Vascular effects, formation, clearance and release of endothelin peptides in the pig

The formation, release, clearance and vascular effects of endothelin (ET)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) was studied in the pig in vivo. Intravenous infusion of ET-1, 2 and 3 (20 pmol/kg/min for 20 min) increased vascular resistance in the kidney, spleen and skeletal muscle. The most pronounced effects were evoked by ET-1 which caused increases in renal, splenic and skeletal muscle vascular resistance of 554, 528 and 38%, respectively, and a threshold response was observed at 80 pmol/l ET-LI in arterial plasma. During the infusion a large portion of arterial plasma, ET-LI was cleared over the kidney, spleen and skeletal muscle, whereby the most pronounced clearance was observed for ET-1 (73–93%). The ET-1 precursor Big-ET (1–39) given in a similar dose produced only a slight increase in renal vascular resistance (by 20%) and was cleared only over the kidney and not over the spleen or skeletal muscle. Using an ET-1 specific antiserum it was found that plasma ET-1 levels increased 11-fold during the infusion of Big-ET, indicating formation of ET-1 from Big-ET. The half-lives of circulating ET-1, 2 and 3 were 1.3–2.1 min and of Big-ET 8.9 min. Induction of asphyxia for 2 min increased the overflow of ET-LI from the spleen, suggesting local release, and caused splenic vasoconstriction. During i.v. administration of endotoxin for 4 h, arterial plasma ET-LI increased 7-fold and renal and splenic vasoconstrictor responses developed that correlated significantly with the arterial plasma ET-LI. Furthermore, a local release of ET-LI in the spleen was observed during endotoxin administration. Chromatographic characterization of the ET-LI in plasma during endotoxin administration revealed presence of ET-1 and Big-ET. It is concluded that there exists specificity both concerning the vasoconstrictor effects and removal from the circulation of ET peptides, both mechanisms being most prominent for ET-1 in the kidney. Furthermore ET-1 seems to be formed from circulating Big-ET and release of ET-LI can be detected during situations like asphyxia and sepsis.     

Phosphoramidon inhibits the vasoconstrictor effects evoked by big endothelin-1 but not the elevation of plasma endothelin-1 in vivo

Intravenous injections of big endothelin (ET)-1 (700 pmol/kg) in the pig increased arterial plasma levels of ET-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) from 11.1 +/- 0.7 pM to 46.3 +/- 6.7 pM in the control situation and from 11.5 +/- 0.4 pM to 58.2 +/- 17 pM in the presence of the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor phosphoramidon (3 mg/kg). Big ET-1 increased splenic vascular resistance by 29% in the control situation. The vasoconstriction evoked by big ET-1 in the spleen was reduced after phosphoramidon treatment whereas the elevation of arterial ET-1-LI was not influenced. Furthermore the splenic vasoconstriction evoked by ET-1 was reduced after phosphoramidon without influencing plasma ET-1-LI. Also in rats the pressor effect of big ET-1 (1 nmol/kg) was inhibited by phosphoramidon (5 mg/kg) whereas the elevation of plasma ET-1 was not influenced. It is concluded that the vasoconstrictor effects of both big ET-1 and ET-1 are inhibited, but the increase in plasma ET-1 is unaffected by phosphoramidon.     

Comparison of organ uptake and disappearance half-time of human epidermal growth factor and insulin

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which was originally identified in salivary glands and saliva, has been also found in the kidney and urine, suggesting that the kidney may be an alternate source of this peptide. Liver was considered as the major site of the degradation of EGF but the involvement of other organs has been little studied. Therefore, we carried out comparative studies on the organ uptake and the disappearance half-time of EGF and insulin (having similar molecular size) in the same model of anesthetized dog with arterial (from aorta) and venous (from mesenteric, portal, hepatic, renal, femoral and jugular veins) blood sampling from various organs. Basal plasma level of EGF (1.32 +/- 0.33 pmol/l) and insulin (62.1 +/- 13.8 pmol/l) in the aorta was not significantly different from that recorded at various sampling sites. During i.v. infusion of EGF at 41.6 and 166.6 pmol/kg/h, the respective arterial EGF concentrations averaged 103 +/- 21 and 240 +/- 49 pmol/kg/h and the percent reduction in plasma EGF after passage through the head, leg, intestines and liver was about 30-50% and that after passage through the kidney was about 95%. During insulin (6.9 pmol/kg/h) infusion, the arterial hormone level averaged 227 +/- 21 pmol/l and this level was significantly reduced (by 23-42%) after passage through the head, leg, intestine, liver and kidney but no significant difference was found between various venous sampling sites. EGF and insulin appearing in the urine during EGF or insulin infusion accounted for about 40 and 7% of the difference between the entering and leaving renal masses of the peptide. Mean disappearance half time on stopping of EGF and insulin infusion was, respectively, 2.32 +/- 0.58 and 6.88 +/- 1.25 min. We conclude that unlike insulin, which is removed to similar extent by various organs including the kidney and the liver, EGF is taken up mainly by kidney and EGF present in urine originates mainly from renal clearance of peptide.     

Long-lasting vasoconstriction and efficient regional extraction of endothelin-1 in human splanchnic and renal tissues

Six healthy subjects were given endothelin-1, intravenously in a dose of 4 pmol.kg-1.min-1 for 20 min. Blood samples were drawn from arterial, hepatic and renal vein catheters for determinations of splanchnic and renal blood flows and the extraction of endothelin-1 in these vascular beds. Intravenous infusion of endothelin-1 increased the mean arterial blood pressure by 6.8 +/- 2.0 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and reduced splanchnic and renal blood flows by 34% (p less than 0.005) and 26% (p less than 0.001) respectively. Return to basal flow values occurred after about 1 hr for the splanchnic and 3 hrs for the renal blood flow. The fractional extractions of endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity corresponded to 75 +/- 2% and 60 +/- 2% in the splanchnic and renal vascular beds, respectively. The disappearance curve in plasma and two half-lives of 1.4 +/- 0.1 min and 35 +/- 2.8 min respectively.     

Effect of splenic extract on plasma volume and renal function in the rat

A hypotensive and natriuretic factor has recently been extracted from the rat spleen. Experiments were designed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the increase in urine output caused by splenic extract. Rat spleens were homogenized in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), centrifuged, subjected to ultrafiltration (mol. wt. cutoff 10,000), extracted on C18 affinity columns and dried. After reconstitution in isotonic saline, the extract was injected IV into conscious rats. Splenic extract caused a decrease in plasma volume (17.4+/-1.1 to 15.8+/-1.0 ml at 1 hr), and a delayed increase in urine output (1.8+/-0.2 to 4.0+/-0.4 ml/hr at 2 hr). There were no such changes in the muscle-injected control group. The increase in urine output was accompanied by an increase in glomerular filtration rate (splenic extract, 2.2+/-0.2 to 5.9+/-1.6 ml/min; muscle extract, 2.9+/-0.4 to 3.1+/-0.6 ml/min). Renal blood flow in the splenic extract-injected group fell during the course of the experiment so that, at 120 min., it was significantly lower both with respect to its baseline value and the muscle control group (splenic extract 22.1+/-0.2 to 17.5+/-2.2 ml/min; muscle extract 24.4+/-4.1 to 23.3+/-3.8 ml/min). During this same period, mean arterial pressure in the splenic extract group also fell from 98+/-2 to 91+/-4 mmHg. Renal vascular conductance therefore did not change. In conclusion, splenic extract causes a primary decrease in plasma volume and a delayed increase in urine output that is mediated, at least in part, by an increase in glomerular filtration rate. It is suggested that the splenic factor(s) probably achieves this by differential vasodilatation of the afferent glomerular arteriole and constriction of the efferent glomerular arteriole.     

Effects of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide on the pulmonary circulation.

To assess the in vivo effects of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) on the pulmonary vascular bed, the hemodynamic responses to both CGRP and SP were examined in the in situ-perfused lung lobe of open-chest anesthetized pigs. Peptides were infused into the lobar artery under conditions of elevated pulmonary vascular tone by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha, 20 micrograms/min). Pulmonary airway lobar dynamic compliance (Cdyn) and airway resistance (Re) were computed from simultaneously measured airway pressure and airflow entering the lobe through a Carlens endobronchial divider. PGF2 alpha infusion slightly reduced Cdyn (-20%) and increased Re (+11%) while lobar arterial pressure rose from 14 +/- 1 to 31 +/- 2 mmHg (n = 12). In these conditions, lobar artery infusion of SP (0.5-50 pmol/min) or CGRP (15-5,000 pmol/min) produced a dose-dependent decrease in the pressor response to PGF2 alpha, reaching -54 +/- 3 and -64 +/- 7%, respectively, without alterations in lung mechanics. On a molar basis, SP was more effective than CGRP; its vasodilatory effect was more rapid and of shorter duration. Higher CGRP infusion rates were not studied because of marked systemic hypotension. SP infused at 150, 500, and 1,000 pmol/min significantly reduced Cdyn by 12 +/- 2, 24 +/- 4, and 62 +/- 7%, respectively, but also induced a rise in lobar arterial pressure and a fall in systemic arterial pressure. The results show that both SP and CGRP are potent pulmonary vasodilators. In contrast to CGRP, which did not affect lung mechanics, high infusion rates of SP decreased Cdyn and increased Re.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Determination of carbon monoxide (CO) in rodent tissue: effect of heme administration and environmental CO exposure

Carbon monoxide (CO), produced endogenously during heme degradation, is considered a messenger molecule in vascular and neurologic tissues. To study this role, it is important to determine CO concentration in target tissues pre- and post-perturbations. Here, we describe a sensitive and reproducible method, which is linear and accurate, and provide some examples of its application for quantitation of CO concentrations in tissues pre- and post-perturbations. Tissues from adult rats and mice were sonicated (20% w/w), and volumes representing 0.04-8 mg fresh weight (FW) were incubated at 0 degrees C for 30 min with sulfosalicylic acid. CO liberated into the headspace was quantitated by gas chromatography. Tissue CO concentrations (mean+/-SD, pmol CO/mg FW) were as follows: blood (47+/-10, 45+/-5), muscle (4+/-4, 10+/-1), kidney (5+/-2, 7+/-2), heart (6+/-3, 6+/-1), spleen (11+/-3, 6+/-1), liver (4+/-1, 5+/-1), intestine (2+/-1, 4+/-2), lung (2+/-1, 3+/-1), testes (1+/-1, 2+/-1), and brain (2+/-1, 2+/-0) in untreated rat (n=3) and mouse (n=5), respectively. Between the rat and the mouse, only CO concentrations in the muscle and spleen were significantly different (p0.05). Endogenous CO generation, after administration of heme arginate to mice (n=3), increased CO concentrations by 0-43 pmol/mg FW. Exposure of mice (n=3) to 500 ppm CO for 30 min yielded significantly elevated CO concentrations by 4-2603 pmol/mg FW in all tissues over the native state. While blood had the highest CO concentration for all conditions, muscle, kidney, heart, spleen, and liver, all rich in hemoglobin and/or other CO-binding hemoproteins, also contained substantial CO concentrations. Intestine, lung, testes, and brain contained the lowest CO concentrations.     

Radioimmunoassay of atrial natriuretic peptide in human plasma: application to studies of volume and blood pressure homeostasis

Sensitive radioimmunoassay for determination of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in human plasma was developed and employed for the study of plasma ANP concentrations in healthy controls under basal conditions (2.4 +/- 0.1 pmol/l) and during volume expansion by saline infusion (9.6 +/- 2.0 pmol/l and 14.2 +/- 1.8 pmol/l, respectively). Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration exhibited opposite changes during saline infusion. In pathological states associated with extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) expansion, ANP concentration were significantly higher than in the controls (liver cirrhosis 8.6 +/- 0.9; congestive heart failure 33.1 +/- 4.8; chronic renal failure before haemodialysis 72.2 +/- 6.4 pmol/l). Further volume expansion in liver cirrhosis by saline infusion led to the further increase in ANP (13.3 +/- 1.3 and 16.1 +/- 1.5 pmol/l, respectively) and ECFV reduction by ultrafiltration during haemodialysis in chronic renal failure diminished but did not normalize plasma ANP (22.5 +/- 2.9 pmol/l). In patients with arterial hypertension the concentration of ANP exceeded the normal range by 62.5% and reached 8.0 +/- 0.5 pmol/l on the average. Our results support the suggestion that ANP is an important regulatory humoral mechanism participating in the regulation of sodium, volume and blood pressure homeostasis.     

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on renal blood flow in the rat

The effects of alpha-rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (alpha-rCGRP) on systemic and renal hemodynamics and on renal electrolyte excretion were examined in normal anesthetized rats. In one group of rats (n = 7), infusions of alpha-rCGRP at doses of 10, 50, 100, and 500 ng/kg/min for 15 min each produced dose-related and significant decreases in mean arterial pressure from a control of 130 +/- 3 mm Hg to a maximal depressor response of 91 +/- 2 mm Hg. During the first three doses of alpha-rCGRP, renal blood flow progressively and significantly increased from a control of 5.0 +/- 0.3 ml/min to a peak level of 6.3 +/- 0.3 ml/min achieved during the 100 ng/kg/min infusion. With the highest infusion rate of 500 ng/kg/min, renal blood flow fell below the control level to 4.5 +/- 0.2 ml/min (P less than 0.05). The responses in renal blood flow and mean arterial pressure were associated with reductions in renal vascular resistance. After cessation of alpha-rCGRP infusions, arterial pressure, renal blood flow, and renal vascular resistance gradually returned toward the baseline values. In another group of rats (n = 9), infusion of alpha-rCGRP for 30 min at 100 ng/kg/min produced a significant reduction in urinary sodium excretion from 0.28 +/- 0.06 to 0.14 +/- 0.5 muEq/min (P less than 0.05). Urine flow and urinary potassium excretion also appeared to decrease, but the changes were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from their respective baselines. These results demonstrate that alpha-rCGRP is a potent and reversible hypotensive and renal vasodilatory agent in the anesthetized rat. The data also suggest that alpha-rCGRP may have significant effects on the excretory function of the kidney.     

Expression of adrenomedullin2/intermedin in human brain, heart, and kidney

Adrenomedullin2/intermedin (AM2/IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family. In the present study, we developed a specific radioimmunoassay of human AM2/IMD. Expression of AM2/IMD was studied in the human brain, pituitary, heart and kidney obtained at autopsy by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive-AM2/IMD was detected by radioimmunoassay in human brains (range; 0.163-1.495 pmol/g wet weight), pituitaries (4.46+/-0.689 pmol/g wet weight, mean+/-S.E.M, n=3), left ventricles of hearts (0.251+/-0.0321 pmol/g wet weight, n=4), kidneys (3.49+/-1.18 pmol/g wet weight, n=5), and plasma obtained at healthy subjects (24.7+/-1.78 pmol/l, n=3). Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography showed that immunoreactive-AM2/IMD in human brain, kidney and plasma extracts were eluted in the position of authentic AM2/IMD. Additional peaks eluted earlier were found in the brain tissue and plasma. Immunocytochemistry showed that immunoreactive-AM2/IMD was localized in paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of hypothalamus, anterior and posterior lobes of pituitary, cardiomyocytes, pericardial adipocytes, vascular endothelial cells of pericardial veins, and vascular smooth muscle cells of coronary arteries and renal arterioles as well as in renal tubular cells. The present study has shown expression of AM2/IMD in various types of cells in the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system, and suggested possible (patho)physiological roles of AM2/IMD in these systems.     

Pharmacokinetics and organ catabolism of cholecystokinin octapeptide in pigs

The pharmacokinetics and organ catabolism of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) were studied in pigs. In conscious animals, intravenous infusion of increasing doses of CCK8 (2.9-232.3 pmol.kg-1.min-1) resulted in a linear increase of plasma CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI). At the cessation of infusion of the largest dose of CCK8, plasma CCK-LI promptly returned to near basal values. The half-disappearance time (t1/2), metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and distribution volume (DV) were estimated to be 0.55 +/- 0.03 min, 134.8 +/- 10.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 107.9 +/- 13.0 ml.kg-1, respectively. In another group of anesthetized animals, infusion of CCK8 at similar doses produced higher plateau plasma CCK levels and the t1/2, MCR and DV were calculated to be 0.68 +/- 0.06 min, 32.5 +/- 3.9 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 45.2 +/- 5.6 ml.kg-1, respectively. Estimates of first-pass immunological degradation through various vascular beds were in the range 27-66%, with in decreasing order the kidney, liver, hindleg, followed by the brain and gut. These results indicate that immunoreactive CCK8 is rapidly cleared from plasma during passage through several vascular beds. The peptide is only partly inactivated during hepatic transit and so may exert hormonal effects upon its release from intestinal stores.     

Superoxide formation and interaction with nitric oxide modulate systemic arterial pressure and renal function in salt-depleted dogs

To determine the role of superoxide (O(2)(-)) formation in the kidney during alterations in the renin-angiotensin system, we evaluated responses to the intra-arterial infusion of an O(2)(-) - scavenging agent, tempol, in the denervated kidney of anesthetized salt-depleted (SD, n=6) dogs and salt-replete (SR, n=6) dogs. As expected, basal plasma renin activity was higher in SD than in SR dogs (8.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.6 ng angiotensin 1/ml/hr). Interestingly, the basal level of urinary F(2)-isoprostanes excretion (marker for endogenous O(2)(-) activity) relative to creatinine (Cr) excretion was also significantly higher in SD compared to SR dogs (9.1 +/- 2.8 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.4 ng F(2)-isoprostanes/mg of Cr). There was a significant increase in renal blood flow (4.3 +/- 0.5 to 4.9 +/- 0.6 ml/min/g) and decreases in renal vascular resistance (38.2 +/- 5.8 to 33.2 +/- 4.7 mm Hg/ml/min/g) and mean systemic arterial pressure (148 +/- 6 to 112 +/- 10 mm Hg) in SD dogs but not in SR dogs during infusion of tempol at 1 mg/kg/min for 30 mins. Glomerular filtration rate and urinary sodium excretion (U(Na)V) did not change significantly during tempol infusion in both groups of dogs. Administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine (50 mug/kg/min) during tempol infusion caused a reduction in U(Na)V in SR dogs (47% +/- 12%) but did not cause a decrease in SD dogs. These data show that low salt intake enhances O(2)(-) activity that influences renal and systemic hemodynamics and thus may contribute to the regulation of arterial pressure in the salt-restricted state.     

Renal endothelin in chronic angiotensin II hypertension

To determine the influence of chronic ANG II infusion on urinary, plasma, and renal tissue levels of immunoreactive endothelin (ET), ANG II (65 ng/min) or saline vehicle was delivered via osmotic minipump in male Sprague-Dawley rats given either a high-salt diet (10% NaCl) or normal-salt diet (0.8% NaCl). High-salt diet alone caused a slight but not statistically significant increase (7 +/- 1%) in mean arterial pressure (MAP). MAP was significantly increased in ANG II-infused rats (41 +/- 10%), and the increase in MAP was significantly greater in ANG II rats given a high-salt diet (59 +/- 1%) compared with the increase observed in rats given a high-salt diet alone or ANG II infusion and normal-salt diet. After a 2-wk treatment, urinary excretion of immunoreactive ET was significantly increased by approximately 50% in ANG II-infused animals and by over 250% in rats on high-salt diet, with or without ANG II infusion. ANG II infusion combined with high-salt diet significantly increased immunoreactive ET content in the cortex and outer medulla, but this effect was not observed in other groups. In contrast, high-salt diet, with or without ANG II infusion, significantly decreased immunoreactive ET content within the inner medulla. These data indicate that chronic elevations in ANG II levels and sodium intake differentially affect ET levels within the kidney and provide further support for the hypothesis that the hypertensive effects of ANG II may be due to interaction with the renal ET system.     

Effect of mesenteric vascular congestion on reflex control of renal blood flow

Portal hypertension initiates a splenorenal reflex, whereby increases in splenic afferent nerve activity and renal sympathetic nerve activity cause a decrease in renal blood flow (RBF). We postulated that mesenteric vascular congestion similarly compromises renal function through an intestinal-renal reflex. The portal vein was partially occluded in anesthetized rats, either rostral or caudal to the junction with the splenic vein. Portal venous pressure increased (6.5 +/- 0.1 to 13.2 +/- 0.1 mmHg; n = 78) and mesenteric venous outflow was equally obstructed in both cases. However, only rostral occlusion increased splenic venous pressure. Rostral occlusion caused a fall in RBF (-1.2 +/- 0.2 ml/min; n = 9) that was attenuated by renal denervation (-0.5 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 6), splenic denervation (-0.2 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 11), celiac ganglionectomy (-0.3 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 9), and splenectomy (-0.5 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 6). Caudal occlusion induced a significantly smaller fall in RBF (-0.5 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 9), which was not influenced by renal denervation (-0.2 +/- 0.2 ml/min; n = 6), splenic denervation (-0.1 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 7), celiac ganglionectomy (-0.1 +/- 0.3 ml/min; n = 8), or splenectomy (-0.3 +/- 0.1 ml/min; n = 7). Renal arterial conductance fell only in intact animals subjected to rostral occlusion (-0.007 +/- 0.002 ml.min(-1).mmHg(-1)). This was accompanied by increases in splenic afferent nerve activity (15.0 +/- 3.5 to 32.6 +/- 6.2 spikes/s; n = 7) and renal efferent nerve activity (32.7 +/- 5.2 to 39.3 +/- 6.0 spikes/s; n = 10). In animals subjected to caudal occlusion, there were no such changes in renal arterial conductance or splenic afferent/renal sympathetic nerve activity. We conclude that the portal hypertension-induced fall in RBF is initiated by increased splenic, but not mesenteric, venous pressure, i.e., we did not find evidence for intestinal-renal reflex control of the kidneys.     

Renal response to intravenous phosphate infusion in the sheep.

Renal clearance experiments were performed on six Merino ewes in which plasma phosphate concentrations were increased by the intravenous infusion of isohydric sodium phosphate. As the phosphate load to the kidney increased, the renal tubular reabsorptive capacity became saturated and a definite tubular maximum for phosphate reabsorption (Tmp) was demonstrated. The Tmp was directly related to the glomerular filtration rate and had a mean value of 333-1+/-27-0 (s.e.m.) mumol/min or 416-6+/-13-5 mumol/100 ml glomerular filtrate. Calcium infused concurrently with phosphate in order to maintain plasma total calcium levels did not alter the Tmp. Ultrafilterability of calcium and phosphate in the plasma decreased with phosphate infusion and this was accentuated by an accompanying calcium infusion. The Tmp in sheep's kidney is higher than in non-ruminant animals and the implications of this are discussed.     

Systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in rats

The systemic and regional hemodynamics effects of ANG-(1-7) were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The blood flow distribution (kidneys, skin, mesentery, lungs, spleen, brain, muscle, and adrenals), cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were investigated by using fluorescent microspheres. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded from the brachial artery. ANG-(1-7) infusion (110 fmol x min(-1) x 10 min(-1) iv) significantly increased blood flow to the kidney (5.10 +/- 1.07 to 8.30 +/- 0.97 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)), mesentery (0.73 +/- 0.16 to 1.17 +/- 0.49 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)), brain (1.32 +/- 0.44 to 2.18 +/- 0.85 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)), and skin (0.07 +/- 0.02 to 0.18 +/- 0.07 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)) and the vascular conductance in these organs. ANG-(1-7) also produced a significant increase in cardiac index (30%) and a decrease in total peripheral resistance (2.90 +/- 0.55 to 2.15 +/- 0.28 mmHg x ml(-1) x min x 100 g). Blood flow to the spleen, muscle, lungs, and adrenals, as well as the blood pressure and heart rate, were not altered by the ANG-(1-7) infusion. The selective ANG-(1-7) antagonist A-779 reduced the blood flow in renal, cerebral, mesenteric, and cutaneous beds and blocked the ANG-(1-7)-induced vasodilatation in the kidney, mesentery, and skin, suggesting a significant role of endogenous ANG-(1-7) in these territories. The effects of ANG-(1-7) on the cerebral blood flow, cardiac index, systolic volume, and total peripheral resistance were partially attenuated by A-779. A high dose of ANG-(1-7) (11 pmol x min(-1) x 10 min(-1)) caused an opposite effect of that produced by the low dose. Our results show for the first time that ANG-(1-7) has a previously unsuspected potent effect in the blood flow distribution and systemic hemodynamics.     

Volume expansion during NOS substrate donation with L-arginine: regulatory offsetting of renal response?

The responses to infusion of nitric oxide synthase substrate (L-arginine 3 mg.kg(-1).min(-1)) and to slow volume expansion (saline 35 ml/kg for 90 min) alone and in combination were investigated in separate experiments. L-Arginine left blood pressure and plasma ANG II unaffected but decreased heart rate (6 +/- 2 beats/min) and urine osmolality, increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) transiently, and caused sustained increases in sodium excretion (fourfold) and urine flow (0.2 +/- 0.0 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 ml/min). Volume expansion increased arterial blood pressure (102 +/- 3 to 114 +/- 3 mmHg), elevated GFR persistently by 24%, and enhanced sodium excretion to a peak of 251 +/- 31 micromol/min, together with marked increases in urine flow, osmolar and free water clearances, whereas plasma ANG II decreased (8.1 +/- 1.7 to 1.6 +/- 0.3 pg/ml). Combined volume expansion and L-arginine infusion tended to increase arterial blood pressure and increased GFR by 31%, whereas peak sodium excretion was enhanced to 335 +/- 23 micromol/min at plasma ANG II levels of 3.0 +/- 1.1 pg/ml; urine flow and osmolar clearance were increased at constant free water clearance. In conclusion, L-arginine 1) increases sodium excretion, 2) decreases basal urine osmolality, 3) exaggerates the natriuretic response to volume expansion by an average of 50% without persistent changes in GFR, and 4) abolishes the increase in free water clearance normally occurring during volume expansion. Thus L-arginine is a natriuretic substance compatible with a role of nitric oxide in sodium homeostasis, possibly by offsetting/shifting the renal response to sodium excess.     

Effects of angiotensin II, arginine-vasopressin, endothelin and catecholamines on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations in the conscious newborn calf.

The effects of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin II (AII), arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and endothelin on plasma ANP levels were studied according to a latin square design in six 12-21 days-old conscious Jersey calves weighing 30 +/- 4 kg. The animals chronically-instrumented with a carotid catheter for blood pressure recording, received at 11.00 a.m. an i.v. right jugular continuous infusion for 30 min of two different sub-pressor or pressor dose-levels of each substance; E: 0.6 and 5.5 nmol/min per kg body wt; NE: 0.6 and 6 nmol/min per kg body wt; AII: 9.6 and 96 pmol/min per kg body wt; AVP: 0.6 and 69 pmol/min per kg body wt; and endothelin: 1.2 and 12 pmol/min per kg body wt). Control animals received, in the same way, the same volume (2 ml/kg body wt) of NaCl 0.9%. In Jersey calves, basal plasma atrial naturetic peptide (ANP) levels were around 5 pmol/l. Marked increases in this parameter were produced by all substances when given at the highest dose-level. The maximal rise of 600% was observed with AII; however on a molar basis, endothelin appeared more potent than AII and at the same dose-level, E appeared more effective than NE to increase circulating ANP (17.8 +/- 0.3 vs 9.5 +/- 0.1 respectively at time 70 min; P less than 0.01). The time-course of plasma ANP levels was positively correlated (P less than 0.01) by linear regression with the increase in blood pressure when pressor agents were given at the highest dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Plasma concentrations of endothelin in patients with abnormal vascular reactivity. Effects of ergometric exercise and acute saline loading

We measured circulating concentrations of endothelin, a recently discovered vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells, in healthy subjects and in patients with abnormal vascular reactivity. Endothelin concentrations were determined by radio-immunoassay after extraction of plasma using Sep-Pak C-18 cartridges in healthy subjects (n = 20), in patients with diabetes mellitus type I (n = 10), in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (n = 12) and in non-dialyzed patients with stable chronic renal failure (n = 12). Plasma concentrations were similar in healthy controls, in diabetics and in hypertensive patients averaging 5.0 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, 4.7 +/- 0.2 pg/ml and 6.5 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, respectively. In contrast, plasma concentrations of endothelin were markedly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure averaging 16.6 +/- 2.9 pg/ml (p less than 0.005). No correlations were observed between serum creatinine concentrations ranging from 124 to 850 mumol/l or blood pressure and plasma concentrations of endothelin. Bicycle ergometric exercise in six healthy subjects and an acute modest i.v. saline load of 1,000 ml of 0.45% NaCl administered within 60 min in six patients with mild essential hypertension did not affect plasma concentrations of endothelin. Thus, it is unlikely that vascular synthesis of endothelin is related to acute physiological changes in systemic hemodynamics or to the circulatory and renal responses to acute extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) expansion. A potential role of endothelin, however, in the control of regional blood flow cannot be excluded. Elevated plasma concentrations of endothelin observed in patients with chronic renal failure require further investigations.     

中华花龟五种器官组织学观察

利用石蜡切片法对中华花龟的心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺和肾脏等组织器官进行了组织学观察.结果显示心肌的特点是暗带较窄,心肌纤维束状排列.肝脏分3叶,肝实质内结缔组织少,肝小叶分界不清楚.脾脏分被膜和实质两部分,实质由白髓和红髓构成,白髓包括椭球周围淋巴鞘(PELS)和动脉周围淋巴鞘(PALS),红髓由脾索和脾窦组成,未发现淋巴小结和生发中心.肺一对,为长形扁平囊,肺泡囊状,肺泡内可见管壁的结节状膨大.肾脏由肾小体、颈段、近曲小管、中间段、远曲小管和收集管6部分构成,肾小体由肾小球和肾小囊组成,在肾小体附近可见致密斑样结构.