Effects of hydrogen sulphide on the isolated perfused rat heart.

OBJECTIVES: Hydrogen sulphide has been identified as a gas signalling molecule in the body, and has previously been shown to have vasorelaxant properties. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS), a hydrogen sulphide donor, on heart rate (HR), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and coronary flow (CF) in the isolated perfused rat heart. METHODS: A Langendorff isolated heart preparation was used to investigate the effect of a dose range of sodium hydrosulphide, in the presence and absence of inhibitors, on heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure and coronary flow. RESULTS: Sodium hydrosulphide caused a significant decrease in heart rate at a concentration of 10-3 M (P <0.001). This decrease was partially inhibited by glibenclamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker (P <0.05); L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (P <0.001), and methylene blue (P <0.001), but not by H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. Sodium hydrosulphide significantly increased coronary flow at concentrations of 10-4 - 10-3M (P <0.05). This response was significantly increased in the presence of L-NAME (P <0.001) and methylene blue (P <0.001), whereas H-89 inhibited the increase in coronary flow due to sodium hydrosulphide (P <0.001). Sodium hydrosulphide significantly decreased LVDP at all concentrations (P <0.001). In the presence of glibenclamide and H-89, the time period of the decrease in LVDP due to sodium hydrosulphide was extended (P <0.001), whereas methylene blue and L-NAME caused a significant reduction in the response to sodium hydrosulphide (P <0.05, P <0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Sodium hydrosulphide reduced heart rate and LVDP, and increased coronary flow in the isolated perfused rat heart; however, the mechanisms of action could not be fully elucidated.

The endogenous production of hydrogen sulphide in intrauterine tissues.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulphide is a gas signalling molecule which is produced endogenously from L-cysteine via the enzymes cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). The possible role of hydrogen sulphide in reproduction has not yet been fully investigated. It has been previously demonstrated that hydrogen sulphide relaxes uterine smooth muscle in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the endogenous production of hydrogen sulphide in rat and human intrauterine tissues in vitro. METHODS: The production of hydrogen sulphide in rat and human intrauterine tissues was measured in vitro using a standard technique. The expression of CBS and CSE was also investigated in rat and human intrauterine tissues via Western blotting. Furthermore, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and low oxygen conditions on the production rates of hydrogen sulphide were investigated. RESULTS: The order of hydrogen sulphide production rates (mean +/- SD, n = 4) for rat tissues were: liver (777 +/- 163 nM/min/g) > uterus (168 +/- 100 nM/min/g) > fetal membranes (22.3 +/- 15.0 nM/min/g) > placenta (11.1 +/- 4.7 nM/min/g), compared to human placenta (200 +/- 102 nM/min/g). NO significantly increased hydrogen sulphide production in rat fetal membranes (P < 0.05). Under low oxygen conditions the production of hydrogen sulphide was significantly elevated in human placenta, rat liver, uterus and fetal membranes (P < 0.05). Western blotting (n = 4) detected the expression of CBS and CSE in all rat intrauterine tissues, and in human placenta, myometrium, amnion and chorion. CONCLUSION: Rat and human intrauterine tissues produce hydrogen sulphide in vitro possibly via CBS and CSE enzymes. NO increased the production of hydrogen sulphide in rat fetal membranes. The augmentation of hydrogen sulphide production in human intrauterine tissues in a low oxygen environment could have a role in pathophysiology of pregnancy.

Immune physiology in tissue regeneration and aging, tumor growth, and regenerative medicine.

The immune system plays an important role in immunity (immune surveillance), but also in the regulation of tissue homeostasis (immune physiology). Lessons from the female reproductive tract indicate that immune system related cells, such as intraepithelial T cells and monocyte-derived cells (MDC) in stratified epithelium, interact amongst themselves and degenerate whereas epithelial cells proliferate and differentiate. In adult ovaries, MDC and T cells are present during oocyte renewal from ovarian stem cells. Activated MDC are also associated with follicular development and atresia, and corpus luteum differentiation. Corpus luteum demise resembles rejection of a graft since it is attended by a massive influx of MDC and T cells resulting in parenchymal and vascular regression. Vascular pericytes play important roles in immune physiology, and their activities (including secretion of the Thy-1 differentiation protein) can be regulated by vascular autonomic innervation. In tumors, MDC regulate proliferation of neoplastic cells and angiogenesis. Tumor infiltrating T cells die among malignant cells. Alterations of immune physiology can result in pathology, such as autoimmune, metabolic, and degenerative diseases, but also in infertility and intrauterine growth retardation, fetal morbidity and mortality. Animal experiments indicate that modification of tissue differentiation (retardation or acceleration) during immune adaptation can cause malfunction (persistent immaturity or premature aging) of such tissue during adulthood. Thus successful stem cell therapy will depend on immune physiology in targeted tissues. From this point of view, regenerative medicine is more likely to be successful in acute rather than chronic tissue disorders.

Prostaglandins in labor--a translational approach.

The mechanisms involved in the initiation of human labor are largely unknown. Understanding the molecular pathways is fundamental in both the development of effective therapeutic strategies and intervention to prevent preterm labor. Prostaglandins are bioactive lipids and members of the eicosanoids family, derived from arachidonic acid, which act in a paracrine or autocrine manner and function via binding to specific G-protein-coupled receptors, activating intracellular signaling and gene transcription. Prostaglandins have a central role in the maintenance of pregnancy and initiation of labor, with the change from uterine quiescence to a contractile state facilitated by differential expression of prostaglandin receptors within the myometrium and fetal membranes. Clinical evidence for the key role of prostaglandins in human parturition is evident from their successful exploitation as exogenous agents for the induction of labor and the role of prostaglandin synthase inhibitors as a preventative therapy for preterm labor. This review aims to focus on prostaglandin synthesis and metabolism and how differential regulation of prostaglandins and their receptors in gestational tissues interact in the initiation of labor.

Effect of femto to nano molar concentrations of prostaglandin analogues on pregnant rat uterine contractility.

Prostaglandins are bioactive lipids and important mediators of uterine relaxation as well as contraction during pregnancy and labour. E series prostaglandins may directly contract or relax myometrium in a dose-dependent manner, with the relaxatory effects mediated through the prostanoid receptors EP(2) and EP(4). The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological effects of prostaglandin analogues on isolated pregnant rat uterine contractility, at 10(-15) to 10(-9) M concentrations. Uterine strips from rats at 19 days of gestation were set up in organ baths at 37 degrees C, bathed in Krebs buffer and gassed with 95% O(2)/5% CO(2). Spontaneous contractions were recorded via a force transducer. Concentration ranges of 10(-15)-10(-9) M of PGE(2), PGF(2alpha) and a range of prostaglandin analogues were applied non-cumulatively to the tissues. Spontaneous contractions were recorded for 12 min post dose. Amplitude, frequency, baseline tone and percent contractility over 10 min periods were analysed. PGE(2), butaprost, 9-keto fluprostenol, 11-keto fluprostenol, 9-keto fluprostenol isopropyl ester, AL8810 and 15(S)-15-methyl PGE(2) all caused a decrease in percent contractility (P<0.05). These agents, plus Delta(12)PGJ(2) and 9-deoxy-9-methylene-16,16-dimethyl PGE(2), also decreased frequency of contraction (P<0.05). Only PGE(2), PGF(2alpha) and 11-keto fluprostenol decreased baseline tone (P<0.05). The lower concentrations of prostaglandins used here mediated inhibition of spontaneous contractility of pregnant rat myometrium. Use of selective agonists suggested that the prostanoid receptors EP(2) and DP(2) are responsible for this relaxatory effect.

Lipopolysaccharide induces nitric oxide synthase expression and platelet-activating factor increases nitric oxide production in human fetal membranes in culture.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-activating factor and nitric oxide may be involved in the initiation of human labour as inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to test whether platelet-activating factor and lipopolysaccharide were able to induce nitric oxide synthase expression and stimulate the production of nitric oxide in human fetal membrane explants in culture. METHODS: Fetal membranes were collected from Caesarean sections at term. RNA was extracted from membranes and subjected to a qualitative RT-PCR to assess the baseline expression of iNOS. Discs of fetal membranes were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of platelet-activating factor at a dose range of 0.1 nanomolar--1 micomolar or 1 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide. Nitric oxide production was measured via nitrite ions in the culture medium and mRNA for iNOS was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Culturing the membrane discs in medium containing serum induced nitric oxide synthase expression and platelet-activating factor significantly stimulated the production of nitric oxide under these conditions. When cultured without serum inducible nitric oxide synthase expression was induced by lipopolysaccharide, but not by platelet-activating factor. CONCLUSION: Platelet-activating factor may have a role in the initiation of labour, at term or preterm, via the increased local production of nitric oxide as an inflammatory mediator. In this model of intrauterine infection, lipopolysaccharide was found to induce iNOS expression by fetal membranes, and this mechanism could be involved in preterm labour.

Detection and prevention of premature labour.

Preterm birth is a major public health problem, affecting up to 10% of pregnancies. The cause of premature labour in humans is not known, although some risk factors have been identified. Currently it is not possible to predict which women will go into labour prematurely or deliver preterm. New possible methods for the detection of premature labour are the measurement of biochemical markers in cervical or vaginal secretions, the measurement of collagen in cervical tissue and the recording of electrical properties of contractions of the uterus. Agents used to prevent premature labour include beta-agonist drugs, magnesium sulphate, calcium channel blockers, nitric oxide donors and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. A new approach is the use of oxytocin antagonists. Premature labour is still not completely understood, but some advances are being made, arising from basic research.

Human sperm cells express CD44.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether CD44 is expressed by human sperm cells. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Assisted conception unit and university research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Fourteen normal fertile donors. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure the concentration of CD44 in samples of human sperm cells. Immunocytochemistry using a fluorescent antibody system was used to confirm and localize the expression of CD44 on sperm membranes. Western blotting was used to identify CD44 protein in extracts of lysed sperm cells. RESULT(S): The presence of CD44 was identified in suspensions of pure sperm cells by ELISA. The mean sperm count was 66 million per milliliter (range, 60 million-75 million per milliliter) and the mean concentration of CD44 was 0.013 ng per 10(6) sperm (range, 0.012 ng-0.015 ng per 10(6) sperm). Use of a fluorescently labeled antibody to CD44 confirmed the presence of CD44 on sperm membranes. CD44 expression was mostly localized in the acrosome region. Western blotting using a specific monoclonal antibody to CD44 identified a variant of CD44 with an approximate molecular weight of 73 kDa. CONCLUSION(S): The expression of CD44 on the surface of human sperm membranes was confirmed by three independent methods.