Tetrahydrobiopterin improves vascular endothelial function in ovariectomized rats

Journal of Biomedical Science
Kwok-Keung LamMao-Hsiung Yen

Abstract

The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in the vascular response in ovariectomized rats. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) sham group: sham-operated female rats, and (2) Ovx group: rats were ovariectomized. Our results have shown that the plasma 17 beta-estradiol levels in the Ovx group at the end of the experiment were significantly lower than in the sham group. Vasoreactivity assessed with intact aortic rings indicated that the phenylephrine-induced vasocontractile response to aortic rings from the Ovx group was greater than that of the sham group. In contrast, the vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and L-arginine (L-Arg) in the sham group were significantly greater than in the Ovx group. Differences in vasoreactivity in denuded aorta between the two groups were not noted. Moreover, exogenous BH4 significantly restored L-Arg-induced vasodilator responses in the Ovx group. However, this improvement effect was not found in the sham group. In addition, there were significant increases in superoxide anion production in aortic tissue and significant decreases in plasma nitric oxide levels in the Ovx group. Furthermore, BH4 contents in the aorta in the Ovx group were si...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 20, 2015·Advances in Vascular Medicine·Kerrie L Moreau, Kerry L Hildreth
Dec 19, 2003·Experimental Biology and Medicine·Ernst R WernerBernd Mayer
Jan 17, 2012·American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology·Kerrie L MoreauWendy M Kohrt
Oct 7, 2006·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Liliya M YamaleyevaMark C Chappell
Aug 2, 2007·Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology·Viktoriya P EkshyyanTammy R Dugas
Sep 17, 2004·Endothelium : Journal of Endothelial Cell Research·Seinosuke Kawashima
Apr 29, 2006·Menopause : the Journal of the North American Menopause Society·Kwok-Keung LamMao-Hsiung Yen
Nov 26, 2003·Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN·Camilla Birch NielsenKlaus Thomsen

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