title: Vasoconstrictive effect of tenascin-C on cerebral arteries in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors have reported that tenascin-C (TNC), a matricellular protein, is induced after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), associated with cerebral vasospasm. In this study, we examined whether TNC alone causes cerebral vasospasm-like constriction of the intracranial internal carotid arteries (ICAs) in rats, focusing on the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we injected 10 μg of TNC into the cisterna magna of healthy rats and studied morphologically whether TNC caused constriction of the left ICA at 24-72 h after administration. Second, we examined the effect of SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) on the vessel diameter of the left ICA in healthy rats at 24 h. Third, we evaluated the effect of SB203580 on TNC-induced constriction of the left ICA in healthy rats at 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNC significantly induced cerebral vasospasm-like angiographic constriction of the left ICAs, which continued at least for 72 h. SB203580 itself had no effect on the diameter of normal ICAs, but abolished the TNC-induced vasoconstrictive effect on the left ICA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show that TNC causes left ICA constriction via activation of p38 MAPK, resembling post-SAH vasospasm, and suggest the possible involvement of TNC in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan, masa0416@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiba
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kawakita
authors.forename: Naoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimojo
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imanaka-Yoshida
authors.forename: Toshimichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanamaru
authors.forename: Waro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019063:Tenascin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D019063:Tenascin; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580