Petra Hartmann

University of Szeged, Szeged, Csongrad megye, Hungary

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Publications (6)12.91 Total impact

  • Article: [Experimental studies on microcirculatory inflammatory reactions of the urinary bladder].
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    ABSTRACT: Background: The vascular endothelium is a primary target of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury of the urinary bladder. In case of interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome) or in cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis, the injury is initiated at the epithelial/urothelial surface and propagates towards the interstitium, causing secondary involvement of the microvasculature. Hence the aim of our study was to assess and compare the microcirculatory aspects of the non-infectious forms of cystitis with that of IR-caused reactions. Materials and Methods: In male Sprague-Dawley rats, interstitial cystitis was induced by intravesical instillation of protamine sulphate (2 mg in 200 μl saline for 30 min; n = 6). In another group, cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg, ip) was administered 24 hr prior to the experiments (n = 5). In the third group, urinary bladder ischemia was induced by 60-min occlusion of the vessels supplying the bladder (n = 5). The microcirculatory inflammatory reactions were investigated by fluorescence intravital microscopy 60 min after reperfusion and 24 hr after protamine sulphate instillation or cyclophosphamide administration, respectively. In the control group, the bladder was instilled with saline (n = 5). Results: Rolling of leukocytes increased ~3-fold in the postcapillary vessels in the protamine sulphate-treated group and the increase in this parameter was ~5 and ~6.5-fold in cyclophosphamide and IR groups, respectively. The increase in leukocyte adherence reached similar, approx. 7-fold increase in each of the challenged groups. The red blood cell velocity in the capillaries decreased in the protamine sulphate and IR groups, while the velocity increased moderately in the cyclophosphamide-treated group. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that direct endothelial injury (caused by IR), as well as protamine sulphate and cyclophosphamide administrations induce inflammatory microcirculatory changes of the urinary bladder. These observations suggest a causative role for microcirculatory disturbances in the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis and hemorrhagic cystitis as well.
    Magyar Sebészet (Hungarian Journal of Surgery) 08/2012; 65(4):184-90.
  • Article: Limb ischemia-reperfusion differentially affects the periosteal and synovial microcirculation.
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    ABSTRACT: Joints are privileged compartments that enjoy increased protection against the inflammatory reactions affecting the extremities. We hypothesized that the functional characteristics of the microvasculature would contribute to the differential defensive potential of the synovial membrane. We investigated the synovial microcirculatory reactions and compared them with those of the tibial periosteum in response to 60 min of total limb ischemia, followed by 180 min of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats. Carrageenan/kaolin-induced knee monoarthritis, a neutrophil-driven synovial inflammation model, served as the positive control. IR brought about a significant reduction in red blood cell velocity in the capillaries and increases in rolling and adherence of the neutrophil leukocytes in the postcapillary venules (intravital microscopy), in adhesion molecule expression (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 immunohistochemistry) and in xanthine oxidoreductase activity in the periosteum. These changes were also pronounced in carrageenan/kaolin-induced monoarthritis but were almost completely absent in the synovium after the IR challenge. Most importantly, even after IR and in carrageenan/kaolin monoarthritis, the synovial microcirculation was characterized by significantly greater red blood cell velocities than that in the periosteum under resting conditions. The ischemic duration, which significantly affected the functional integrity of the periosteal microcirculation, did not bring about a marked deterioration in that of the synovial membrane, suggesting that the synovial microcirculation is less endangered to the consequences of short-term tourniquet exposure than the periosteum. The greater microcirculatory red blood cell velocities and lower IR-induced endothelial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the synovial membrane might explain the greater resistance of this compartment to the inflammatory consequences of IR.
    Journal of Surgical Research 03/2012; 178(1):216-22. · 2.25 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protective effects of a phosphatidylcholine-enriched diet in lipopolysaccharide-induced experimental neuroinflammation in the rat.
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    ABSTRACT: Our goal was to characterize the neuroprotective properties of orally administered phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a rodent model of systemic inflammation. Sprague-Dawley rats were killed at 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days after i.p. administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to determine the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 cytokines. The control group and one group of LPS-treated animals were nourished with standard laboratory chow, whereas another LPS-treated group received a special diet enriched with 1% PC for 5 days before the administration of LPS and thereafter during the 7-day observation period. Immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize the bromodeoxyuridine and doublecortin-positive neuroprogenitor cells and Iba1-positive microglia in the hippocampus, whereas the degree of mucosal damage was evaluated on ileal and colon biopsy samples after hematoxylin-eosin staining. The activities of proinflammatory myeloperoxidase and xanthine-oxidoreductase and the tissue nitrite/nitrate (NOx) level were additionally determined, and the cognitive functions were monitored via Morris water maze testing. The inflammatory challenge transiently increased the hippocampal NOx level and led to microglia accumulation and decreased neurogenesis. The intestinal damage, mucosal myeloperoxidase, xanthine-oxidoreductase, and NOx changes were less pronounced, and long-lasting behavioral alterations were not observed. Phosphatidylcholine pretreatment reduced the plasma TNF-α and hippocampal NOx changes and prevented the decreased neurogenesis. These data demonstrated the relative susceptibility of the brain to the consequences of transient peripheral inflammatory stimuli. Phosphatidylcholine supplementation did not reduce the overall extent of peripheral inflammatory activation, but efficiently counteracted the disturbed hippocampal neurogenesis by lowering circulating TNF-α concentrations.
    Shock (Augusta, Ga.) 09/2011; 36(5):458-65. · 2.87 Impact Factor
  • Article: Anti-inflammatory effects of limb ischaemic preconditioning are mediated by sensory nerve activation in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: We have shown that ischaemic preconditioning ameliorates both the local periosteal and the systemic leukocyte activation evoked by limb ischaemia-reperfusion. We hypothesized that the activation of chemosensitive afferent nerves by transient ischaemia contributes to the protective mechanisms of ischaemic preconditioning via a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-dependent mechanism. In Sprague-Dawley rats, 60-min complete limb ischaemia was followed by 180 min of reperfusion. In further experiments, the CGRP analogue hCGRP (0.3 μg kg(-1)) or ischaemic preconditioning (2 × 10-min ischaemia/10-min reperfusion) was applied prior to the ischaemia-reperfusion insult. Ischaemic preconditioning was performed in three subgroups in which animals received the CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) (30 μg kg(-1) h(-1)), the chemosensitive afferent nerve inactivator resiniferatoxin (3 × 15 μg kg(-1), sc), or vehicle. The effects of CGRP(8-37) and resiniferatoxin on ischaemia-reperfusion without ischaemic preconditioning were also evaluated. In the tibial periosteum of rats, intravital fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry revealed significant attenuations of ischaemia-reperfusion-induced post-ischaemic leukocyte-endothelial interactions (rolling and adherence in the postcapillary venules) and tissue intracellular adhesion molecule expression following ischaemic preconditioning or hCGRP administration. Administration of CGRP(8-37) or pretreatment of animals with resiniferatoxin reversed the anti-inflammatory effects of limb ischaemic preconditioning, but failed to affect the microcirculatory consequences of ischaemia-reperfusion without ischaemic preconditioning. The results suggest that activation of the chemo- (capsaicin-) sensitive afferent nerves is involved in the mechanisms of microcirculatory anti-inflammatory protection provided by limb ischaemic preconditioning. Controlled activation of chemosensitive C-fibres or the CGRP receptors by the induction of ischaemic preconditioning or other means may furnish therapeutic benefit by ameliorating the periosteal microcirculatory consequences of tourniquet ischaemia.
    Archiv für Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 02/2011; 383(2):179-89. · 2.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: Periosteal microcirculatory action of chronic estrogen supplementation in osteoporotic rats challenged with tourniquet ischemia.
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    ABSTRACT: Transient ischemia of osteoporotic bones during elective orthopedic surgery or fracture repair carries risks for serious complications, and estrogen loss or replacement has a potential to influence ischemia-reperfusion-induced inflammatory activation. To clarify this, we investigated the periosteal inflammatory changes in a clinically relevant time frame in ovariectomized rats, an experimental model of postmenopausal bone loss. Furthermore, the effects of chronic estrogen supplementation on the postischemic local and systemic inflammatory reactions were assessed. Bilateral ovariectomy or sham operation was performed in 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Five months later, estrogen replacement therapy with 17β-estradiol (20 μg(-1) kg(-1) day(-1)) or vehicle treatment was initiated. The microcirculatory inflammatory consequences of 60-min total hindlimb ischemia followed by 180-min reperfusion were examined 11 months after ovariectomy and were compared with those in 3-month-old animals. The osteoporosis that developed 5 months after ovariectomy was significantly ameliorated by estrogen replacement therapy. Both in ovariectomized and in non-ovariectomized animals, ischemia-reperfusion elevated the neutrophil adherence ~3-fold in the postcapillary venules of the periosteum (intravital microscopy), with an ~50-60% increase in intravascular neutrophil activation (CD11b; FACS analysis), an enhanced TNF-α release (ELISA) and periosteal expression of ICAM-1 (the endothelial ligand of CD11b; immunohistochemistry). Exogenous 17β-estradiol considerably reduced TNF-α release and the number of neutrophil-endothelial interactions in the periosteum, without affecting the CD11b and ICAM-1 expression changes. Osteoporosis itself does not increase the magnitude of the limb ischemia-reperfusion-associated periosteal inflammatory reaction. Chronic estrogen supplementation, however, reverses osteoporosis and significantly ameliorates the microcirculatory consequences of transient ischemia.
    Life sciences 11/2010; 88(3-4):156-62. · 2.56 Impact Factor
  • Article: Anti-inflammatory effects of phosphatidylcholine in neutrophil leukocyte-dependent acute arthritis in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of exogenous phosphatidylcholine (PC) and non-steroidal diclofenac supplementation on polymorphonuclear cell influx in carrageenan-induced arthritis in rats. The microcirculatory consequences were evaluated by a novel method developed for direct intravital microscopic observation of the synovial membrane. Arthritis was induced by injection of a mixture of 2% lambda-carrageenan and 4% kaolin into the knee joints and the animals were treated orally with PC (150 mg/kg twice daily), sodium diclofenac (0.5mg/kg twice daily) or saline vehicle. Intravital videomicroscopy was used to investigate the leukocyte-endothelial interactions directly in the synovial membrane at 6h after the challenge. The inflammation-induced thermal and mechanical secondary hyperalgesic reactions were assessed at 24h, and the knee volume changes at 48h after the insult. The development of arthritis was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of adherent leukocytes in the synovial postcapillary venules, but this increase was reduced significantly (by approximately 40%) by PC, and slightly (by 22%) by diclofenac treatment. The perivascular infiltration of the neutrophil leukocytes and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expressions were reduced only by PC treatment. The significant decrease (45%) in the thermal nociceptive latency, the 3-fold increase in the mechanical touch sensitivity and the knee cross-sectional area (which was increased by 35% by the arthritis induction) were significantly ameliorated by both treatments. The present study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of PC in experimental arthritis. The therapeutic potential may be linked to the reduction of neutrophil leukocyte-mediated microcirculatory inflammatory reactions.
    European journal of pharmacology 09/2009; 622(1-3):58-64. · 2.59 Impact Factor