56.
EFFECTS OF UROTENSIN ON PULMONARY VASCULAR REMODELING IN RATS
WITH CHRONIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION INDUCED BY HYPOXIA AND
HYPERCAPNIA. Yeng Gong
1
, Hong Huang
1
, Xiao-Fang Fang
1
, Liang-gang Hu
1
, Jian-Feng
Luo
1
, Sun-zhong Mao
1
, Xiao-mai Mu
1
. Institute of Cor Pulmonale, Wenzhou Medical College,
Wenzhou, China
1
.
Aim: To observe the expression of Urotensin (U) and its receptor (UT) in the different
segments of intrapulmonary arteries and its effects on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with
chronic pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia. Methods: Hypoxia-
hypercapnia rats with chronic pulmonary hypertension at different stages of hypoxia-hypercapnia
1-week (1HH), hypoxia-hypercapnia 2-week (2HH) and hypoxia-hypercapnia 4-week (4HH)
were observed. (1)U in plasma was measured using radiommunoassay and its binding sites in
pulmonary artery sarcolemma were determined with radioligandassay. (2)The expression of U
was observed in different segments of intrapulmonary arterioles by immunohistochemistry. (3)
The expression of U mRNA and UT mRNA were observed in different segments of
intrapulmonary arterioles by in situ hybridization. (4)The structure of different segments of
intrapulmonary artery was observed with light microscope. The vessel well area/total
area(WA/TA)and media thickness of pulmonary arterioles (PAMT)were detected by image
analysis as their relative content. Results:(1) The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and
weight ratio of right ventricle to left ventricle and septum (RV/LV+S) of hypoxia-hypercapnia
groups were higher than those of normal control group(p<0.01) respectively. (2) The biphasic
changes of the plasma U content were increased in early stage,while decreasing in late stage. (3)
UT in pulmonary artery sarcolemma of 2HH group was 71.0 %(p<0.01)higher than NC
group,and there was no significant difference between 2HH and 4HH group. (4) The average
value of integral light density (LD) of U in three grades of pulmonary arterioles of hypoxia-
hypercapnia groups were higher than those of normal control group (p<0.01) respectively. (5)
Situ hybridization showed the average value of integral light density (LD) of U mRNA in three
grades of pulmonary arterioles of 2HH and 4HH group were significantly higher than that of NC
group(p<0.01); 2HH group was higher than 1HH group (5.9%,16.4% and 9.1% respectively).
There was no significant difference between 2HH and 4HH group. Conclusion: These results
indicate that U may be involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling, which promotes proliferation
of smooth muscle cells, which is an important pathophysiologic mechanism of the formation of
vascular remodeling in rats chronically exposed to hypoxia-hypercapnia.
57.
EFFECT OF ECOTYPES OF LEPIDIUM MEYENII (MACA, A ROOT FROM HIGHLANDS
OF PERU) ON REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION OF MALE RATS. Carla Gonzales
1
, Arturo
Chung
2
, Julio Rubio
2
, Sharon Castillo
3
, Gustavo F. Gonzales
4
. Faculty of Sciences of Philosophy.
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
123
, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura and Faculty of
Sciences and Philosophy. Universidad Peruan
4
.
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian hypocotyl belonging to the Brassicaceae family and
grown exclusively between 4000 and 4500-m altitude in the central Peruvian Andes. According
to folk belief, Maca is a plant that enhances fertility in human and domestic animals, which tends
to be reduced at higher altitudes. There are several varieties of Maca identified according to color
(Ecotype). The preferred and more commercial one used is the Yellow Maca. Other varieties are
Red and Black Maca. We have demonstrated that Yellow Maca improves spermatogenesis after
7,14 and 21 days in male rats. Whether differences exist between ecotypes in relation to effect on
spermatogenesis and sperm count after a longer time of treatment is unkown. The present study
was designed to determine effect of ecotypes of Maca: Yellow, Red and Black on
spermatogenesis of male rats and epididymal sperm count after 42 days of treatment. Adult male
rats were treated with vehicle or aqueous extract of yellow, red or black Maca (2 g/Kg/day
orally). Maca were obtained from Carhuamayo, Junin (4000-m altitude). Stages of the
seminiferous epithelium were assessed by transillumination. Epididymal sperm count and sperm
count both were assessed at the end of the experiment. No differences in testicular weight were
