Nitric Oxide and Related Aspects Underlying Angina

Increased number of patients affected by metabolic syndrome (MS) has prompted the necessity of better understanding what is involved in such syndrome. Nevertheless, the establishment of promising therapies depends on the knowledge about the interaction of molecules within MS. In such context, Nitric Oxide (NO) emerges from a bulk of works relating its roles on aspects of MS, including cardiovascular diseases, their symptoms and comorbidities, which are thought to be triggered by similar sources. NO, nitric oxide synthase and enzymatic chains are keys for those disease and symptoms processes. NO has been separately described as part of hypertensive, ischemic and pain signaling. Although there are similar pathways likely shared for generating cardiovascular symptoms such angina, they are barely associated to NO in literature. The present review aims to clarify the patterns of NO alteration in metabolic syndrome directly concerned to cardiovascular symptoms, especially angina.

Effects of Atractylodes macrocephalae on gastric emptying and nitrergic nerves in rats with hepatic cirrhosis

AIM: To observe the effects of atractylodes macrocephalae (AM) on gastric motility and nitrergic nerval system in rats with hepatic cirrhosis.

METHODS: Twenty-four Wister rats were randomly divided into control group, cirrhosis model group and AM treatment group. Dextran blue-2000 was used as an internal marker to assay the gastric emptying of the rats. The nitrergic nerves in the myenteric plexuses of gastric fundus, body and antrum were observed with NADPH-d histochemical staining.

RESULTS: Compared with those in control group, the gastric emptyings of rats were markedly delayed in model group (160.23±45.13 vs 100±17.78, P<0.01), and the distributions and densities of myenteric nitrergic nerves in the gastric body and antrum were significantly increased (7.35±0.95 vs 5.52±0.92, P<0.01; 6.26±0.79 vs 5.28±0.78, P<0.05). No significant changes were found in the fundus. After treatment with AM, the gastric motility of rats was markedly improved and the nitrergic nerves in antrum were significantly recovered. No significant differences were observed between the rats of AM and control group (96.12±16.25 vs 100±17.78, 5.39±0.84 vs 5.28±0.78, both P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Atractylodes macrocephalae can improve the gastric motility and the mechanism may be related to its effect on the distributions of nitrigic nerves in the gastric body and antrum of rats with hepatic cirrhosis.