The objectives of this research were to elucidate the involvement of constrictor prostanoids in the vascular reactivity to vasopressin (VP) and the role of estrogen in the regulation of the constrictor prostanoid mechanism in the female rat. Aortas obtained from male, intact (InT)-, ovariectomized (OvX)- and OvX + estrogen-replaced (OvX+Est)-female rats were studied. Contractile responses to VP were examined in the presence of nonselective and selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. Basal and VP-stimulated release of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) from the aortic wall were measured. Concentration-response curves to exogenous TxA2 were also obtained. To elucidate the regulatory effects of estrogen on the constrictor prostanoid pathway, the expression of COX-1, COX-2, thromboxane synthase (TxS) and thromboxane receptor (TP) mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Further, immunohistochemistry was employed to determine COX-1, COX-2 and TxS protein expression in aortic endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. The major findings of this research are that: 1) The contractile responses of the female rat aorta to VP were enhanced by COX-2-mediated production of constrictor prostanoids (PGH2/TxA2), and this mechanism is potentiated by estrogen; 2) Vascular reactivity to exogenous TxA2 was higher in the female than in the male rat aorta, and OvX attenuated and estrogen replacement therapy restored vascular reactivity to TxA2 in the female aorta; 3) VP-stimulated release of endogenous TxA2 and PGI2 were higher in the female than in the male rat aorta, and OvX attenuated and estrogen replacement therapy restored VP-stimulated release of these endogenous prostanoids by the female aorta; and 4) The expression of COX-2 and TxS mRNA and protein, and the expression of TP mRNA were higher in InT-female than in male, and were reduced by OvX and restored by estrogen replacement therapy. In conclusion, estrogen potentiated contractile responses of the female rat aorta to VP by upregulating the expression of COX-2, TxS and TP; thereby enhancing VP-induced release of TxA2, as well as the vascular reactivity to endogenous TxA2.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are an expansion in diameter of the abdominal aorta and their rupture is a leading cause of mortality. One of the treatments for AAA is the implantation of an endograft (also called a stent graft), a combination of fabric and metal stents, to provide a new conduit for blood and shield the aneurysm sac from direct pressurization. After implantation of the stent graft, the aneurysm may shrink, grow, or stabilize in diameter ? even in the absence of apparent flow into the sac ? in some cases resulting in graft failure through component separation, kinking, or loss of seal at its ends. Greater understanding of AAA and treated AAA could provide insight on how treatment might be modified to improve treatment methods and/or design devices to be more effective in a wider range of patients. Computational models provide a means to investigate the biomechanics of endografts treating AAA through analysis of the endografts, the AAA, and the combination of them. Axisymmetric models of endograft-treated AAA showed that peak von Mises stress within the wall varied between 533 kPa and 1200 kPa when different material properties for the endograft were used. The patient-specific models, built from time series of patient CT scans with similar patient history but different outcomes, show that wall shrinkage and stability can be related to the level of stresses within the vessel wall, with the shrinking AAA showing a greater reduction by endograft treatment and a lower final value of average von Mises stress. The reduction in pressure felt by the wall is local to the central sac region. The inclusion of thrombus is also essential to accurate stress estimation. The combination of axisymmetric and patient-specific computational models explains in further detail the biomechanics of endograft treatment. The patient-specific reconstruction models show that when effectively deployed and reducing the pressure felt in the AAA wall, the graft is under tension in the sac region and compression at its ends.

The objectives of this research were to elucidate the involvement of constrictor prostanoids in the vascular reactivity to vasopressin (VP) and the role of estrogen in the regulation of the constrictor prostanoid mechanism in the female rat. Aortas obtained from male, intact (InT)-, ovariectomized (OvX)- and OvX + estrogen-replaced (OvX+Est)-female rats were studied. Contractile responses to VP were examined in the presence of nonselective and selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. Basal and VP-stimulated release of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) from the aortic wall were measured. Concentration-response curves to exogenous TxA2 were also obtained. To elucidate the regulatory effects of estrogen on the constrictor prostanoid pathway, the expression of COX-1, COX-2, thromboxane synthase (TxS) and thromboxane receptor (TP) mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Further, immunohistochemistry was employed to determine COX-1, COX-2 and TxS protein expression in aortic endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. The major findings of this research are that: 1) The contractile responses of the female rat aorta to VP were enhanced by COX-2-mediated production of constrictor prostanoids (PGH2/TxA2), and this mechanism is potentiated by estrogen; 2) Vascular reactivity to exogenous TxA2 was higher in the female than in the male rat aorta, and OvX attenuated and estrogen replacement therapy restored vascular reactivity to TxA2 in the female aorta; 3) VP-stimulated release of endogenous TxA2 and PGI2 were higher in the female than in the male rat aorta, and OvX attenuated and estrogen replacement therapy restored VP-stimulated release of these endogenous prostanoids by the female aorta; and 4) The expression of COX-2 and TxS mRNA and protein, and the expression of TP mRNA were higher in InT-female than in male, and were reduced by OvX and restored by estrogen replacement therapy. In conclusion, estrogen potentiated contractile responses of the female rat aorta to VP by upregulating the expression of COX-2, TxS and TP; thereby enhancing VP-induced release of TxA2, as well as the vascular reactivity to endogenous TxA2.

Dexmedetomidine is α2-adrenergic agent and commonly used in the intensive care setting. It is used primarily to sedate critically ill patients in various surgical, endoscopic and radiologic procedures. This medication gained superiority with other sedatives with a distinct advantage of less depression of the respiratory system. Although dexmedetomidine is often administered to septic patients, the vascular effect has not been fully studied in this clinical setting. In this thesis, rats were administered saline or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg. Aortic rings were obtained after two, 24 and 72 hours exposure and dexmedetomidine-induced contractions were investigated. Rats could not tolerate prolonged exposure to 20 mg/kg LPS and died during the process. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures were reduced after LPS exposure while heart rates were elevated. Body temperatures were elevated after LPS administration (all doses and time), except a reduction at two hours with 1 mg/kg LPS. LPS increased the plasma levels of tissue necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 after two hours LPS administration but not at 24 and 72 hours. In aortic rings with functional endothelium from rats with or without LPS exposure, dexmedetomidine had no effect on resting tension. Dexmedetomidine produced concentration-dependent contractions (10 nM to 10 μμM) after incubation with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME or removal of endothelium in rings without and with exposure to LPS for two, 24, 72 hours. LPS administration dose-dependently attenuated dexmedetomidine-induced contractions. In the presence of 1400W (inducible NOS inhibitor) the contractile response to dexmedetomidine was potentiated suggesting a role of NO produced by iNOS. Treatment with MnTMPyP attenuated dexmedetomidine-induced contractions indicating that the superoxide dismutase mimetic might increase NO availability by reducing superoxide. A significant role of iNOS was further supported by the detection of iNOS expression in aortic rings after LPS exposure at two, 24, and 72 hours when compared to non-LPS exposed group. Use of selective α2A and α2B receptor antagonists (BRL44408 and ARC239 respectively) showed that dexmedetomidine-induced contractions were mediated mostly via α2A receptor subtype as the former but not the latter agent significantly reduced contractions. Serotonin (5-HT, 10 nM to 100 μμM) and phenylephrine (1 nM to 100 μμM) produced concentration-dependent contractions in aortic rings with and without LPS exposure. The maximal responses to 5-HT and phenylephrine were increased at 10 mg/kg LPS as compared to a reduction in contractions by dexmedetomidine with LPS exposure at 1 and 10 mg/kg supporting alterations in α2 receptors occurred after LPS administration. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the vascular contractile responses of dexmedetomidine in the absence of endothelium or in the presence of eNOS inhibition were reduced in the presence of LPS at different time points and at different doses in aortic rings while two other receptor mediated vasoconstrictors, 5-HT and phenylephrine were affected. Our findings suggest that LPS may preferentially reduce the vascular contractile responses of dexmedetomidine and it is essential to exercise caution when the drug is administered to critically ill patients or with endothelial dysfunction. / published_or_final_version / Pharmacology and Pharmacy / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Pharmacology / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2007.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-119).

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Engels.