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Updated: May 22, 2026

Standardized Rat Coronary Ring Preparation and Real-Time Recording of Dynamic Tension Changes Along Vessel Diameter
Published on: June 16, 2022
The role of nitric oxide on the responses of curcumin-treated rat aorta
1Department of Pharmacology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
Objectives:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) on the vascular responses of curcumin-treated rats.
Methods:
The experimental groups included the control and curcumin-treated (200 mg/kg/day, p.o., for 4 weeks) group. The concentration response curves to receptor-dependent agent 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 10--3x10- M) and receptor-independent agent potassium chloride (KCl; 5-100 mM) were observed.
Results:
The concentration response curves to 5-HT and KCl shifted to the right and the maximal response was significantly decreased in the curcumin-treated rat aortas. A pretreatment of rings with L-NAME (a NOS inhibitor, 10- M) increased both the sensitivity and maximal response to only 5-HT. No apparent histological changes were demonstrated in smooth muscle and connective tissue layers in the aortas of the control and curcumin-treated rat preparations.
Conclusion:
The results of the present study suggest that NO release from endothelial cells modulates curcumin-treated rat aorta responses to 5-HT, but not to KCl (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 25).
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