[The effects of diazoxide on myocardium function and the expressions of ERK and JNK in isolated spontaneous hypertension rat hearts].

AIM: To investigate the effect of diazoxide preconditioning and the role of ERK and JNK in cellular signaling during diazoxide preconditioning protection in isolated spontaneous hypertension rat (SHR) hearts. METHODS: Hearts were isolated from male SHR rats, and perfused on a Langendorff apparatus. Five groups were considered (n = 6). Con: after 40 min perfusion the hearts were submitted to 25 min ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion. IP: the hearts were preconditioned with 2 periods of 5 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion prior to 25 min ischemia. DP: the hearts were preconditioned with 2 periods of 10 min K-H solution with 50 micromol x L(-1) diazoxide and 5 min K-H solution reperfusion prior to 25 min ischemia. 5-HD: perfuse with 100 micromol x L(-1) 5-HD (a special mitochondrial ATP sensitive potassium channel blocker) for 10 min followed by 30 min K-H solution perfusion before 25 min ischemia. 5-HD + DP: 100 micromol x L(-1) 5-HD was given for 10 min before diazoxide preconditioning. RESULTS: During reperfusion, comparing with Con group, the recoveries of left ventricle developed pressure (LVDP), + dP/dt(max), - dP/dt(max) and left ventricle end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were improved in IP and DP groups (P < 0.01 vs Con). At the end of reperfusion, compared with Con group, the expression of ERK in myocardium were higher in IP and DP groups (P < 0.01 vs Con), there was no significance between 5-HD and Con group, but 5-HD couldn't inhibit the expression of ERK induced by diazoxide preconditioning. The expression of JNK in IP and DP groups were decreased (P < 0.05 vs Con), this effect could been inhibited by 5-HD. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that diazoxide preconditioning could mimic ischemic preconditioning, the activation of ERK expression and the declining of JNK expression involved in diazoxide preconditioning in isolated SHR hearts.

The spinal nitric oxide involved in the inhibitory effect of midazolam on morphine-induced analgesia tolerance.

Previous studies had shown that pretreatment with midazolam inhibited morphine-induced tolerance and dependence. The present study was to investigate the role of spinal nitric oxide (NO) in the inhibitory effect of midazolam on the development of morphine-induced analgesia tolerance. Subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg morphine to mice caused an acute morphine-induced analgesia tolerance model. To develop chronic morphine tolerance in mice, morphine was injected for three consecutive days (10, 20, 50 mg/kg sc on Day 1, 2, 3, respectively). In order to develop chronic tolerance model in rats, 10 mg/kg of morphine was given twice daily at 12 h intervals for 10 days. Midazolam was intraperitoneally injected 30 min prior to administration of morphine. Tail-flick test, hot-plate and formalin test were conducted to assess the nociceptive response. Immunocytochemistry, histochemistry and western blot were performed to determine the effect of midazolam on formalin-induced expression of Fos protein, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in chronic morphine-tolerant rats, respectively. The results showed that pretreatment with midazolam significantly inhibited the development of acute and chronic morphine tolerance in mice, which could be partially reversed by intrathecal injection of NO precursor L-arginine (L-Arg). In chronic morphine-tolerant rats, pretreatment with midazolam significantly decreased the formalin-induced expression of Fos and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons in the contralateral spinal cord and NADPH-d positive neurons in the bilateral spinal cord. Both inducible NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein levels in the spinal cord were significantly increased after injection of formalin, which could be inhibited by pretreatment with midazolam. The above results suggested that the decrease of the activity and expression of NOS contributed to the inhibitory effect of midazolam on the development of morphine tolerance.

Effects of intrathecal NMDA and AMPA receptors agonists or antagonists on antinociception of propofol.

AIM: To study the effects of intrathecal (it) agonists and antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors and NMDAR1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS ODN) on the antinociception of propofol. METHODS: Hot-plate test (HPPT) and acetic acid-induced writhing test were used to measure the nociceptive thresholds in mice. The effects of intrathecal NMDA, AMPA, MK-801, NBQX, or NMDAR1 AS ODN on the antinociception of propofol were observed. RESULTS: Propofol (25, 50 mg/kg, ip) displayed an appreciable antinociceptive effect in hot-plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test. NMDA (12.5, 25 ng, it) or AMPA (1.25, 2.5 ng, it) exhibited no effects on the behavior but decreased HPPT significantly compared with basal HPPT and aCSF group (P<0.05, P<0.01). No effects on behavior and HPPT were obtained in NMDA (6.25 ng, it) or AMPA (0.625 ng, it) groups. NMDA (6.25, 12.5, and 25 ng, it) dose-dependently decreased the HPPT in propofol-treated group. AMPA (1.25, 2.5 ng, it) also decreased HPPT significantly. MK-801 (0.25, 0.5 microg, it) or NBQX (0.25, 0.5 microg, it) groups had no behavioral changes, two antagonists 0.5 microg but not 0.25 microg increased HPPT in conscious or propofol-treated mice. AS ODN (5, 10, and 20 microg, it) groups exhibited dose-dependent increased in HPPT in propofol-treated groups compared with aCSF group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Both agonists NMDA and AMPA reversed the antinociception of propofol. MK-801, NBQX, and NMDAR1 AS ODN potentiated the antinociceptive effects of propofol. Propofol produced antinociception through an interaction with spinal NMDA and AMPA receptors in mice.

[Effects of lidocaine and thiopental on the neuronal injury in rat hippocampus slice cultures].

AIM: To observe the effects of lidocaine and thiopental on the neuronal injury induced by the experimental ischemia in hippocampus slice cultures obtained from postnatal 22 days SD rats. METHODS: Model of the experimental ischemia was produced by hypoxia and glucose deprivation. Propidium iodide (PI) assay was used to observe the neuronal injury in CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG). RESULTS: After experimental ischemia, the peak of PI index was appeared in CA1 and DG on the first day (P < 0.01), PI index in DG was less than in CA1 (P < 0.01). PI indices were still higher during seven days after the experimental ischemia than before the experimental ischemia (P < 0.01). 10 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L concentration of lidocaine could significantly decrease PI indices in CA1 and DG (P < 0.01). 250 nmol/L and 600 nmol/L concentration of thiopental also decreased the PI indices in CA1 and DG (P < 0.01). The neuronal injury peaks were postponed to the third day after the experimental ischemia by lidocaine and thiopental. CONCLUSION: It suggested that lidocaine and thiopental could decrease the neuronal injury in CA1 and DG induced by the experimental ischemia, and postpone the neuronal injury peaks to the third day after the experimental ischemia.

Pretreatment with midazolam suppresses morphine withdrawal response in mice and rats.

AIM: To investigate the roles of pretreatment with midazolam on morphine withdrawal in mice and rats. METHODS: Acute and chronic morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal models were employed in the present study. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) content and Fos protein expression were measured by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: Coadministration of midazolam (2 mg/kg, ip) and morphine prevented the development of both acute and chronic morphine dependence in mice. Compared to saline-morphine group (3.0, 95 % confidence limits: 1.9-4.3 mg/kg), ED50 of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumping increased significantly in midazolam-morphine group (10.4, 95 % confidence limits: 8.5-12.3 mg/kg) in acute morphine-dependent mice (P<0.01). Pretreatment with midazolam lowered the number and incidence of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumping and prevented loss in body weight in chronic morphine-dependent mice (P<0.01). Midazolam-pretreatment inhibited the increase of Fos protein expression, not cyclic AMP content, in rat spinal cord during morphine withdrawal. CONCLUSION: Midazolam suppresses morphine withdrawal response by inhibiting hypersensitization of the spinal cord neurons, and this effect may not be mediated by cAMP pathway.

M2 muscarinic receptor of spinal cord mediated increase of nNOS expression in locus coeruleus during morphine withdrawal.

AIM: To investigate the effects of different muscarinic receptor (M) subtypes in the spinal cord on the scores of naloxone-precipitated morphine-withdrawal symptoms and the changes of nNOS expression in locus coeruleus (LC). METHODS: nNOS immunohistochemistry, intrathecal injection (it), and antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ONs) techniques were used. RESULTS: Intrathecal injection of M2-antisense oligonucleotides (M2-AS) decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal symptoms. M1-AS attenuated morphine-withdrawal symptoms, but the effect was less than that of M2-AS. The expression of nNOS positive neurons in the LC increased in morphine-dependent rats and increased to a greater extent during morphine withdrawal. Intrathecal injection of M2-AS inhibited the increase of nNOS expression in LC during morphine-withdrawal, but there was no effect in case of M1-AS. CONCLUSION: M2 muscarinic receptor of spinal cord mediated the increase of nNOS expression in LC during morphine withdrawal.

[Propofol depresses c -fos expression of NOS neurons in the spinal cord of rats with inflammatory pain].

In formalin pain model, the effect of propofol on Fos expression in the spinal cord was examined by means of c -fos oncogene immunohistochemistry and NADPH-d histochemistry. Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons were mainly found in the ipsilateral dorsal horn after injection of formalin, some of which were FLI/NOS double-labeled neurons. Most of the FLI or FLI/NOS double-labeled neurons were observed in the medial part of lamina and the outer lamina . Before or after injection of formain, i.p. injection of propofol significantly decreased the number of FLI and FLI/NOS double-labeled neurons in all laminae (P<0.05 or P<0.01). By single i.p. injection of propofol or normal saline, few FLI neurons were found in the spinal cord. The results suggest that the antinociceptive function of propofol is possibly involved in the depression of the NOS neurons in the spinal cord.

Effects of ropivacaine on sodium, calcium, and potassium currents in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

AIM: To study the effects of ropivacaine (Rop) on sodium current (INa), L-type calcium current (ICa-L), inward rectifier potassium current (IK1), and delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. METHODS: Whole cell patch-clamp techniques were used in our experiment. RESULTS: At potential of -40 mV, Rop 10, 50, and 100 micromol/L decreased sodium current by 8.3 %, 33.3 %, and 62.5 %, respectively and prolonged the time constant of INa inactivation by 8.2 %, 24.7 %, and 64.4 %, respectively (n = 5 cells from 3 animals, P < 0.05). At potential of +10 mV, Rop 50 and 100 micromol/L decreased L-type calcium current by 7.6 % and 22.5 %, and prolonged the slow time constant of ICa-L inactivation by 15.5 % and 33.0 %, respectively (n = 5 cells from 4 animals, P < 0.05). Rop 50 and 100 micromol/L did not markedly change the peak current of delayed rectifier potassium current and inward rectifier potassium current (n = 5 cells from 3 animals, P > 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Rop depressed INa and ICa-L, which may be related to its cardiotoxic effect