Beneficial effects of lipidic extracts of saladette tomato pomace and Serenoa repens on prostate and bladder health in obese male Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with increased risk of a number of serious medical conditions, including urological disorders. This study investigated the effect of lipidic extracts of saladette tomato pomace (STP) and Serenoa repens (SR) on the prostate and bladder in a rat obese model induced by high-carbohydrate diet. RESULTS: High-sucrose-fed rats showed higher prostate weight as well as increased contractility and stromal and epithelial hyperplasia in the prostate. Treatment with STP and SR improved contractility and diminished hyperplasia and hypertrophy in the prostate. Obese animals also showed impaired bladder contractility, but neither extract reversed this deterioration. In the histological study, a disarray in the process of smooth muscle cell proliferation with non-parallel fibers was observed; interestingly, treatment with STP and SR led to improvement in this derangement. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated impaired contractility and hyperplasia in the prostate and bladder of obese rats induced by high sucrose. STP and SR could enhance prostate function by reducing contractility and hyperplasia and improve smooth muscle fiber structure and decrease cell proliferation in the bladder, suggesting their possible health-beneficial effects on lower urinary tract symptoms. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Role of SERCA and the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content on calcium waves propagation in rat ventricular myocytes.

In Ca(2+)-overloaded ventricular myocytes, SERCA is crucial to steadily achieve the critical sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) level to trigger and sustain Ca(2+) waves, that propagate at constant rate (ʋwave). High luminal Ca(2+) sensitizes RyR2, thereby increasing Ca(2+) sparks frequency, and the larger RyR2-mediated SR Ca(2+) flux (dF/dt) sequentially activates adjacent RyR2 clusters. Recently, it was proposed that rapid SERCA Ca(2+) reuptake, ahead of the wave front, further sensitizes RyR2, increasing ʋwave. Nevertheless, this is controversial because rapid cytosolic Ca(2+) removal could instead impair RyR2 activation. We assessed whether rapid SR Ca(2+) uptake enhances ʋwave by changing SERCA activity (ҡDecay) over a large range (∼175%). We used normal (Ctrl) and hyperthyroid rat (HT; reduced phospholamban by ∼80%) myocytes treated with thapsigargin or isoproterenol (ISO). We found that ʋwave and dF/dt had a non-linear dependency with ҡDecay, while Ca(2+) waves amplitude was largely unaffected. Furthermore, SR Ca(2+) also showed a non-linear dependency with ҡDecay, however, the relationships ʋwave vs. SR Ca(2+) and ʋwave vs. dF/dt were linear, suggesting that high steady state SR Ca(2+) determines ʋwave, while rapid SERCA Ca(2+) uptake does not. Finally, ISO did not increase ʋwave in HT cells, therefore, ISO-enhanced ʋwave in Ctrl depended on high SR Ca(2+).

Oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes contributes to decreased SERCA2a activity in rats with metabolic syndrome.

Ca(+) mishandling due to impaired activity of cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA2a) has been associated with the development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in insulin-resistant cardiomyopathy. However, the molecular causes underlying SERCA2a alterations induced by insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), are not completely understood. In this study, we used a sucrose-fed rat model of MetS to test the hypothesis that decreased SERCA2a activity is mediated by elevated oxidative stress produced in the MetS heart. Production of ROS and cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration were recorded in left ventricular myocytes using confocal imaging. The level of SERCA2a oxidation was determined in left ventricular homogenates by biotinylated iodoacetamide labeling. Compared with control rats, sucrose-fed rats exhibited several characteristics of MetS, including central obesity, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Moreover, relative to myocytes from control rats, myocytes from MetS rats exhibited elevated basal production of ROS accompanied by slowed cytosolic Ca(2+) removal, reflected by prolonged Ca(2+) transients. The slowed cytosolic Ca(2+) removal was associated with a significant decrease in SERCA2a-mediated Ca(2+) reuptake and increased SERCA2a oxidation. Importantly, myocytes from MetS rats treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine showed normal ROS levels and SERCA2a-mediated Ca(2+) reuptake as well as accelerated cytosolic Ca(2+) removal. These data suggest that elevated oxidative stress may induce oxidative modifications on SERCA2a leading to abnormal function of this protein in the MetS heart.

Cannabidiol Modifies the Glutamate Over-Release in Brain Tissue of Patients and Rats with Epilepsy: A Pilot Study.

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is associated with high extracellular levels of glutamate. Studies support the idea that cannabidiol (CBD) decreases glutamate over-release. This study focused on investigating whether CBD reduces the evoked glutamate release in cortical synaptic terminals obtained from patients with DRE as well as in a preclinical model of epilepsy. Synaptic terminals (synaptosomes) were obtained from the epileptic neocortex of patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (DR-TLE, n = 10) or drug-resistant extratemporal lobe epilepsy (DR-ETLE, n = 10) submitted to epilepsy surgery. Synaptosomes highly purified by Percoll-sucrose density gradient were characterized by confocal microscopy and Western blot. Synaptosomes were used to estimate the high KCl (33 mM)-evoked glutamate release in the presence of CBD at different concentrations. Our results revealed responsive tissue obtained from seven patients with DR-TLE and seven patients with DR-ETLE. Responsive tissue showed lower glutamate release (p < 0.05) when incubated with CBD at low concentrations (less than 100 µM) but not at higher concentrations. Tissue that was non-responsive to CBD (DR-TLE, n = 3 and DR-ELTE, n = 3) showed high glutamate release despite CBD exposure at different concentrations. Simultaneously, a block of the human epileptic neocortex was used to determine its viability through whole-cell and extracellular electrophysiological recordings. The electrophysiological evaluations supported that the responsive and non-responsive human epileptic neocortices used in the present study exhibited proper neuronal viability and stability to acquire electrophysiological responses. We also investigated whether the subchronic administration of CBD could reduce glutamate over-release in a preclinical model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Administration of CBD (200 mg/kg, p.o. every 24 h for 7 days) to rats with lithium-pilocarpine-evoked spontaneous recurrent seizures reduced glutamate over-release in the hippocampus. The present study revealed that acute exposure to low concentrations of CBD can reduce the glutamate over-release in synaptic terminals obtained from some patients with DRE. This effect is also evident when applied subchronically in rats with spontaneous recurrent seizures. An important finding was the identification of a group of patients that were non-responsive to CBD effects. Future studies are essential to identify biomarkers of responsiveness to CBD to control DRE.

Relative role of T-tubules disruption and decreased SERCA2 on contractile dynamics of isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

AIMS: Ventricular myocytes (VM) depolarization activates L-type Ca2+ channels (LCC) allowing Ca2+ influx (ICa) to synchronize sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, via Ca2+-release channels (RyR2). The resulting whole-cell Ca2+ transient triggers contraction, while cytosolic Ca2+ removal by SR Ca2+ pump (SERCA2) and sarcolemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) allows relaxation. In diseased hearts, extensive VM remodeling causes heterogeneous, blunted and slow Ca2+ transients. Among remodeling changes are: A) T-tubules disorganization. B) Diminished SERCA2 and low SR Ca2+. However, those often overlap, hindering their relative contribution to contractile dysfunction (CD). Furthermore, few studies have assessed their specific impact on the spatiotemporal Ca2+ transient properties and contractile dynamics simultaneously. Therefore, we sought to perform a quantitative comparison of how heterogeneous and slow Ca2+ transients, with different underlying determinants, affect contractile performance. METHODS: We used two experimental models: A) formamide-induced acute "detubulation", where VM retain functional RyR2 and SERCA2, but lack T-tubules-associated LCC and NCX. B) Intact VM from hypothyroid rats, presenting decreased SERCA2 and SR Ca2+, but maintained T-tubules. By confocal imaging of Fluo-4-loaded VM, under field-stimulation, simultaneously acquired Ca2+ transients and shortening, allowing direct correlations. KEY FINDINGS: We found near-linear correlations among key parameters of altered Ca2+ transients, caused independently by T-tubules disruption or decreased SR Ca2+, and shortening and relaxation, SIGNIFICANCE: Unrelated structural and molecular alterations converge in similarly abnormal Ca2+ transients and CD, highlighting the importance of independently reproduce disease-specific alterations, to quantitatively assess their impact on Ca2+ signaling and contractility, which would be valuable to determine potential disease-specific therapeutic targets.

Interaction of NHE1 and TRPA1 Activity in DRG Neurons Isolated from Adult Rats and its Role in Inflammatory Nociception.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is expressed in a subset of nociceptive neurons. This channel integrates several nociceptive signals. Particularly, it is modulated by intracellular pH (pHi). Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) contributes to the maintenance of pHi in nociceptors. However, it is currently unknown whether the interaction between TRPA1 and NHE1 contributes to the nociceptive processing. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the functional interaction between NHE1 and TRPA1 in small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from primary culture obtained from adult rats. Moreover, we also evaluated their possible interaction in acute and inflammatory pain. Zoniporide (selective NHE1 inhibitor) reduced pHi and increased intracellular calcium in a concentration-dependent fashion in DRG neurons. Zoniporide and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, TRPA1 agonist) increased calcium transients in the same DRG neuron, whereas that A-967079 (TRPA1 antagonist) prevented the effect of zoniporide in DRG neurons. Repeated AITC induced TRPA1 desensitization and this effect was prevented by zoniporide. Both NHE1 and TRPA1 were localized at the membrane surface of DRG neurons in culture. Local peripheral zoniporide enhanced AITC-induced pronociception and this effect was prevented by A-967079. Likewise, zoniporide potentiated Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced hypersensitivity, effect which was prevented by A-967079 in vivo. CFA paw injection increased TRPA1 and decresed NHE1 protein expression in DRG. These results suggest a functional interaction between NHE1 and TRPA1 in DRG neurons in vitro. Moreover, data suggest that this interaction participates in acute and inflamatory pain conditions in vivo.

Underlying mechanism of the contractile dysfunction in atrophied ventricular myocytes from a murine model of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism (Hypo) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. Hypo rapidly induces Ca2+ mishandling and contractile dysfunction (CD), as well as atrophy and ventricular myocytes (VM) remodeling. Hypo decreases SERCA-to-phospholamban ratio (SERCA/PLB), and thereby contributes to CD. Nevertheless, detailed spatial and temporal Ca2+ cycling characterization in VM is missing, and contribution of other structural and functional changes to the mechanism underlying Ca2+ mishandling and CD, as transverse tubules (T-T) remodeling, mitochondrial density (Dmit) and energy availability, is unclear. Therefore, in a rat model of Hypo, we aimed to characterize systolic and diastolic Ca2+ signaling, T-T remodeling, Dmit, citrate synthase (CS) activity and high-energy phosphate metabolites (ATP and phosphocreatine). We confirmed a decrease in SERCA/PLB (59%), which slowed SERCA activity (48%), reduced SR Ca2+ (19%) and blunted Ca2+ transient amplitude (41%). Moreover, assessing the rate of SR Ca2+ release (dRel/dt), we found that early and maximum dRel/dt decreased, and this correlated with staggered Ca2+ transients. However, dRel/dt persisted during Ca2+ transient relaxation due to abundant late Ca2+ sparks. Isoproterenol significantly up-regulated systolic Ca2+ cycling. T-T were unchanged, hence, cannot explain staggered Ca2+ transients and altered dRel/dt. Therefore, we suggest that these might be caused by RyR2 clusters desynchronization, due to diminished Ca2+-dependent sensitivity of RyR2, which also caused a decrease in diastolic SR Ca2+ leak. Furthermore, Dmit was unchanged and CS activity slightly decreased (14%), however, the ratio phosphocreatine/ATP did not change, therefore, energy deficiency cannot account for Ca2+ and contractility dysregulation. We conclude that decreased SR Ca2+, due to slower SERCA, disrupts systolic RyR2 synchronization, and this underlies CD.

Kinetics on Demand Is a Simple Mathematical Solution that Fits Recorded Caffeine-Induced Luminal SR Ca2+ Changes in Smooth Muscle Cells.

The process of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) comprises 4 phases in smooth muscle cells. Phase 1 is characterized by a large increase of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) with a minimal reduction of the free luminal SR [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]FSR). Importantly, active SR Ca2+ ATPases (SERCA pumps) are necessary for phase 1 to occur. This situation cannot be explained by the standard kinetics that involves a fixed amount of luminal Ca2+ binding sites. A new mathematical model was developed that assumes an increasing SR Ca2+ buffering capacity in response to an increase of the luminal SR [Ca2+] that is called Kinetics-on-Demand (KonD) model. This approach can explain both phase 1 and the refractory period associated with a recovered [Ca2+]FSR. Additionally, our data suggest that active SERCA pumps are a requisite for KonD to be functional; otherwise luminal SR Ca2+ binding proteins switch to standard kinetics. The importance of KonD Ca2+ binding properties is twofold: a more efficient Ca2+ release process and that [Ca2+]FSR and Ca2+-bound to SR proteins ([Ca2+]BSR) can be regulated separately allowing for Ca2+ release to occur (provided by Ca2+-bound to luminal Ca2+ binding proteins) without an initial reduction of the [Ca2+]FSR.

Evidence that chronic administration of 17ß-oestradiol decreases the vasopressor responses to adrenergic system stimulation in streptozotocin-diabetic female rats.

In vitro studies have indicated that 17ß-oestradiol exerts beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by activating the nitric oxide pathway. However, these effects have not been demonstrated in vivo in the systemic vasculature of rats made diabetic through streptozotocin induction. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the effect of 17ß-oestradiol on vasopressor responses induced by sympathetic stimulation or i.v. injections of noradrenaline, methoxamine and B-HT 933 in sham-operated or ovariectomised, diabetic or non-diabetic female rats. Thus, rats were ovariectomised or sham-operated for this experiment. One week later, the animals were treated with streptozotocin (60mg/kg, i.p.) or its vehicle. Two weeks later, these rats were treated daily with 17ß-oestradiol (10µg/kg, s.c.) or its vehicle for five weeks. Next, under anaesthesia, the animals were pithed and prepared for blood pressure and heart rate measurements. 17ß-oestradiol failed to modify the vasopressor responses to (i) sympathetic stimulation, noradrenaline, methoxamine or B-HT 933 in sham-operated non-diabetic rats; (ii) sympathetic stimulation or B-HT 933 in sham-operated diabetic rats; (iii) noradrenaline or methoxamine in ovariectomised non-diabetic rats. In contrast, 17ß-oestradiol significantly decreased the vasopressor responses to (i) noradrenaline and methoxamine in sham-operated diabetic rats; (ii) sympathetic stimulation or B-HT 933 in ovariectomised non-diabetic rats; and (iii) sympathetic stimulation, noradrenaline, methoxamine or B-HT 933 in ovariectomised diabetic rats. These results suggest that chronic administration of 17ß-oestradiol decreases the vasopressor responses to adrenergic system stimulation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This report describes the first in vivo study reporting this effect of 17ß-oestradiol in diabetes.

Vascular damage in obese female rats with hypoestrogenism.

Increase in body weight and adiposity has deleterious consequences on health. The aim of this study was to compare morphological and metabolic changes in the arterial vessels of Wistar rats with conditions of obesity, hypoestrogenism, and hypoestrogenism plus obesity. Ovariectomized rats (hypoestrogenic condition) received 30 % sugar in drinking water plus standard diet during 10 weeks. The hypoestrogenic-obese (HE-OB) group presented increase in weight, blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia compared with other groups. The morphological study in aortic vessels from HE showed damage in endothelial smooth muscle tissue compared with the other groups. Adipose cells volume in HE-OB (59.33 ± 2.38 µ(3) × 10(5)) and obese (OB) (54.95 ± 1.36 µ(3) × 10(5)) groups were significantly larger than control group (36.38 ± 0.98 µ(3) × 10(5)). In the HE group adipocyte hyperplasia was observed, while in OB group adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia was shown. The vascular reactivity in HE-OB and OB groups presented decrease in the relaxation to acetylcholine compared with control conditions (p < 0.05), whereas the addition of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester resulted in a greater inhibition of relaxation in HE-OB and OB groups compared with control conditions (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the dysfunction in blood vessels observed in estrogen deficiency and obesity conditions contributes to early cardiovascular alterations.

Ca(2+) mishandling and cardiac dysfunction in obesity and insulin resistance: role of oxidative stress.

Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are strongly connected to the development of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and eventually can lead to heart failure, which is the main cause of morbidity and death in patients having these metabolic diseases. It has been considered that excessive fat tissue may play a critical role in producing systemic IR and enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This oxidative stress (OS) may elicit or exacerbate IR. On the other hand, evidence suggests that some of the cellular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and IR-related cardiomyopathy are excessive myocardial ROS production and abnormal Ca(2+) homeostasis. In addition, emerging evidence suggests that augmented ROS production may contribute to Ca(2+) mishandling by affecting the redox state of key proteins implicated in this process. In this review, we focus on the role of Ca(2+) mishandling in the development of cardiac dysfunction in obesity and IR and address the evidence suggesting that OS might also contribute to cardiac dysfunction by affecting Ca(2+) handling.

Chronic potentiation of cardiac L-type Ca(2+) channels by pirfenidone.

AIMS: On the basis of its ability to inhibit fibrosis, pirfenidone has drawn the attention as an intriguing candidate for treating cardiac disease. However, its precise electrophysiological effects have yet to be elucidated. Here, we have investigated its potential to modulate ion channels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adult rat cardiac myocytes were investigated using whole-cell patch-clamp, western-blot and qRT-PCR techniques. Pirfenidone increased the density of L-type Ca(2+) current (I(CaL,) 50-100%), without significantly altering Na(+), K(+), or T-type Ca(2+) currents. The effect was dose-dependent, with an EC(50) of 2.8 µM. Its onset was slow, with a lag period larger than 1 h and time to maximum of 24-48 h. Concomitant changes were observed in the voltage-dependent activation of I(CaL) (-5 mV shift in both V(1/2) and k). In contrast, the following properties of I(CaL) remained normal: steady-state inactivation, Ca(V)1.2 levels (mRNA and protein), and intramembrane charge movement. Indeed, the conductance-to-charge ratio, or G(max)/Q(max), was increased by 80%. The effect on I(CaL) was mimicked by an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS), and attenuated by both cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitors. Conversely, cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and Ca(2+) were all ruled out as possible intermediaries. Additional experiments suggest that pirfenidone increases action potential duration by ∼50%. CONCLUSION: Pirfenidone augments I(CaL), not through higher expression of L-type channels, but through promoting their Ca(2+)-conducting activity. A possible inhibition of NOS expression is likely involved, with subsequent reduced NO production and stimulated cAMP/PKA signalling. These findings may be relevant to the cardioprotective effect of pirfenidone.

Role of alpha adrenoceptors and nitric oxide on cardiovascular responses in acute and chronic hypertension.

The contribution of α-adrenoceptors and nitric oxide (NO) on the alterations of sympathetically mediated cardiovascular responses after acute (AcH) and chronic (ChH) hypertension was evaluated in pithed aortic coarcted hypertensive rats. Pressor and tachycardia response produced by electrical stimulation of preganglionic sympathetic fibers or exogenous noradrenaline (NA) were recorded in the absence and presence of prazosin (α(1)-antagonist), rauwolscine (α(2)-antagonist), or N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; an inhibitor of NO synthase). Compared with age-matched sham-operated rats (Nt), the pressor response produced by electrical stimulation or NA was smaller in AcH rats and larger in ChH rats. Prazosin caused a decrease of pressor response elicited by electrical stimulation or NA in all groups. However, this effect was higher in ChH. Rauwolscine produced a similar increase of sympathetically mediated pressor response in Nt and AcH rats. Nevertheless, this antagonist did not affect the sympathetically mediated pressor response in ChH rats. In addition, rauwolscine did not affect the NA-induced pressor response in all groups. The pressor response elicited by L-NAME was larger in all groups compared without L-NAME and in presence of L-arginine. Moreover, L-NAME in the presence of NA increased sympathetically mediated pressor response is in all groups, compared without it or in the presence of L-arginine. Compared with Nt, basally produced NO in aortic rings was increased in AcH but decreased in ChH. Collectively, our data suggest that decreased cardiovascular reactivity in AcH is due to an increase in basally produced NO. In ChH, enhanced cardiovascular response appears to be associated with a decrease in produced NO and an increase in released NA from sympathetic nerves.