Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-2-4
pubmed:abstractText
Study investigates the role of endothelin (ET) receptors in mediating early changes in cerebral blood flow--as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (CBFLDF)--during experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Meningitis was induced with heat-killed pneumococci and confirmed by a significant increase in CBFLDF (baseline 100%; 225.3 +/- 21.8% after 6 hours; mean +/- SD), intracranial pressure (ICP), brain water content, and white blood cell count in the CSF. Intravenous administration of the selective endothelin B (ETB) receptor antagonist BQ-788 immediately before pneumococcal challenge (but not 4 hours afterward) significantly attenuated these pathophysiologic alterations (e.g., CBFLDF 6 hours after pneumococcal challenge: 116.7 +/- 17.4%). Pretreatment with BQ-123, a selective endothelin A receptor antagonist, had no significant effect on ICP and brain water content, but augmented the increase in CBFLDF and CSF white blood cell count. Since ET is known to trigger the release of nitric oxide (NO) by ETB receptor activation, we examined specific ET-NO interactions in primary rat cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells after stimulation with heat-killed pneumococci. Pneumococci induced a significant increase in both ET and NO concentrations in endothelial cell culture medium. Treatment with phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of the endothelin-converting enzyme, prevented the production of endothelin and markedly reduced NO generation. Our data provide evidence that ET is involved as a mediator in early pneumococcal meningitis in the rat and contributes to the increase in CBFLDF, ICP, brain water content, and CSF pleocytosis, presumably through ETB receptor-mediated NO production.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0271-678X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
18
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
67-74
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Endothelin B receptor-mediated increase of cerebral blood flow in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't