Numerous experimental studies suggest that oxidative stress contributes to the pathophysiology of hypertension and importantly, that oxidative stress plays a more definitive role in mediating hypertension in males than in females. Intrauterine growth-restriction induced by reduced uterine perfusion initiated at day 14 of gestation in the rat programs hypertension in adult male growth-restricted offspring; yet, female growth-restricted offspring are normotensive. The mechanisms mediating sex differences in blood pressure in adult growth-restricted offspring are not clear. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that sex specific differences in renal oxidative stress contribute to the regulation of blood pressure in adult growth-restricted offspring. A significant increase in blood pressure measured by telemetry in male growth-restricted offspring (P<0.05) was associated with a marked increase in renal markers of oxidative stress (P<0.05). Chronic treatment with the antioxidant tempol had no effect on blood pressure in male control offspring, but it normalized blood pressure (P<0.05) and renal markers of oxidative stress (P<0.05) in male growth-restricted relative to male control. Renal markers of oxidative stress were not elevated in female growth-restricted offspring; however, renal activity of the antioxidant catalase was significantly elevated relative to female control (P<0.05). Chronic treatment with tempol did not significantly alter oxidative stress or blood pressure measured by telemetry in female offspring. Thus, these data suggest that sex differences in renal oxidative stress and antioxidant activity are present in adult growth-restricted offspring, and that oxidative stress may play a more important role in modulating blood pressure in male, but not female growth-restricted offspring.

Abstvuct-Previous studies have suggested that NO may play an important role m protecting the renal vessels from anglotensm II (ANGII)-mediated vasoconstrrctionOne possible mechanism for this mteraction is that ANGII could stimulate NO production m the kidney by increasing endothehal NO synthase (NOS III) The present studies were performed m rats to determine whether acute or chrome elevations m ANGII are associated with enhanced renal NOS III mRNA or protem synthesis In both acute and chronic studies captopril (20 pg/kg/mm) was given IV to mhibit endogenous ANGII production Acute suprarenal mfusion of ANGII (8 rig/kg/mm) for 110 mmutes had no effect on arterial pressure but decreased GFR and renal plasma flow by 20% and 30%, respectively, and increased renal vascular resistance by 70% Acute ANGII Increased renal NOS III mRNA by 70% (as determined by ribonuclease protection assay), but had no effect on renal NOS III protein concentration (as detected by Western blot analyses) In contrast, chrome mfuslon of ANGII (5 rig/kg/mm) for 10 days, increased arterial pressure by 30% and tended to reduce GFR and renal plasma flow Chrome ANGII had no effect on renal NOS III mRNA levels, but increased NOS III protein by 90% These data suggest that ANGII can stimulate NOS III synthesis and suggest that this may be one of the mechamsms whereby AngII may enhance NO production (Hypertension. 1998;31[part 2]:283-288.)Key Words: GFR n renal hemodynamics n mRNA w nbonuclease protection assay n Western blot I n recent years there has been considerable interest in the mteraction between NO and angiotensm II (ANGII) '*' While ANGII is known to play an important role m controlling renal hemodynamics via its actions on postglomerular vessels, recent studies have implied that ANGII may have an effect on preglomerular vessels that is modulated by the effects of mtnc oxide (NO) or prostaglandms Ito and colleagues, using isolated rabbit arterioles, demonstrated that production of NO is more important in modulation of afferent artenolar tone rather than having an effect on the efferent arteriole 3 These investigators further found that NO modulated ANGIIinduced vasoconstncnon of the afferent arteriole but not the efferent arteriole 4 We have also recently reported that the acute effect of ANGII on preglomerular vessels m dogs is importantly modulated by mtnc oxide 5 These data suggested that NO may play an important protective role m modulatmg the vasoconstnctor effect of ANGII on preglomerular vesselsThe mechanisms by whrch NO could protect the renal vasculature from vasoconstnctor ANGII have not been fully elucidated One possible mechanism is that ANGII could enhance NO production and NO would offset a direct vasoconstrictor effect of ANGII Whether ANGII is capable of stimulatmg renal NO production is unclear Deng and colleagues found that acute infusion of pressor doses of ANGII increased urinary mtrate/mtnte excretion, metabolites of NO and indicators of NO production 6 However, chronic ANGII (5-6 days) had no effect on nitrate/mtnte excr...

Numerous national reports have called for reforming laboratory courses so that all students experience the research process. In response, many course-based research experiences (CREs) have been developed and implemented. Research on the impact of these CREs suggests that student benefits can be similar to those of traditional apprentice-model research experiences. However, most assessments of CREs have been in individual courses at individual institutions or across institutions using the same CRE model. Furthermore, which structures and components of CREs result in the greatest student gains is unknown. We explored the impact of different CRE models in different contexts on student self-reported gains in understanding, skills, and professional development using the Classroom Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) survey. Our analysis included 49 courses developed and taught at seven diverse institutions. Overall, students reported greater gains for all benefits when compared with the reported national means for the Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE). Two aspects of these CREs were associated with greater student gains: 1) CREs that were the focus of the entire course or that more fully integrated modules within a traditional laboratory and 2) CREs that had a higher degree of student input and results that were unknown to both students and faculty.

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