1. The electrochemical and fluorescence detection of nitric oxide in the cochlea and its increase following loud sound
Xiaorui Shi, Tianying Ren, Alfred L Nuttall Hear Res. 2002 Feb;164(1-2):49-58. doi: 10.1016/s0378-5955(01)00409-9.
A nitric oxide (NO)-selective sensor (tip diameter 30 microm) was inserted into the perilymph of the basal turn of the guinea pig cochlea. The basal level and stimulation-induced changes of NO were measured. The mean (+/-S.E.M.) basal level of NO was 273+/-42.9 nM. Following perilymphatic perfusion of the artificial perilymph containing NO synthase (NOS) substrate L-arginine (100 microM) combined with cofactor (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride (100 microM), a rapid and significant increase of NO to a mean concentration of 392+/-32.3 nM (P < 0.01, n = 10) was recorded. In contrast, a significant decrease of mean NO concentration to 180+/-32.7 nM (P < 0.01, n = 10) was observed following the perfusion of the NOS-inhibiting agent N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 microM). No change in the NO concentration was found following the perfusion of either artificial perilymph or N(G)-monomethyl-D-arginine (100 microM) solution employed as controls. Broadband noise exposure (3 h/day at 120 dBA SPL) for three consecutive days produced an increase in NO concentration to 618+/-60.7 nM (P < 0.05, n = 10) in the perilymph. In addition, by using specific dyes for NO, 4,5-diaminofluoresceine diacetate and for the reactive oxygen species (ROS), dihydrorhodamine 1,2,3, the distribution of NO in the whole mounts of the organ of Corti and the production of ROS in vivo in the organ of Corti were investigated in both control (n = 5) and noise-exposed (n = 5) animals. The more intense NO and ROS fluorescence was observed in both the inner and outer hair cells in the noise-exposed groups. It is proposed that both the basal level and the increase in NO concentration following the addition of substrate (L-arginine) are produced by the constitutive NOS while the elevated NO and ROS following noise exposure indicate that NO may be involved in noise-induced hearing loss.
2. Antioxidants inhibit human endothelial cell functions through down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity
Christos Polytarchou, Evangelia Papadimitriou Eur J Pharmacol. 2005 Mar 7;510(1-2):31-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.01.004.
We have recently shown that superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are putative inducers of angiogenesis in vivo, possibly through up regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and increased production of endogenous nitric oxide (NO). The aim of the present work was to elucidate the implication of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cell functions, using cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), tempol (membrane permeable SOD mimetic) and the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride and apocynin, but not allopurinol, inhibited HUVEC proliferation and migration, as well as activity of endothelial NOS (eNOS). Catalase and the intracellular hydrogen peroxide scavenger sodium pyruvate decreased, while hydrogen peroxide increased HUVEC proliferation, migration and activity of eNOS. Dexamethasone induced the proliferation and migration of HUVEC and activated eNOS. Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not Nomega-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester, decreased endothelial cell functions and reversed the effects of dexamethasone and hydrogen peroxide. N5-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine dihydrochloride, but not the inducible NOS specific inhibitor N-[[3-(aminomethyl)phenyl]methyl]-ethanimidamide dihydrochloride also decreased endothelial cell functions, similarly to L-NAME. The guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one inhibited HUVEC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and completely reversed hydrogen peroxide-induced proliferation, migration and cGMP accumulation. In conclusion, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide seem to play a significant role in promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration, possibly through regulation of eNOS activity.
3. Protamine after heparin produces hypotension resulting from decreased sympathetic outflow secondary to increased nitric oxide in the central nervous system
Yoshikazu Hamada, Yoshiyuki Kameyama, Hideyuki Narita, Kirk T Benson, Hiroshi Goto Anesth Analg. 2005 Jan;100(1):33-37. doi: 10.1213/01.ANE.0000139357.87358.94.
To elucidate whether there are linkages among protamine-induced hypotension, nitric oxide (NO), and sympathetic nerve activity, we administered 3 mg/kg protamine sulfate after 300 U/kg heparin after 20 mg/kg of N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) as a pretreatment to baroreceptor-denervated rabbits and compared changes in hemodynamic variables and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). In the D-NAME group, heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and RSNA significantly decreased to 93.7% +/- 0.7%, 75.0% +/- 5.1% and 65.2% +/- 4.6% (mean +/- SE), respectively. In the L-NAME group, the pretreatment of L-NAME significantly inhibited the depressant effects of protamine on these variables. Because the animals were totally baroreceptor-denervated, decreased RSNA was attributable to the central depressant effect of protamine, and decreased sympathetic outflow could have contributed to the reduction of HR and MAP. The depressant effect of protamine on sympathetic outflow was inhibited by the pretreatment with L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, suggesting that decreased sympathetic outflow secondary to a protamine-induced increase in NO concentration in the central nervous system may contribute to protamine-induced cardiovascular depression.
