急性缺氧暴露不同时间家兔血浆心钠素,抗利尿激素,醛固…

本实验观察了８０只家兔在急性缺氧６、１２、２４、４８;６０、７１ｈ后肺指数、血浆心钠素（ＡＮＰ）、抗利尿激素（ＡＶＰ）、醛固酮（ＡＬＤ）及尿量的变化。结果表明：在缺氧２４－７２ｈ,肺指数明显升高,尿量减少、缺氧１６ｈ,血浆ＡＮＰ明显升高;而缺氧４８和６０ｈ无ＡＮＰ升高现象。缺氧７２ｈ,血浆ＡＮＦ又明显高于缺氧前水平;血浆ＡＣＰ只在缺氧２４ｈ明显升高;血浆ＡＬＤ未见显著性变化。这些结果提示：在缺氧状     

外源性肺表面活性物质替代治疗对烟雾吸入所致肺组织细胞损害的影响

目的：探讨使用外源性肺表面活性物质（ＰＳ）治疗能否减轻烟雾吸入所致肺组织细胞损害。方法：Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠随机分为５组：Ⅰ组,正常对照;Ⅱ组,烟雾吸入;Ⅲ组,烟雾＋ＰＳ＋机械通气（ＭＶ）;Ⅳ组,烟雾＋盐水＋ＭＶ;Ⅴ组,烟雾＋ＭＶ,伤后５ｍｉｎ经气管导管注入ＰＳ（１００ｍｇ／ｋｇ）或等量盐水,ＭＶ４ｈ,观察２４ｈ,检测动脉血气、肺水量、支气管肺泡灌洗液（ＢＡＬＦ）中白细胞分类计数及乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）、血管紧张素转换酶（ＡＣＥ）和碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）活性、胎盘型碱性磷酸酶（ＰＬＡＰ）含量、肺泡壁纤维成分含量及病理检查等。结果：Ⅱ组伤后发生呼吸衰竭、肺水肿及肺部急性炎症反应,ＢＡＬＦ中ＬＤＨ、ＡＫＰ、ＡＣＥ和ＰＬＡＰ水平均明显升高,肺泡壁纤维成分含量显著减少。Ⅲ组血气较Ⅱ组明显改善,但ＢＡＬＦ中各酶水平、肺泡壁纤维成分含量及肺部炎症、水肿等无显著减轻。Ⅳ、Ⅴ组治疗无效。结论：烟雾吸入伤早期外源性ＰＳ治疗能一定程度改善呼吸功能,但对肺组织细胞损害无明显保护作用,不能减轻继发性炎症反应和急性肺水肿     

长时间给予高选择性δ阿片受体激动剂抑制δ受体mRNA表达

我们采用反转录－聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）方法,观察了δ阿片受体肽类激动剂「Ｄ－Ｐｅｎ＾２．５」ｅｎｋｅｐｈａｌｉｎ（ＤＰＤＰＥ）及非肽类激动剂ＢＷ３７３Ｕ８６对δ受体ｍＲＮＡ表达的影响,并比较了两者作用的差异性。结果如下：（１）ＤＰＤＰＥ作用２４及４８ｈ可使δ受体ｍＲＮＡ表达水平显著降低,则ＢＷ３７３Ｕ８６只在２４ｈ有显著抑制作用;（２）ＤＰＤＰＥ在１０＾－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时即可使δ受体的ｍＲＮＡ     

外源性肺表面活性物质替代治疗对烟雾吸入所致肺组织细胞 …

目的：探讨使用外源性肺表面活性物质（ＰＳ）治疗能否减轻烟雾吸入所致肺组织损害。方法：Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠随机分为５组：Ｉ组,正常对照;Ⅱ组,烟雾吸入;Ⅲ组,烟雾＋ＰＳ＋机械通气（ＭＶ）;Ⅳ组,烟雾＋盐水＋ＭＶ;Ⅴ组,烟雾＋ＭＶ,伤后５ｍｉｎ经气管导管注入ＰＳ（１００ｍｇ／ｋｇ）或等量盐水,ＭＶ４ｈ,观察２４ｈ,检测动脉血气、肺水量、支气管肺泡灌洗液（ＢＡＬＦ）中白细胞分类计数及乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）、血     

植物血细胞凝集素对小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞γ－谷氨酰基转肽酶活性的影响

本文就植物血细胞凝集素（ＰＨＡ）作用的不同时间对小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞γ－谷氨酰基转肽酶（γ－ＧＴ）活性的影响进行了观察。结果表明,脾脏淋巴细胞转化率随给予ＰＨＡ时间的延长而上升,对照组＜２４ｈ组＜４８ｈ组＜７２ｈ组;淋巴细胞γ－ＧＴ活性于２４ｈ明显强于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１）,随着ＰＨＡ作用时间的延长其γ－ＧＴ活性逐渐下降,即４８ｈ组与对照组已无显著差异,而７２ｈ组却低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１）。可见ＰＨＡ在小鼠体内对γ－ＧＴ活性有很大影响。     

脂多糖对离体培养大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

本研究观察到１０－７～１０－５ｋｇ／Ｌ脂多糖（ｌｉｐｏｐｏｌｙｓａｃｈａｒｉｄｅ,ＬＰＳ）可显著促进血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）的增殖及ＤＮＡ的合成（Ｐ＜００５）。５×１０－４～１０－３ｋｇ／ＬＬＰＳ却抑制ＶＳＭＣ的增殖及ＤＮＡ的合成,降低其活力（Ｐ＜００１）,并呈时间依赖效应。一氧化氮合酶抑制剂ＮＮｉｔｒｏＬＡｒｇｉｎｉｎｅ（ＬＮＮＡ）可拮抗ＬＰＳ的抑制作用。大剂量ＬＰＳ作用组ＶＳＭＣ上清液中一氧化氮（ＮＯ）代谢产物ＮＯ－３和ＮＯ－２的含量与对照组相比显著增加（Ｐ＜００１）,４８ｈ组比２４ｈ组增加９１％,７２ｈ组比４８ｈ组增加４５％;同时,诱导性一氧化氮合酶（ｉｎｄｕｃｔｉｖｅｎｉｔｒｉｃｏｘｉｄｅｓｙｎｔｈａｓｅ,ｉＮＯＳ）免疫组化染色呈阳性。结果表明,低浓度ＬＰＳ促进ＶＳＭＣ增殖和ＤＮＡ合成,而高浓度ＬＰＳ却明显抑制ＶＳＭＣ增殖和ＤＮＡ合成,降低其活力。这种抑制作用可能与ＬＰＳ诱导ＶＳＭＣ产生的ＮＯ有关。     

肾大部切除、高盐摄食对SD大鼠脑心房钠尿肽的影响

为探讨脑内心房钠尿肽（ＡＮＰ）的作用,本工作采用ＳＤ大鼠,用放射免疫方法测定３／４肾大部切除与高盐摄食后脑内ＡＮＰ的含量。结果表明,对照组大鼠脑内ＡＮＰ分布广泛。３／４肾切除大鼠每日饮水量,尿量均比对照组高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,尿钠浓度低于对照组时,脑内ＡＮＰ含量尽管略有增加,但１０个核团（下丘脑室周核、弓状核、室旁核、视前室周核、中缝背核、尾壳核、杏仁核、脑桥背侧部、蓝斑和大脑皮质）ＡＮＰ含量和对照组无明显差别（Ｐ＞０．０５）。高盐摄食组每日饮水量和尿量均比对照组高,且尿钠浓度高于对照组,同时下丘脑室周核和弓状核ＡＮＰ含量比对照组高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。上述结果提示,大脑第三脑室前腹侧区（ＡＶ３Ｖ区）的ＡＮＰ可能在水盐调节上发挥重要作用。     

脑内血管紧张素Ⅱ系统在穹窿下器升压反应中的作用

文献报道脑内存在血管紧张素Ⅱ系统。与此一致,本工作用氨基甲酸乙脂麻醉、箭毒制动、人工呼吸的大鼠观察到：（１）穹窿下器（ＳＦＯ）、室旁核（ＮＰＶ）或ＮＰＶ的投射区：延髓头端腹外侧区（ＲＶＬＭ）、导水管周围灰质（ＰＡＧ）、蓝斑（ＬＣ）内注入血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡⅡ）均引起升压反应;（２）ＳＦＯ升压反应可被双侧ＮＰＶ或ＲＶＬＭ内预先注入［Ｓａｒ１,Ｔｈｒ８］ＡⅡ（ＳＴＡⅡ,ＡⅡ拮抗剂）明显衰减,ＮＰＶ升压反应也可被ＲＶＬＭ内注入ＳＴＡⅡ削弱;（３）双侧ＰＡＧ用ＳＴＡⅡ预处理后,ＡⅡ引起的ＮＰＶ或ＳＦＯ升压反应均明显减小;（４）ＮＰＶ升压反应还可被双侧ＬＣ内预先注射ＳＴＡⅡ衰减,但ＳＦＯ升压反应不受影响。结合我们以往工作曾显示兴奋ＰＡＧ或ＬＣ均可作用于ＲＶＬＭ引起升压反应,目前的结果表明：ＳＦＯ内的ＡⅡ能神经元通过ＮＰＶ内ＡⅡ能神经元,不仅可直接作用于ＲＶＬＭ引起升压反应,而且还可间接通过ＰＡＧ作用于ＲＶＬＭ起升压作用,但ＬＣ不参与ＳＦＯ升压反应。     

氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白增强其致动脉粥样硬化作用

研究了氧化修饰极低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ）对小白鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内脂质堆积作用及其机制。经Ｃｕ~（２＋）修饰后ＶＬＤＬ的电泳迁移率及脂质过氧化物含量均显著增加。ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ更易导致小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内脂质堆积。以相同浓度（３００μｇＴＧ／ｍＬ）或不同浓度（２００─５００μｇＴＧ／ｍＬ）的ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ及正常ＶＬＤＬ（ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ）与巨噬细胞温育２４ｈ,前者使巨噬细胞内ＴＧ堆积均比后者显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。同时,随ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ的脂质过氧化物含量（ＴＢＡＲＳ水平）增加,巨噬细胞内ＴＧ含量的百分率相应增加。以５０μｇ蛋白／ｍＬ的ｎ－ＬＤＬ,ｏｘ－ＬＤＬ,ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ及ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与巨噬细胞温育６０ｈ。细胞内ＣＥ堆积中氧化组均比正常组高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。巨噬细胞对~（１２５）Ｉ－ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ与~（１２５）Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ的结合、降曲线均有饱和趋势。两结合曲线无明显差异,但细胞对后者降解的量比前者多。结合的竞争实验表明,ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ能抑制大部分~（１２５）Ｉ－ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ与细胞结合,而Ａｃ－ＬＤＬ只能抑制小部分。结果表明ｏｘ－ＶＬＤＬ主要通过受体途径：大部分经过ｎ－ＶＬＤＬ受体,小部分经过清道夫受体被巨噬细胞摄     

延髓腹外侧区微量注射L－NNA和SNP对大鼠血压、心率和肾交感神经活动的影响

在麻醉大鼠观察了向延髓腹外侧区微量注射ＮＯ合成酶抑制剂Ｎ－硝基左旋精氨酸（ＬＮＮＡ）和硝普钢（ＳＮＰ）对血压、心率和肾交感神经活动的影响,旨在探讨中枢左旋精氨酸－ＮＯ通路在动脉血压调节中的作用及其机制。实验结果如下：（１）向延髓腹外侧头端区（ＲＶＬＭ）注射Ｌ－ＮＮＡ后,平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）升高,肾交感神经活动（ＲＳＮＡ）增强;心率（ＨＲ）减慢,但无统计学意义。ＭＡＰ和ＲＳＮＡ的变化持续３０ｍｉｎ以上;此效应可被预先静注左旋精氨酸所逆转。（２）向ＲＶＬＭ微量注射ＳＮＰ,ＭＡＰ降低,ＲＳＮＡ减弱;但ＨＲ的变化无统计学意义。（３）向延髓腹外侧尾端区（ＣＶＬＭ）注射Ｌ－ＮＮＡ,ＭＡＰ降低,ＨＲ减慢,ＲＳＮＡ减弱。（４）向ＣＶＬＭ微量注射ＳＮＰ,ＭＡＰ升高,ＲＳＮＡ增强,而心率无明显变化。以上结果表明,中枢左旋精氨酸－ＮＯ通路对延髓腹外侧部的神经元活动有调变作用。     

Renal responsiveness to aldosterone during exposure to simulated microgravity.

We measured renal functions and hormones associated with fluid regulation after a bolus injection of aldosterone (Ald) during head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest to test the hypothesis that exposure to simulated microgravity altered renal responsiveness to Ald. Six male rhesus monkeys underwent two experimental conditions (HDT and control, 72 h each) with each condition separated by 9 days of ambulatory activities to produce a crossover counterbalance design. One test condition was continuous exposure to 10 degrees HDT; the second was a control, defined as 16 h per day of 80 degrees head-up tilt and 8 h prone. After 72 h of exposure to either test condition, monkeys were moved to the prone position, and we measured the following parameters for 4 h after injection of 1-mg dose of Ald: urine volume rate (UVR); renal Na(+)/K(+) excretion ratio; renal clearances of creatinine, Na(+), osmolality, and free water; and circulating hormones [Ald, renin activity (PRA), vasopressin (AVP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)]. HDT increased Na(+) clearance, total renal Na(+) excretion, urine Na(+) concentration, and fractional Na(+) excretion, compared with the control condition, but did not alter plasma concentrations of Ald, PRA, and AVP. Administration of Ald did not alter UVR, creatinine clearance, Ald, PRA, AVP, or ANP but reduced Na(+) clearance, total renal Na(+) excretion, urinary Na(+)/K(+) ratio, and osmotic clearance. Although reductions in Na(+) clearance and excretion due to Ald were greater during HDT than during control, the differential (i.e., interaction) effect was minimal between experimental conditions. Our data suggest that exposure to microgravity increases renal excretion of Na(+) by a natriuretic mechanism other than a change in renal responsiveness to Ald.     

D-半乳糖致亚急性衰老大鼠尿液排泄情况观察及其多尿机制探讨

目的观察D-半乳糖(D-gal)致亚急性衰老大鼠在尿液排泄方面的特点并探讨其多尿症状机制。方法在初筛合格的SD大鼠颈背部皮下注射浓度为5%的D-gal生理盐水溶液125mg/(kg·d)连续8周。观察动物在造模期间和停止造模后两周内24h总尿量及水负荷后排尿情况的变化;通过测定模型动物尿中K+、Na+、CL-浓度,血中ALD、ADH、ANP浓度及肾脏病理形态学观察,探讨模型动物24h总尿量增加的机制。结果与正常对照组相比较,模型组动物24h总尿量明显增加;水负荷后6h内排尿潜伏期明显缩短,排尿次数明显增多,但总尿量没有明显差异;模型动物尿中Na+、CL-浓度明显升高,K+浓度明显降低;血浆ALD、ADH含量显著降低,ANP含量显著增加,肾脏出现一系列硬化特征。结论 D-gal致亚急性衰老大鼠出现的总尿量增加和排尿次数增多的情况可能与其ADH、ALD、ANP合成与分泌异常及肾脏病理形态学改变有关。     

Effects of hypoxia on alveolar fluid transport capacity in rat lungs.

There is little information regarding the effect of hypoxia on alveolar fluid clearance capacity. We measured alveolar fluid clearance, lung water volume, plasma catecholamine concentrations, and serum osmolality in rats exposed to 10% oxygen for up to 120 h and explored the mechanisms responsible for the increase in alveolar fluid clearance. The principal results were 1) alveolar fluid clearance did not change for 48 h and then increased between 72 and 120 h of exposure to hypoxia; 2) although nutritional impairment during hypoxia decreased basal alveolar fluid clearance, endogenous norepinephrine increased net alveolar fluid clearance; 3) the changes of lung water volume and serum osmolality were not associated with those of alveolar fluid clearance; 4) an administration of beta-adrenergic agonists further increased alveolar fluid clearance; and 5) alveolar fluid clearance returned to normal within 24 h of reoxygenation after hypoxia. In conclusion, alveolar epithelial fluid transport capacity increases in rats exposed to hypoxia. It is likely that a combination of endogenous norepinephrine and nutritional impairment regulates alveolar fluid clearance under hypoxic conditions.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide in acute hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.

To test the hypothesis that exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) prevents the acute pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia, ANP (20-micrograms/kg bolus followed by 1-microgram.kg-1.min-1 infusion) or vehicle was administered intravenously to conscious rats beginning 3 min before exposure to hypoxia or room air for 90 min. Exogenous ANP abolished the acute pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia in association with marked and parallel increases in plasma ANP and guanosine 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and with a significant increase in lung cGMP content. To examine whether endogenous ANP modulates the acute pulmonary pressor response to hypoxia, rats were pretreated with a monoclonal antibody (Ab) to ANP and exposed to hypoxia. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) in the Ab-treated rats was not different from control over the first 6 h of hypoxic exposure. Thereafter, the Ab-treated group had significantly higher MPAP than control. Our data suggest that 1) exogenous ANP blocks the pulmonary pressor response to acute hypoxia via stimulation of cGMP accumulation in the pulmonary vasculature, and 2) endogenous ANP may modulate the subacute, but not acute, phase of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide in hypoxia

A growing number of mammalian genes whose expression is inducible by hypoxia have been identified. Among them, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) synthesis and secretion is increased during hypoxic exposure and plays an important role in the normal adaptation to hypoxia and in the pathogenesis of cardiopulmonary diseases, including chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling, and right ventricular hypertrophy and right heart failure. This review discusses the roles of ANP and its receptors in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. We and other investigators have demonstrated that ANP gene expression is enhanced by exposure to hypoxia and that the ANP so generated protects against the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Results also show that hypoxia directly stimulates ANP gene expression and ANP release in cardiac myocytes in vitro. Several cis-responsive elements of the ANP promoter are involved in the response to changes in oxygen tension. Further, the ANP clearance receptor NPR-C, but not the biological active NPR-A and NPR-B receptors, is downregulated in hypoxia adapted lung. Hypoxia-sensitive tyrosine kinase receptor-associated growth factors, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, but not hypoxia per se, inhibit NPR-C gene expression in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro. The reductions in NPR-C in the hypoxic lung retard the clearance of ANP and allow more ANP to bind to biological active NPR-A and NPR-B in the pulmonary circulation, relaxing preconstricted pulmonary vessels, reducing pulmonary arterial pressure, and attenuating the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling.     

Physiological variability of fluid-regulation hormones in young women.

We tested the physiological reliability of plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma concentrations of arginine vasopressin (P[AVP]), aldosterone (P[ALD]), and atrial natriuretic peptide (P[ANP]) in the early follicular phase and midluteal phases over the course of two menstrual cycles (n = 9 women, ages 25 +/- 1 yr). The reliability (Cronbach's alpha >/=0.80) of these hormones within a given phase of the cycle was tested 1) at rest, 2) after 2.5 h of dehydrating exercise, and 3) during a rehydration period. The mean hormone concentrations were similar within both the early follicular and midluteal phase tests; and the mean concentrations of P[ALD] and PRA for the three test conditions were significantly greater during the midluteal compared with the early follicular phase. Although Cronbach's alpha for resting and recovery P[ANP] were high (0.80 and 0.87, respectively), the resting and rehydration values for P[AVP], P[ALD], and PRA were variable between trials for the follicular (alpha from 0.49 to 0.55) and the luteal phase (alpha from 0.25 to 0. 66). Physiological reliability was better after dehydration for P[AVP] and PRA but remained low for P[ALD]. Although resting and recovery P[AVP], P[ALD], and PRA were not consistent within a given menstrual phase, the differences in the concentrations of these hormones between the different menstrual phases far exceeded the variability within the phases, indicating that the low within-phase reliability does not prevent the detection of menstrual phase-related differences in these hormonal variables.     

Altitude diuresis: endocrine and renal responses to acute hypoxia of acclimatized and non-acclimatized subjects

As a result of our recently published studies we have thought that altitude diuresis resulting from hypoxic stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors reduces the cardiac volume overload. To test this hypothesis, cardiovascular, endocrine and renal responses to stepwise acute exposure to simulated altitude (6,000 m) were compared in ten acclimatized recumbent mountaineers a mean of 24 days, SD 11, after descending from Himalayan altitudes of at least 4,000 m, with those found in ten non-acclimatized recumbent volunteers. The results showed that natriuresis and diuresis typified the renal responses to altitude exposure of both the acclimatized as well as non-acclimatized subjects, as long as altitude was well tolerated. It was concluded that the renal effects were mediated by atrial natriuretic peptide release and slight suppression of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) secretion, that the increased urine flow at altitude offset the cardiac (volume) overload resulting from hypoxic stimulation of the arterial chemoreceptors, and that enhanced AVP secretion, as found in the non-acclimatized subjects at and above 4,000 m, coincided with subjective and objective distress, i.e. with inadequate altitude adjustment owing to insufficient chemoreflex effects and central hypoxia.     

Hypoxia reduces atrial natriuretic peptide clearance receptor gene expression in ANP knockout mice

We tested the hypotheses that hypoxic exposure is associated with exacerbated pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) enlargement, reduced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) clearance receptor (NPR-C) expression, and enhanced B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression in the absence of ANP. Male wild-type [ANP(+/+)], heterozygous [ANP(+/-)], and homozygous [ANP(-/-)] mice were studied after a 5-wk hypoxic exposure (10% O(2)). Hypoxia increased RV ANP mRNA and plasma ANP levels only in ANP(+/+) and ANP(+/-) mice. Hypoxia-induced increases in RV pressure were significantly greater in ANP(-/-) than in ANP(+/+) or ANP(+/-) mice (104 +/- 17 vs. 45 +/- 10 and 63 +/- 7%, respectively) as were increases in RV mass (38 +/- 4 vs. 26 +/- 5 and 29 +/- 4%, respectively). NPR-C mRNA levels were greatly reduced in the kidney, lung, and brain by hypoxia in all three genotypes. RV BNP mRNA and lung and kidney cGMP levels were increased in hypoxic mice. These findings indicate that disrupted ANP expression worsens hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and RV enlargement but does not alter hypoxia-induced decreases in NPR-C and suggest that compensatory increases in BNP expression occur in the absence of ANP.     

Comparison of the effect of hypoxia on the secretion of the atrial natriuretic factor in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

The effect of short lasting hypoxia on blood pressure, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level and number of specific atrial granules were studied in 26 male spontaneously hypertensive and 24 normotensive Wistar rats. A great difference occurred in ANP secretion between hypertensive and normotensive rats. In the hypertensive animals elevated plasma ANP concentration (130 +/- 27 pg/ml) and decreased granularity in the right atria (73 +/- 2) were found on the first day of hypoxia with a slight elevation in urinary sodium content versus normotensive controls. The blood pressure also decreased although not significantly (190 +/- 14 mm Hg). In Wistar rats increased plasma ANP (130 +/- 34 pg/ml) and decreased atrial granularity versus normotensive controls (72 +/- 10 in the left and 113 +/- 16 in the right atrium) were observed only on the third day of hypoxia without changes in blood pressure and natriuresis. In SHR the rapid but short timed ANP release might be of right atrial origin and probably the consequence of a continuous and perhaps increased secretion of the peptide in normoxic conditions too. In Wistar rats the plasma ANP elevation could be secondary due to the increased plasma level of different vasoactive hormones to hypoxia. In the altered effect of ANP in hypertensive and normotensive hypoxic animals, structural and functional changes in the vascular bed may play a role.     

Effects of high altitude and water deprivation on arginine vasopressin release in men

High-altitude exposure changes the distribution of body water and electrolytes. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) may influence these alterations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 24-h water deprivation trial (WDT) on AVP release after differing altitude exposures. Seven healthy males (age 22 +/- 1 yr, height 176 +/- 2 cm, mass 75.3 +/- 1.8 kg) completed three WDTs: at sea level (SL), after acute altitude exposure (2 days) to 4,300 m (AA), and after prolonged altitude exposure (20 days) to 4,300 m (PA). Body mass, standing and supine blood pressures, plasma osmolality (Posm), and plasma AVP (PAVP) were measured at 0, 12, 16, and 24 h of each WDT. Urine volume was measured at each void throughout testing. Baseline Posm increased from SL to altitude (SL 291.7 +/- 0.8 mosmol/kgH2O, AA 299.6 +/- 2.2 mosmol/kgH2O, PA 302.3 +/- 1.5 mosmol/kgH2O, P < 0.05); however, baseline PAVP measurements were similar. Despite similar Posm values, the maximal PAVP response during the WDT (at 16 h) was greater at altitude than at SL (SL 1.7 +/- 0.5 pg/ml, AA 6.4 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, PA 8.7 +/- 0.9 pg/ml, P < 0.05). In conclusion, hypoxia appeared to alter AVP regulation by raising the osmotic threshold and increasing AVP responsiveness above that threshold.