Relationship among plasma endothelin, calcitonin gene-related peptide and blood flow rate of bilateral vertebral arteries in patients with cervical vertigo

Objective： To investigate the relationship among plasma endothelin（ET）, calcitonin gene-related peptide（CGRP） and blood flow rate of bilateral vertebral arteries in patients with cervical vertigo（CV） and to assess the effect of ET and CGRP on the onset of CV. Methods：The concentration of ET and CGRP in 64 patients with CV and 30 controls was determined by radioimmunity method. The average blood flow velocity （Vm） of bilateral vertebral arteries was detected by Transcranial Doppler（TCD）. Results：Plasma concen- tration ofET（91.48 ± 9.08 pg/ml） and ET/CGRP ratio value（2.88 ± 0.52） in vertebrobasilar arteriospasm group were both higher than those in vertebrobasilar non-arteriospasm group and in controls, while CGRP concentration（30.66 ± 6.05 pg/ml） in vertebrobasilar arteriospasm group was lower than that in vertebrobasilar non-arteriospasm group and controls respectively. The Vm of bilateral verte- bral arteries in vertebrobasilar arteriospasm group（67.97 ± 11.64 cm/s ） was higher than that in vertebrobasilar non-arteriospasm group and controls respectively, having a positive correlation with ET concentration and ET/CGRP ratio value（r1=0.52, P 〈 0.05; r2=0.59, P 〈 0.05）, but a negative correlation with CGRP concentration（r3=-0.54, P 〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference in ET and CGRP concentration, ET/CGRP ratio value and the Vm of bilateral vertebral arteries between vertebrobasilar non-arteriospasm group and the control group. Conclusion： All the results indicate that ET and CGRP are possibly the most important substance factors at the onset of CV with vertebrobasilar arteriospasm, and their imbalance of regulating vertebrobasilar arterial contraction and relaxation may play an important role in the onset of CV with vertebrobasilar arteriospasm.

Correlation of calcitonin gene-related peptide and endothelin receptor A with subarachnoid hemorrhage

Numerous studies have demonstrated that endothelin-1 combines with endothelin receptor A, resulting in intense vasoconstriction. Although calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） suppresses endothelin-1, CGRP and endothelin receptor A exhibit direct biological effects on brain tissue. The present study analyzed CGRP and endothelin receptor A expression following subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits using immunohistochemistry. CGRP expression was significant at 5 days after model establishment, and endothelin receptor A expression was significant at 3 days after model induction. The perimeter of the basilar artery was measured to determine the amount of cerebral vasospasm. Analytical results revealed a significantly shortened basilar artery perimeter following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Changes in the basilar artery perimeter were negatively associated with endothelin receptor A expression, but positively correlated with CGRP expression in vessels. These results suggest that following subarachnoid hemorrhage, CGRP and endothelin receptor A expressions dynamically changed in brain vessels and tissues, although these changes were not synchronous. Changes in endothelin receptor A expression exhibited a significant effect on the occurrence and development of delayed cerebral vasospasm and delayed neuronal death, while CGRP relaxed vessels and protected nerves.

Effects of Qindan Capsule (芩丹胶囊) on Blood Pressure, Endothelin, Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide and Angiotensin-Ⅱ in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats

Objective： To observe the hypotensive effects of Qindan Capsule （芩丹胶囊, QC） on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR） and its effect on the contents of endothelin （ET）, calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） and angiotensin-Ⅱ （Ang-Ⅱ ） in plasma and vascular tissues, and to investigate the possible mechanism of QC in lowering blood pressure. Methods： Forty SHRs were divided into 5 groups： the high dosage QC group [QCHD, 750 mg/（kg.d） ], the low dosage QC group [QCLD, 150 mg/（kgd） ], the Niuhuang Jiangya Pill group [牛黄降压丸,, NJP, 200 mg/（kg.d）], the Captopril group [ 15 mg/（kgd）]and the model group, 8 in each group. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 8 Wistar-Kyoto （WKY） rats was set up also. All the rats were administered with medicine level of ET, CGRP and Ang-Ⅱ in plasma and Ang-Ⅱ rats after 12 weeks of treatment. Results： The leve through gastrogavage. Systolic blood pressure （SBP）, in tissues of mesenteric artery were detected in all the of SBP after treatment in the QCHD group was lower than that in the model group （ P〈0.01 ）, but with no significant difference as compared with that in the Captopril group and the NJP group （P〉0.05）. After treatment, the plasma level of ET was lower and CGRP higher than those in the model group （both P〈0.05）, and also higher than those in the NJP and Captopril group （both P〈0.05）. As for the content of Ang- Ⅱ , in mesenteric arterial tissues, it was lower in the QCHD group than that in the model group （ P〈0.05）, but in plasma, it showed no significant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： QC has a satisfactory hypotensive action on SHR rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the regulation on plasma vasoactive peptide and regional renin-angiotensin system.

Effect of Chinese Herbal Fumigation Combined with Tuina on Vertigo and Concentrations of Endothelin and Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide in Patients with Vertebral Artery Cervical Spondylosis

Objective： To observe the effect of Chinese herbal fumisation combined with three-step tuina manipulation on concentration of endothelin （ET） and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） and vertigo in patients with vertebral artery cervical spondylosis （VACS）. Methods： A total of 120 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 60 in each group. Cases in the observation group were treated with Chinese herbal fumigation combined with three-step tuina manipulation, whereas cases in the control group were treated with oral Flunarizine Hydrochloride Capsules. Results： After treatment, vertigo in both groups was alleviated; there were intra-group significant differences in ET decrease and CGRP increase （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）; and there were also inter-group significant differences （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Chinese herbal fumigation combined with three-step tuina manipulation can regulate the levels of ET and CGRP and improve vertigo in patients with VACS. Its therapeutic efficacy is superior to oral Flunarizine Hydrochloride Capsules.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK AND RESEARCH Effect of Xueguantong (血管通) On Plasma Endothelin and Calcitonin Genes-Related Peptide in Quail Atherosis Model

Objective: To explore the antiatherogenic mechanism of the action of Xueguantong at molecular level. Methods: After being established by feeding with high fat diet for 12 weeks, the quail atherosis modelswere given Xueguantong for 30 days. Then, their plasma endothelin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were determined with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the effects of Xueguantong on plasma endothelin and CGRP in the models were observed. Results: The plasma endothelin increased and CGRP decreased during quail atherosis formation. The plasma endothelin was decreased (P＜ 0. 05 ) and CGRP increased (P＜ 0. 05) by Xueguantong. Conclusion: One of antiatherogenic mechanisms of Xueguantong was decreasing endothelin and increasing CGRP.

EFFECTS OF CERTAIN VASOACTIVE PEPTIDES ON PATHOGENESIS OF VASCULAR RESTENOSIS

Objective.To investigate the effects of several vasoactive peptides on the development of arterial restenosis after balloon angioplasty. Methods. In rat aortic artery restenosis model produced by denudation of aortic endothelia,we observed changes of endothelin(ET),angiotensin II(AII),calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)and adrenomedullin(Adm)in plasma and aorta with radioimmunoassay and expression of hypertension-related gene(HRG-1)with semi-quantitative RT-PCR,and studied the effects of these peptides on intimal hyperplasia,intima/media ratio and MAPK activities of aortic artery after angioplasty respectively. Furthermore,in cultured cells,we studied the effects of these peptides on vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) proliferation and expression of HRG-1 of VSMC from spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)and Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats with 3H-TdR incorporation and RT-PCR respectively. Results. After angioplasty,the levels of ET and AII in plasma and aorta significantly increased,accompanied with VSMC proliferation and neointima hyperplasia. On day 10 after angioplasty,the levels of ET in plasma and aorta increased by 69% and 124% respectively,compared with sham group(P<0.01);and the level of aortic AII increased by 80%(P< 0.01). Antiserum against ET or inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)could significantly inhibit the proliferation of VSMC and neointima formation. Compared with the sham group,on day 3 after angioplasty,the CGRP levels in plasma and aorta increased by 64% and 89% respectively(P< 0.01)and the Adm levels in plasma and tissue increased by 129% and 102% respectively(P< 0.01). On day 10,intravenous administration of CGRP significantly inhibited the proliferation of VSMC and neointima forma-tion induced by balloon aortic injury(by 66% and 79% respectively,P< 0.01). In addition,ET and AII attenuated the expression of HRG-1 in aorta and stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activity,while CGRP and Adm potentiated the expression of HRG-1 and inhibited MAPK.Conclusions. ET and AII can stimulate the proliferation of injured intima while CGRP and Adm have an anti-hyperplasia effect after angioplasty. These 4 peptides are involved in the regulation of VSMC proliferation and affect the development of vascular restenosis by regulating the expression of HRG-1 and MAPK activity.

Effects of Xin Mai Tong Capsule on Vasoregulatory Peptides in the Patients of Coronary Heart Disease

In order to inquire into the therapeutic effects of Xin Mai Tong Capsule (心脉通胶囊) on coronary heart disease with myocardial ischemia, 40 patients were randomly divided into two groups (Xin Mai Tong group and the control group). The plasma endothelin (ET) levels in the two groups of patients were markedly higher than that of the healthy people (P<0.001), and the calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) was similar to that of the healthy people (P>0.05). After treatment, ET and symptomatic scores in the two groups decreased markedly (P<0.01), and their S-T segments were elevated obviously (P<0.01). But the decrease of ET and symptomatic scores and elevation of S-T segment in Xin Mai Tong group were superior to those of the control group (P<0.05～0.01). The CGRP level in the control group did not vary obviously post-treatment, but it increased markedly (P<0.01) with the addition of Xin Mai Tong Capsule in Xin Mai Tong group.

血管通对鹌鹑动脉粥样硬化模型的血浆内皮素和降钙素基因相关肽的影响

本研究从分子水平研究血管通抗动脉粥样硬化的作用机制。实验用日本种雄性鹌鹑给予高脂饲料１２周，形成动脉粥样硬化后给予血管通３０天，取血用放射免疫法测定内皮素和降钙素基因相关肽，观察血管通对动脉粥样硬化模型血浆内皮素和降钙素基囚相关肽以及总胆固醇和甘油三酯的影响。结果表明：模型形成过程中，其血浆内皮素升高，降钙素基因相关肽降低，总胆固醇和甘油三酯明显升高；血管通可降低模型的血浆内皮素（Ｐ＜０．０５）及降低总胆固醇（Ｐ＜０．００１）和甘油三酯（Ｐ＜０．００１），升高其降钙素基固相关肽（Ｐ＜０．０５）。上述结果提示：血管通抗动脉粥样硬化机制可能与其通过降低血浆内皮素和升高降钙素基因相关肽有关。

Effects of the heparin-coated Wiktor-I stent on recovering the balance of ET-1 and CGRP after intracoronary stent implantation

Objective: To study the effects of heparin-coated stent (Wiktor-I) on recovering the balance between endothelin- 1(ET- 1) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) both in the plasma of coronary sinus and peripheral vein after stent implantation. Methods: The patients with coronary artery disease (n=30) were divided into non-coated stent (NCS) group (n=16) and heparin-coated stent (HCS) group (n=14). Circulating ET-1 and CGRP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in the 2 groups at the paired sampling sites, namely the coronary sinus (Cs) and peripheral vein (Pv). The ratio of ET/CGRP was also calculated to reflect the balance of ET and CORP. Results: In NCS group plasma ET-1 concentrations exhibited 2 peaks at 0 mm and 12 h after stent implantation, CORP levels were highly consistent with that of ET-1, and the ratio of ET/CGRP increased markedly at post-PTCA 5 mm, persisting until post-stent 12 h. While in HCS group ET-1 levels and the ratio of ET/CGRP were decreased dramatically compared with that of NCS group at 5 min,10 mm and 12 h post-stent (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 and P＜0.05, respectively＝. There was no remarkable difference of CGRP levels between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Heparin-coated stent can decrease the post-stent circulating ET-1 levels and recover the balance between ET-1 and CGRP.

An investigation of immunocompetence substances in normal gingival and periodontitis tissue

To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunocompetence substances and their relationship to chronic periodontitis Methods Immunohistochemical aod histochemical staining methods were used to detect the expression of the NO synthase (NOS), ET, SP and CGRP levels in 20 patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 healthy subjects as control Results Quantitative analysis by Quantimat 970 showed that NOS and ET in periodontitis tissue increased significantly ( P <0 01), particularly the content of ET in comparison with healthy subjects The intergroup expression of SP and CGRP showed no remarkable changes Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the level of NOS and ET were significantly increased in periodontitic tissue, which may diminish the blood supply and influence the periodontal tissue causing tissue damage Our study suggests that immunocompetence substances NO and ET are closely associated with periodontitis and may play an important role in the disease