A double-edged sword role for ubiquitin-proteasome system in brain stem cardiovascular regulation during experimental brain death.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain stem cardiovascular regulatory dysfunction during brain death is underpinned by an upregulation of nitric oxide synthase II (NOS II) in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), the origin of a life-and-death signal detected from blood pressure of comatose patients that disappears before brain death ensues. Furthermore, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) may be involved in the synthesis and degradation of NOS II. We assessed the hypothesis that the UPS participates in brain stem cardiovascular regulation during brain death by engaging in both synthesis and degradation of NOS II in RVLM.

Methodology/principal findings

In a clinically relevant experimental model of brain death using Sprague-Dawley rats, pretreatment by microinjection into the bilateral RVLM of

SUBMITTER: Wu CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3215722 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature