements. CSD was induced by cathodal electrical stimulation in the region under study by microdialysis. Extracellular cGMP increased, but only slightly, during CSD. Perfusion of either zaprinast or sildenafil through the microdialysis probe, at concentrations that inhibited both PDE5 and PDE9 (and possibly other PDE), increased significantly extracellular cGMP. Unexpectedly, these levels remained high when NOS was subsequently inhibited with N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME, 1mM). The most interesting pharmacological effect on CSD was obtained with sildenafil. This drug altered neither CSD nor the subsequent characteristic effect of NOS inhibition, i.e. a marked widening of CSD. The fact that NOS inhibition still widened CSD in the presence of the high extracellular levels of cGMP associated with PDE inhibition, suggests that NO may promote CSD recovery, independently of cGMP formation.
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PMID:Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibition on cortical spreading depression and associated changes in extracellular cyclic GMP. 1504 79

Vascular changes underlying headache in migraine patients induced by Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) were previously studied with various imaging techniques. Despite the long history of medical and experimental use of GTN, its effects on the brain vasculature are still poorly understood presumably due to low spatial resolution of the imaging modalities used so far. We took advantage of the micrometer-scale vertical resolution of two-photon microscopy to differentiate between the vasodynamic effects of GTN on meningeal versus cortical vessels imaged simultaneously in anesthetized rats through either thinned skull or glass-sealed cranial window. Intermediate and small calibre vessels were visualized in vivo by imaging intravascular fluorescent dextran, and detection of blood flow direction allowed identification of individual arterioles and venules. We found that i.p.-injected GTN induced a transient constriction of meningeal arterioles, while their cortical counterparts were, in contrast, dilated. These opposing effects of GTN were restricted to arterioles, whereas the effects on venules were insignificant. Interestingly, the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME did not affect the diameter of meningeal vessels but induced a constriction of cortical vessels. The different cellular environment in cortex versus meninges as well as distinct vessel wall anatomical features probably play crucial role in the observed phenomena. These findings highlight differential region- and vessel-type-specific effects of GTN on cranial vessels, and may implicate new vascular mechanisms of NO-mediated primary headaches.
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PMID:Opposite reactivity of meningeal versus cortical microvessels to the nitric oxide donor glyceryl trinitrate evaluated in vivo with two-photon imaging. 2458 70


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