4-5-diaminofluorescein-diacetate and Disease-Models--Animal

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) produced from endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) is one of the most important vasoprotective molecules in cardiovascular physiology. Dysfunctional eNOS such as uncoupling of eNOS leads to decrease in NO bioavailability and increase in superoxide anion (O2(.-)) production, and in turn promotes cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, appropriate measurement of NO and O2(.-) levels in the endothelial cells are pivotal for research on cardiovascular diseases and complications. Because of the extremely labile nature of NO and O2(.-), it is difficult to measure NO and O2(.-) directly in a blood vessel. Numerous methods have been developed to measure NO and O2(.-) production. It is, however, either insensitive, or non-specific, or technically demanding and requires special equipment. Here we describe an adaption of the fluorescence dye method for en face simultaneous detection and visualization of intracellular NO and O2(.-) using the cell permeable diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA) and dihydroethidium (DHE), respectively, in intact aortas of an obesity mouse model induced by high-fat-diet feeding. We could demonstrate decreased intracellular NO and enhanced O2(.-) levels in the freshly isolated intact aortas of obesity mouse as compared to the control lean mouse. We demonstrate that this method is an easy technique for direct detection and visualization of NO and O2(.-) in the intact blood vessels and can be widely applied for investigation of endothelial (dys)function under (physio)pathological conditions.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Diet, High-Fat; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium, Vascular; Ethidium; Fluorescein; Indicators and Reagents; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Obesity; Superoxides

Exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) leads to significant autonomic and respiratory changes, similar to those observed in obstructive sleep apnea. The hypertension associated with CIH is due to sympathoexcitation triggered by long-term exposure to intermittent hypoxia. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. Changes in central regulation of sympathetic activity may underlie CIH-induced hypertension. Since NO appears to be mainly sympathoinhibitory in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), we hypothesized that CIH augments sympathetic activity, in part by reducing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression and consequently nitric oxide (NO) production in this brain region. To test our hypothesis, juvenile male Wistar rats were exposed to CIH for 8 h/day for 10 days and sections of perfused brainstem were either stained to reveal nNOS-immunoreactivity or loaded with DAF 2-DA to label neurons containing NO. CIH rats showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate compared to controls. However, there was no significant difference in the distribution, staining intensity or numbers of nNOS-immunoreactive neurons in the NTS between experimental and control rats. We also found no significant change in NO content in the DAF 2-DA-loaded sections of NTS from CIH rats. Our data show that NO is not altered in the NTS of juvenile CIH rats, suggesting that nitrergic mechanisms, at least in the NTS, are unlikely to be involved in the sympathetic excitation that generates the hypertension observed after 10 days of CIH.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Disease Models, Animal; Fluorescein; Gene Expression Regulation; Heart Rate; Hypoxia; Indicators and Reagents; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Neurons; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Solitary Nucleus

Recent studies indicate a possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulating leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, which plays a key role in the tumor immunity. The purpose of the present study is aimed to observe the tumor hemodynamics intravitally and to clarify the effect of NO on tumor microcirculation by means of a real-time confocal laser-scanning microscope using NO-reactive indicators. Visualization of localization of NO and the leukocyte behavior was made in the mesenteric microvessels of an experimental tumor model rat. Production of NO was clearly visualized along the endothelium of the tumor-free rats, but scarcely found in the newly formed tumor microvessels. A higher level of NO production was observed in a solid tumor region, where a more marked decrease in the leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions was observed. Local administration of a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor increased leukocyte adhesion. This indicates that tumor-derived NOS creates the tumor specific microenvironment of the immature angiogenic tumor vessels, thereby modulating leukocyte behavior.

Topics: Animals; Cell Adhesion; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelium, Vascular; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fluorescein; Fluorescent Dyes; Hemodynamics; Leukocytes; Male; Mesentery; Microcirculation; Microscopy, Confocal; Neovascularization, Pathologic; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Peritoneal Neoplasms; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344