延髓孤束核微量注射可乐宁对自发性高血压大鼠血压和心房钠尿因子的影响

将卒中型自发性高血压大鼠(SHR_(sp))和正常血压对照大鼠(WKY)随机分为可乐宁、α_1受体拮抗剂育亨宾加可乐宁及对照组,进行孤束核(NTS)内微量注射。实验观察到,在SHR_(sp)中,可乐宁的降压效应及外周 ANF 释放减少的效应比 WKY 大鼠更明显。阻断α_2受体后,在 WKY 大鼠中,可乐宁的降压效应被完全阻断,而在 SHR_(sp)仅部分被阻断;两种大鼠的外周 ANF 与对照组相比无明显差异。可乐宁组两种大鼠的血浆儿茶酚胺水平明显降低,育亨宾可阻断该反应。以上结果提示,ANF 未参与 NTS 内微量注射可乐宁引起的降压效应,在 SHR_(sp),ANF 释放的减少可能为血压依赖的代偿反应;可乐宁通过α_2受体介导抑制外周儿茶酚胺的释放。     

自发性高血压大鼠中血小板源生长因子—AA及其受体表达与血管平滑机细胞增殖的关系

为明确血小板源生长因子 AA(plateletderivedgrowthfactor AA ,PDGF AA)及PDGF α受体在自发性高血压大鼠 (spontaneouslyhypertensionrats,SHR)血管平滑肌细胞 (vascularsmoothmusclecells,VSMCs)增殖中的作用 ,采用Westernblot、[3 H]TdR及 [3 H]Leu掺入率等方法 ,观察在SHR和WKY大鼠VSMC中PDGF AA及PDGF受体表达的差异 ;在PDGF AA刺激下VSMC增殖和肥大反应的变化。结果显示 ,SHR VSMC中PDGF AA、PDGF α受体蛋白表达明显高于WKY VSMC(P <0 0 1) ,而PDGF β受体蛋白表达在SHR VSMC与WKY VSMC无明显差异 ;在不同浓度PDGF AA刺激下 ,增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)及3 H掺入率在SHR VSMC明显增强且呈剂量依赖性增加 (P <0 0 1)。本研究表明PDGF A链及其α受体的自泌性增高 ,可能是导致SHR VSMC异常增殖和肥大 ,并导致血管构型变化的重要原因之一     

自发性高血压大鼠血管α1肾上腺素受体亚型的改变

本工作在离体与整体条件下比较易卒中型自发性高血压(SHRSP)大鼠与WKY大鼠血管中α_1受体的两种亚型。在离体灌流的主动脉、肾动脉与肠系膜动脉,50μmol/L氯甲基可乐定(CEC)预温育30min可使α_1受体激动时引起的最大收缩张力在SHRSP与WKY大鼠分别降为对照时的31.4±8.3％与35.2±2.9％,68.4±8.2％与80.1±7.3％,68.4±6.3％与55.4±7.0％,两者间均无显著性差别。但10μmol/L硝苯吡啶对α_1受体收缩效应的阻断作用则在SHRSP大鼠大大超过WKY大鼠,最大收缩张力分别降为对照时的3.1±1.5％与56.5±4.8％(P<0.01),9.0±4.1％与23.6±3.5％(P<0.05),5.9±2.5％与28.0±0.8％(P<0.01)。整体动物实验也显示硝苯吡啶的降血压作用及对苯肾上腺素升血压效应的阻断作用在SHRSP大鼠都较WKY大鼠显著增强。离体主动脉a_1受体激动时的快速相与持续相收缩均主要由α_(1B)亚型激动引起,硝苯吡啶对快速相收缩的阻断作用在SHRSP与WKY大鼠无显著性差别,但对持续相收缩的阻断作用则在SHRSP大鼠显著强于WKY大鼠。上述结果提示SHRSP大鼠血管α_1受体两种亚型的分布没有显著改变,但α_(1B)受体激动时继发性细胞外Ca~(2+)进入的途径由非双氢吡啶敏感性钙通道转变为双氢吡啶敏感性钙通道。     

764—3对血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

为寻找新型有效的AⅡ拮抗剂,本实验应用细胞计数,^3H-TdR掺入,逆转录－聚合酶链反应及放射免疫实验方法,研究了中药单体764－3对卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠（SHRsp)及其对照（WKY大鼠）主动脉平滑肌细胞（ASMC）增殖的影响及其作用机制,结果表明：764－3可显著抑制ASMC增殖,并有剂量依赖性,20mg/L的764－3可极显著地抑制SMC上AⅡ受体（AT1）的mRNA表达（SHRsp下降76．3％,WKY大鼠下降61．6％）,并可降低SHRsp ASMC内AⅡ含量（下降20％）,推测764－3对ASMC增殖的抑制作用可能部分地是由于降低了AT1受体的基因表达引起,比较其对两种大鼠ASMC的抑制效率,发现它对SHRsp的ASMC的作用更强。     

血小板源生长因子-AA对高血压血管平滑肌细胞钙信号的影响

目的 :明确自发性高血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞 (SHR VSMC)增殖与血小板源生长因子 AA(PDGF AA)、PDGF α受体表达的关系及钙信号在其中的作用。方法 :在培养的血管平滑肌细胞模型中 ,采用免疫印迹 (Westernblot)、3 H TdR及3 H Leu掺入、荧光探针标记测定单细胞内钙浓度等方法 ,观察不同来源大鼠 (SHR/WKY)VSMC ,PDGF AA、PDGF α受体和PDGF β受体表达的差异性以及在PDGF AA刺激下 ,VSMC增殖肥大反应、胞内 [Ca2 ]i变化和钙离子阻断剂 (nimodipine)对其的影响。 结果 :与WKY VSMC相比SHR VSMC中PDGF AA、PDGF α受体蛋白表达明显增加 ,而PDGF β受体蛋白表达在SHR VSMC与WKY VSMC无明显变化。在PDGF AA刺激下 ,增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)、3 H掺入率及胞内 [Ca2 ]i浓度在SHR VSMC明显增强 ;钙离子阻断剂 (nimodipine)明显抑制PCNA表达及3 H掺入 ,胞内 [Ca2 ]i浓度明显下降。结论 :自发性高血压大鼠VSMCPDGF A链及其α受体的自发性增高 ,可能是导致SHR VSMC异常增殖、肥大 ,从而触发血管反应性和血管构型变化的重要原因之一 ;细胞膜钙通道在调控VSMC的钙内流时起主要作用     

心钠素对卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠血浆和脑组织加压素的影响

为研究心钠素(ANF)和精氨酸加压素(AVP)的相互作用在原发性高血压发病中的意义,对卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠(SHRsp)和对照大鼠(WKY)侧脑室(icv)或静脉(iv)注射人ANF-(99-126)观察其对血浆、下丘脑和垂体AVP含量以及平均动脉压(MAP)和尿量(UV)、尿钠(U_(Na)V)排泌的影响。静脉注射ANF后10min,SHRsp和WKY大鼠的MAP分别下降9.4％和12.2％(P<0.05),UV分别增加9和20倍(P<0.01),U_(Na)V增加16和29倍(P<0.01)。侧脑室注射ANF对两种大鼠的MAP、UV和U_(Na)V排泌均无明显作用。静脉或侧脑室注射ANF均使两种大鼠的血浆AVP水平明显下降,其中SHRsp的血浆AVP浓度下降程度(iv,-58％;icv,-31％)弱于WKY大鼠(iv,-80％;icv,-65％),下丘脑AVP含量在两种大鼠中都明显增加,而垂体AVP含量无明显变化。 结果表明,人ANF-(99-126)有明显的抑制AVP释放和降压、利尿、利纳作用,而SHRsp对这些作用的敏感性都降低,提示SHRsp对ABF的反应减弱可能在自发性高血压大鼠的发病中具有一定的意义。     

正常大鼠植入高血压大鼠肾脏后 动脉血压的变化

本实验对12周龄的自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rat,SHR)及其对照组Wistar Kyoto (WKY)大鼠进行了肾脏移植的研究, 并观察受肾移植大鼠动脉血压的变化以及免疫抑制剂对动脉血压的影响。 用尾套法对接受同窝另一同胞WKY大鼠肾脏移植且存活5周的6只WKY大鼠(A组)及接受SHR肾脏移植且存活5周的6只WKY大鼠(B组)的尾动脉收缩压进行检测, 移植前A、 B两组受肾移植大鼠的尾动脉收缩压分别为18.0±0.93 和18.3±0.68 kPa,无统计学显著差异(P>0.05); 移植后3、 4、 5周时, B组大鼠的尾动脉收缩压显著高于A组大鼠, 移植后5周时, A, B两组大鼠的收缩压分别为19.0±0.71 和23.0±0.69 kPa (P<0.001); 所用剂量的免疫抑制剂CsA对双侧肾脏完整以及右侧肾脏切除的SHR、 WKY大鼠的动脉血压无显著影响。 以上结果表明, SHR的肾脏在高血压的形成中可能起重要作用。     

骨桥蛋白增强自发性高血压大鼠血管外膜成纤维细胞的迁移活性

血管外膜成纤维细胞迁移参与形成新生内膜是一些血管疾病的共同发病过程。研究高血压动物模型的外膜成纤维细胞是否与对照组不同将有利于阐述高血压血管重塑的机制。本实验比较自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hy-pertensive rats,SHR)与正常对照大鼠(Wistar-Kyoto rats,WKY)的血管外膜成纤维细胞在体外培养条件下迁移能力的差别,并对其机制进行了探讨。采用大鼠胸主动脉的培养血管外膜成纤维细胞,用Transwell技术测定培养细胞的迁移能力。用实时定量PCR技术检测mRNA表达。结果表明,在血清和bFGF趋化作用下,SHR培养血管外膜成纤维细胞的迁移活性显著强于WKY(每个视野平均迁移细胞数目,血清:35.20±5.26 vs 22.2±3.27,P<0.05;bFGF:30.23±4.54vs 19.20±4.47,P<0.05)。进一步研究发现,SHR培养血管外膜成纤维细胞中的骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)mRNA水平显著高于WKY(1863.23±43.91 vs 326.24±68.29,P<0.01)。反义OPN(100 μmol/L)对血清诱导的SHR血管外膜成纤维细胞迁移有抑制作用(每个视野平均迁移细胞数目 38.60±5.98 vs 26.61±3.84,P<0.05)。而正义及错配义OPN组均无此效应。反义OPN对SHR细胞迁移的抑制作用呈浓度依赖性。上述结果证实SHR培养血管外膜成纤维细胞的迁移能力强于WKY,OPN在细胞迁移中     

原发性高血压患者红细胞中存在抗高血压因子

本研究利用热处理和Sephadex G-150凝胶过滤层析等方法,从原发性高血压病患者(EHS)红细胞中部分纯化了抗高血压因子(AHF)。AHF具有热稳定性,分子量大于6kDa;能明显降低卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠(SHR_(sp))血压,腹腔一次注入AHF(1.6mg/kg)30min后,SHR_(sp)收缩压从原来的27.6±0.7kPa降低到21.4±0.8kPa(p<0.001),4h后收缩压恢复至原水平。AHF能显著抑制自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)和肾性高血压大鼠(RHR)主动脉(A)及肠系膜动脉(MA)血管平滑肌(VSM)Ca~(2 )内流。且对MA Ca~(2 )内流的抑制作用强于A。以上结果表明:EHS红细胞中存在AHF,能显著降低高血压大鼠血压,其降压机制可能与其抑制VSM特别是小动脉VSM Ca~(2 )内流有关。     

心钠素对培养兔血管平滑肌细胞钙内流的影响

心钠素(ANP)是由心脏分泌的具有利尿利钠降压作用的循环激素,参与体内水、电解质平衡的调节,这一作用是由细胞内第二信使两cGMP介导的。近年来发现ANP可影响细胞钙转运,具有天然钙通道阻断剂样作用,可能参与细胞钙稳态调节,但其机理尚不清楚。本工作在培养兔主动脉平滑肌细胞(VSMC)上,观察ANP对内皮素(ET)及高钙引起的细胞钙转运的影响,以探讨ANP和细胞钙转运的关系。     

Upregulation of endothelin-1 binding in tissues of salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Upon maintained on a 1% NaCl drinking solution beginning at 7 weeks of age, the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRsp) developed severe hypertension and stroke; most died by 16 weeks. The mechanism by which these diseases evolve remains unclear. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent, peptidic vasoconstrictor and is implicated in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system diseases. The purpose of the present study was to compare the binding of [125I]ET-1 to the brain, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen membrane preparations of 16-week-old SHRsp and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The KD values for [125I]ET-1 binding to the corresponding tissues of the two strains were not significantly different, except in the brain (SHRsp: 17 +/- 1 pM; WKY: 24 +/- 1 pM). In contrast, the Bmax values measured in the brain, heart, kidney, and liver of SHRsp were 1.5- to 2.1-fold greater than those of their WKY counterparts. Competition of [125I]ET-1 binding to the membrane preparations by the specific ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 or the specific ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin S6c revealed a similar proportion of ETA and ETB receptor subtypes in the corresponding tissues of the two rat strains. These results indicate that ET-1 binding is upregulated in SHRsp and suggest that ET-1 may play a pathophysiological role in this animal model of genetic hypertension.     

L－NNA和还原型Hb对SHRsp肠系膜动脉内皮依赖性舒张的影响

我们以往的工作证实成年自发高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ与ＳＨＲｓｐ）肠系膜动脉由乙酰胆碱引起的内皮依赖性舒张（ＥＤＲ）减弱。为进一步探讨ＥＤＲ减弱的机制，本文观察了一氧化氮（ＮＯ）合成酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸（Ｌ－ＮＮＡ）及ＥＤＲＦ灭活剂还原型血红蛋白（ＲＨｂ）对卒中易感型自发高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲｓｐ）与常压对照（ＷＫＹ）大鼠肠系膜动脉ＡＣｈ内皮依赖性舒张（ＥＤＲ）的影响。发现Ｌ－ＮＮＡ（１０（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可使ＳＨＲｓｐ弱于ＷＫＹ的ＡＣｈＥＤＲ（１０（－８）－１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的差异消失，ＲＨｂ（１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）则仅在１０（－７）－１０（－８）ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＣｈ时使ＳＨＲ（ｓｐ）肠系膜动脉ＥＤＲ弱于ＷＫＹ的差异消失。将ＷＫＹ在加入Ｌ－ＮＮＡ后的与加入ＲＨｂ后的ＡＣｈ（１０（－８）－１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）ＥＤＲ进行比较，无显著差异。而将ＳＨＲｓｐ在Ｌ－ＮＮＡ后的与ＲＨｂ后的ＡＣｈ（１０（－８）－１０（－６）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）ＥＤＲ进行比较，则有显著差异。并且，ＳＨＲｓｐ的有内皮肠系膜动脉条对ＲＨｂ的敏感性与ＷＫＹ接近，对Ｌ－ＮＮＡ的敏感性则低于ＷＫＹ。表明高血压时肠系膜动脉内皮依赖性舒张减弱中，ＥＤＲＦ机制与     

Reduced natriuresis after oral sodium load in cholestatic rats: role of compartment volumes and ANP

The purpose of this study was to assess the participation of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-cGMP system in electrolyte and volume handling of cholestatic rats submitted to an acute oral sodium load. Cholestasis was induced by ligation and section of the common bile duct (n = 51). Control rats were sham operated (n = 56). Three weeks after surgery, 24-hr urinary volume, sodium, potassium, cGMP and creatinine excretion were measured. Three days later, animals received 10 mmol/kg NaCl (1 M) by gavage, and urinary excretion was measured for 6 hr. In parallel groups of rats, plasma volume, electrolytes and ANP concentration, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), and renal medullary ANP-induced cGMP production were determined in basal conditions or 1 hr after oral sodium overload. As compared with controls, cholestatic rats had a larger ECFV and higher plasma ANP (67.2 +/- 5.2 vs 39.7 +/- 3.5 pg/ml), but lower hematocrit and blood volume, and were hyponatremic. Cholestatic rats showed higher basal excretion of sodium, potassium, and volume than controls, but equal urinary cGMP. After the NaCl overload, cholestatic rats showed a reduced sodium excretion but equal urinary cGMP. One hr after sodium overload, both groups showed hypernatremia, but whereas in control rats ECFV and ANP increased (50.7 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), in cholestatic rats ECFV was unchanged, and plasma volume and ANP were reduced (37.5 +/- 5.8 pg/ml). ANP-induced cGMP production in renal medulla was similar in cholestatic and control nonloaded rats (14.2 +/- 5.2 vs 13.4 +/- 2.6 fmol/min/mg). One hr after the load, medullary cGMP production rose significantly in both groups, without difference between them (20.6 +/- 3.1 vs 22.7 +/- 1. 7 fmol/min/mg). We conclude that the blunted excretion of an acute oral sodium load in cholestatic rats is associated with lower plasma ANP due to differences in body fluid distribution and cannot be explained by renal refractoriness to ANP.     

Prolonged treatment of porcine pulmonary artery with nitric oxide decreases cGMP sensitivity and cGMP-dependent protein kinase specific activity

A cultured porcine pulmonary artery (PA) model was used to examine the effects of prolonged nitric oxide (NO) treatment on the response to acutely applied NO, cGMP analog, or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Twenty-four-hour treatment with the NO donor (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA-NO) resulted in >10-fold decrease in the response to acutely applied DETA-NO. In parallel with this, the relaxant response to acutely applied cGMP analog, beta-phenyl-1,N(2)-etheno-8-bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Sp isomer (Sp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS), and ANP decreased. The reduction in ANP responsiveness in PA was not associated with a reduction in cGMP levels evoked by 10(-6) M ANP. Twenty-four hours in culture and treatment with DETA-NO decreased total cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGKI) mRNA level compared with that in freshly prepared PA (1.05 +/- 0.12, 0.42 +/- 0.08, and 0.11 +/- 0.01 amol/mug, respectively). Total cGKI protein levels were decreased to a lesser extent by 24 h in culture and further decreased by 24-h DETA-NO treatment compared with that in freshly prepared PA (361 +/- 33, 272 +/- 20, and 238 +/- 25 ng/mg total protein, respectively). Maximal cGMP-stimulated phosphotransferase activity was reduced in 24-h cultured and DETA-NO-treated PA (986 +/- 84, 815 +/- 81, and 549 +/- 78 pmol P(i).min(-1).mg soluble protein(-1)), but the cGMP concentration resulting in 50% of maximal phosphotransferase activity was not. cGKI specific activity (maximal cGMP-activated phosphotransferase activity/ng cGKI) was significantly reduced in PA treated with DETA-NO for 24 h compared with freshly prepared and 24-h cultured PA (1.95 +/- 0.22, 2.64 +/- 0.25, and 2.85 +/- 0.28 pmol P(i).min(-1).ng cGKI(-1), respectively). We conclude that prolonged NO treatment induces decreased acute NO responsiveness in PA in part by decreasing cGMP sensitivity. It does so by decreasing both cGKI expression and cGKI specific activity.     

Decreased content in left atrium and increased plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SHR stroke-prone

The atrial contents and concentrations, and the plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SHR stroke-prone (SHRSP) were measured and compared with those of age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) using a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for alpha-rat ANP (alpha-rANP). The contents of alpha-rANP-LI in the atria of SHR (19.0 +/- 0.9 micrograms, mean +/- SEM) and SHRSP (19.3 +/- 0.6 micrograms) were significantly lower than that of WKY (22.8 +/- 1.4 micrograms) (p less than 0.05). The atrial concentration of alpha-rANP-LI was also significantly lower in SHR (248.2 +/- 11.3 ng/mg, p less than 0.05) and tended to be lower in SHRSP (272.2 +/- 12.4 ng/mg) than that of WKY (300.0 +/- 14.2 ng/mg). Furthermore, the concentrations in the left auricles of SHR and SHRSP were significantly lower than that of WKY (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the alpha-rANP-LI concentrations in the right auricles of WKY, SHR and SHRSP. Gel filtration studies coupled with RIA showed that gel filtration profiles of the extracts from the right and left auricles of WKY, SHR and SHRSP were essentially identical. The plasma alpha-rANP-LI levels in SHR (260 +/- 34 pg/ml) and SHRSP (319 +/- 19 pg/ml) were significantly higher than that in WKY (170 +/- 17 pg/ml) (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the secretion of ANP from the heart is increased in SHR and SHRSP compared with WKY.     

Modulation by NaCl of atrial natriuretic peptide receptor levels and cyclic GMP responsiveness to atrial natriuretic peptide of cultured vascular endothelial cells.

Type C atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor levels in cultured vascular endothelial cells were found to be very sensitive to NaCl and shown to be inversely related to the magnitude of ANP-induced cGMP response of the cells. Endothelial cells from bovine carotid artery were subcultured in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (MEM-FBS) and in MEM-FBS plus 25 and 50 mM NaCl. Determination, after several passages, of ANP receptor levels in these cells by 125I-ANP binding assay and affinity labeling revealed a marked reduction in the number of type C receptor in the NaCl-treated cells, whereas type A receptor density was not affected. RNase protection assay to estimate the levels of type C receptor mRNA indicated that the reduction occurred at a pre-translational level. In spite of the decrease in type C receptor number and no significant change in type A receptor (i.e. particulate guanylate cyclase) levels, cGMP response of the NaCl-treated cells to ANP was greatly exaggerated; this sensitization was also observed in membrane preparations. Simple masking of type C ANP receptor with C-ANF (des-[Gln18,Ser19,Gly20,Leu21,Gly22]ANP), a ring-deleted ANP analog, did not produce any sensitization of the cGMP response to ANP; therefore, the above phenomenon cannot simply be explained by the clearance function of the type C receptor. Although whether the type C receptor depletion is directly related to the sensitization of the type A receptor/cyclase is not known, the phenomenon reported and characterized here will serve as a useful basis for elucidating ANP receptor regulation and activation.     

Atrial and brain natriuretic peptide in adrenal steroidogenesis.

We elucidated the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in human and bovine adrenocortical steroidogenesis. The urinary volume, sodium excretion and cyclic GMP (cGMP) excretion and plasma cGMP were markedly increased by the synthetic alpha-human ANP (alpha-hANP) infusion in healthy volunteers. Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) and aldosterone levels were significantly suppressed. Both ANP and BNP inhibited aldosterone, 19-OH-androstenedione, cortisol and DHEA secretion dose-dependently and increased the accumulation of intracellular cGMP in cultured human and bovine adrenal cells. alpha-hANP significantly suppressed P450scc-mRNA in cultured bovine adrenal cells stimulated by ACTH. Autoradiography and affinity labeling of [125I]hANP, and Scatchard plot demonstrated a specific ANP receptor in bovine and human adrenal glands. Purified ANP receptor from bovine adrenal glands identified two distinct types of ANP receptors, one is biologically active, the other is silent. A specific BNP receptor was also identified on the human and bovine adrenocortical cell membranes. The binding sites were displaced by unlabelled ANP as well as BNP. BNP showed an effect possibly via a receptor which may be shared with ANP. The mean basal plasma alpha-hANP level was 25 +/- 5 pg/ml in young men. We confirmed the presence of ANP and BNP in bovine and porcine adrenal medulla. Plasma or medullary ANP or BNP may directly modulate the adrenocortical steroidogenesis. We demonstrated that the lack of inhibitory effect of alpha-hANP on cultured aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) cells was due to the decrease of ANP-specific receptor, which caused the loss of suppression of aldosterone and an increase in intracellular cGMP.     

Inhibitory effect of Ca(2+) on ATP-mediated stimulation of NPR-A-coupled guanylyl cyclase in renal glomeruli from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) regulates blood pressure mainly through the occupation of the guanylyl cyclase-coupled receptor NPR-A, which requires ATP interaction for maximal activation. This study investigates the effect of extracellular Ca(2+) on ATP-mediated regulation of NPR-A-coupled guanylyl cyclase activity in glomerular membranes from Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). ATP induced a significant increase in basal and ANP(1-28)-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity that was greater in SHR than in WKY. Extracellular Ca(2+) inhibited ATP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not modify basal and ANP(1-28)-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity. In the presence of ATP, NPR-A showed higher affinity for ANP(1-28) and lower Bmax. Ca(2+) did not modify NPR-A-ANP(1-28) binding properties. The different effects of extracellular Ca(2+) on ANP(1-28)- or ATP-mediated guanylyl cyclase activation suggest that these events are differentially regulated. Addition of extracellular Ca(2+) induced similar effects in hypertensive and normotensive rats, suggesting that it is not responsible for the elevated cGMP production observed in SHR.     

Intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic NaCl increases urinary CGMP in healthy and cirrhotic rats

Implication of serum atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and endothelin-1 (ET1) in the central nervous system (CNS)-induced natriuresis and hypertension respectively, was investigated in healthy and cirrhotic rats. Both healthy and nonascitic CCl(4)-induced cirrhotic rats under pentobarbital anesthesia received either normotonic (140 mmol/L) or hypertonic (320 mmol/L) NaCl artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the CNS lateral ventricle at a rate of 8.3 microl/min for 120 min. A sham operated group, but not centrally infused, served as matched control. Hypertonic NaCl solution significantly increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) similarly in both healthy (n = 5) ((MAP: 16 mm Hg, 13%) and cirrhotic rats (n = 6) ((MAP: 20 mm Hg, 15%) (ANOVA, p <.001) although the latter showed a slower increment. Under hypertonic NaCl infusion, natriuresis was also significantly increased in a similar manner in both healthy (U (Na) V: baseline: 0.38 +/- 0.22 micromol/min x 100 g; experiment: 2.36 +/- 0.90 micromol/min x 100 g; mean +/- SD) and cirrhotic rats (0.69 +/- 0.48 vs. 3.16 +/- 0.87; p <.001). By contrast, central hypertonic NaCl solutions did not show a significant modification of serum ANP in neither healthy (62 +/- 18 fmol/ml vs. 51 +/- 17 fmol/ml) nor cirrhotic rats (126 +/- 61 vs. 115 +/- 30). Likewise, ET-1 was not significantly modified under central hypertonic NaCl infusion in neither healthy (352 +/- 46 pg/ml vs. 344 +/- 39 pg/ml) nor cirrhotic rats (287 +/- 58 vs. 277 +/- 61). Despite no modification in serum ANP, there was a significant increment in urinary excretion of cGMP under central hypertonic NaCl infusions in bo th healthy (6.8 +/- 4.1 pmol/min x 100 g vs. 13.0 +/- 6.5 pmol/min x 100 g; p <.05) and cirrhotic rats (8.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 11.1 +/- 1.3; p <.05). Our data indicate the preservation of the mechanisms of central natriuresis in a model of non-ascitic CCl(4 )-induced cirrhosis in rats. An increment in urinary cGMP could potentially be implicated in the natriuretic response obtained by intracerebroventricular hypertonic NaCl stimulus in both healthy and cirrhotic rats. The lack of modification of serum ANP and ET-1 does not appear to support a systemic implication of these peptides in the natriuretic and hypertensive responses respectively induced by this manoeuvre.