Leukotriene D4: cardiovascular and sympathetic effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats

Leukotriene D4 (1--20 micrograms/kg i.a.) administered to conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and WKY rats caused acute elevation of blood pressure in both groups, but only in SHR a prolonged hypotensive period followed the hypertensive event. SHR rats had tachycardia during the hypertensive phase and relative bradycardia during the hypotensive phase which was more pronounced and prolonged than in WKY rats. In SHR rats only, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were elevated (6- and 3-fold, respectively) at the peak of the hypertensive period. Pretreatment of SHR rats with indomethacin (5 mg/kg) potentiated the LTD4-induced pressor response and shortened the hypotensive-bradycardic effect of LTD4. This same biphasic, dose-dependent response to LTD4 (1--20 micrograms/kg i.v.) was present in pithed SHR rats. Therefore, a direct action of LTD4 on vascular smooth muscle and heart is suggested. In all WKY rats and some SHR rats, a bradycardic effect of LTD4 resulted from sinus bradycardia, whereas in pithed SHR rats impaired conduction varying from transient second degree atrioventricular block to complete heart block was observed. Electrocardiographic signs of ischemia were seen only in LTD4-injected, pithed SHR rats. These results suggest fundamental differences between SHR and WKY rats in regard to their sensitivity to lipoxygenase products.     

Interactions of atrial natriuretic peptide with the sympathetic and endocrine systems in the pithed rat

We have found previously that atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs) attenuate pressor response to alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists but not to alpha-1 agonists in the pithed rat. We have now investigated the effects of ANP on other pressor agonists and on sympathetically mediated responses in rats. Bolus-injected ANP (0.1-10.0 nmol/kg) attenuated pressor responses to angiotensin II, vasopressin and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated component of norepinephrine (NE)-induced responses (up to 17, 27 and 15%, respectively) in pithed rats. The threshold antipressor dose of ANP was the lowest for angiotensin II (comparable to normal levels of circulating ANP-immunoreactivity in rats) whereas it was higher for vasopressin and NE (comparable to plasma ANP-immunoreactivity stimulated by volume expansion). A 30-min infusion of ANP (0.15 nmol/kg/min) shifted the NE dose-pressor response curve 1.7-fold to the right. Conversely, neither that rate of ANP infusion nor the highest dose of bolus injected ANP altered pressor and plasma NE responses to sympathetic stimulation in demedullated pithed rats. However, at higher infusion rates, ANP reduced sympathetic stimulation-induced pressor responses (2.6-fold) and elevations of plasma NE levels (1.6-fold), without altering NE clearance. Similarly in conscious rats, ANP infusion prevented a reflex increase in plasma NE concentrations associated with hypotension. Thus, although the intrajunctional alpha-1 and presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors are inaccessible to the short term bolus-induced elevation of circulating ANP during longer term increases in plasma ANP, it does reach the junction, reduces NE release and limits effects of receptor activation, possibly by diminishing Ca++ entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Electrolytes and norepinephrine levels in blood of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Young adults with cystic fibrosis in good to excellent condition have reduced plasma sodium and chloride and elevated plasma potassium compared to a group of healthy young adult control subjects. Blood pressure was also lower in the patients with cystic fibrosis. However, plasma norepinephrine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and their response to standing and isometric hand grip were normal in the cystic fibrosis patients.     

6-Fluorocatecholamines as false adrenergic neurotransmitters

In the present study 6-fluoronorepinephrine (6F-NE) is shown to be formed from 6-fluorodopamine (6F-DA) in vivo. The beta-hydroxylated fluorocompound is taken up by and stored in the adrenergic nerve terminals and can be released during sympathetic nerve stimulation. In the heart, the turnover rate of the exogenously administered 6F-NE was about the same as that of tritium-labeled norepinephrine. In the central nervous system, 6F-DA can be taken up by the nigrostriatal neurons. After depolarization of the dopaminergic neurons by potassium, 6F-DA is released along with the endogenous dopamine. Systemic administration of 6F-NE to the pithed rats produces dose-dependent increases in blood pressure but does not increase the heart rate. The vasopressor potency of 6F-NE is about the same as that of l-norepinephrine, about 2-fold greater than that of dl-norepinephrine. Combined treatment with yohimbine and prazosin antagonizes completely the vasopressor effect of 6F-NE. The duration of the pressor response to 6F-NE was twice that of dl- or l-norepinephrine. The present study indicates that 6-fluorocatecholamines fulfill the criteria for adrenergic false transmitters and may be useful in positron emission tomographic scanning for mapping specifically the adrenergic nervous system in the brain or in the peripheral sympathetic nerves.     

Differential inhibition of alpha adrenoceptor-mediated pressor responses by rat atrial natriuretic peptide in the pithed rat

Previous investigations have shown that rat atrial natriuretic peptide (r-ANP,5-28, atriopeptin III), antagonizes the effects of various pressor hormones (angiotensin II, vasopressin and norepinephrine) but is ineffective against pressor responses to acute spinal cord stimulation. Because the latter are believed to be mediated by intrajunctional alpha-1 adrenoceptors, whereas the others are thought to involve mainly extrajunctional receptors, we explored the possible specificity of r-ANP for alpha adrenoceptor subtypes, by comparing r-ANP, the calcium channel blocker nifedipine and the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside in their ability to inhibit pressor responses to the alpha-2 and alpha-1 adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and phenylephrine, in pithed, vagotomized rats. Acute pressor responses to bolus-injected clonidine were dose-dependently attenuated by both r-ANP (up to 21%) and nifedipine (up to 37%), but acute pressor responses to phenylephrine were unaffected. Sodium nitroprusside inhibited pressor responses to clonidine (up to 67%) and phenylephrine equally (up to 66%). Pressor responses during constant infusions of clonidine and phenylephrine were attenuated similarly by r-ANP and nifedipine. This pattern of results, alpha-2 adrenoceptor specificity during immediate pressor responses but not during sustained pressor responses, suggests that r-ANP, like nifedipine, attenuates those adrenoceptor-mediated pressor responses which depend on slow transmembrane calcium fluxes.     

The role of peripheral catecholamines in oxotremorine tremor in the rat and its antagonism by beta adrenoceptor blocking agents.

Oxotremorine, 0.25 mg/kg, produces marked tremor in the rat, which is abolished by scopolamine, 0.5 mg/kg, and is substantially reduced in intensity and duration both by adrenalmedullectomy and by chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine. Oxotremorine increases plasma norepinephrine from 0.62 +/- 0.07 to 3.01 +/- 0.47 ng/ml and plasma epinephrine, from 0.82 +/- 0.14 to 3.42 +/- 0.48 ng/ml, in conscious unrestrained rats. l-Propranolol (0.5-2.5 mg/kg) reduces tremor, and at 2.5 mg/kg is more effective than either chemical sympathectomy or adrenal demedullation. d-Propranolol and sotalol are also active at 4 and 10 times the dose of l-propranolol, respectively. l-Propranolol does not prevent the rise in catecholamines induced by oxotremorine. It is suggested that stimulation of central muscarinic receptors causes tremor by a combination of two effects. There is an increase in cholinergic influence to motor efferents accompanied by an activation of the sympathoadrenal system to release catecholamines which augment tremor by stimulation of beta2 adrenoceptors.     

Modification of the cardiovascular effects of l-dopa by decarboxylase inhibitors

Intravenously infused L-dopa (0.3 mg/kg per min) produced hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias in halothane anesthetized dogs. Biochemical studies showed that the heart, kidney, and brain of these animals accumulated significant amounts of catecholamines formed from the administered precursor.Pretreatment of dogs with an extracerebral inhibitor of dopa decarboxylase [D,L-alpha-hydrazino-alpha-methyl-beta-(3.4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid] prevented the development of hypertension and arrhythmias with infusion of L-dopa. Instead, these animals developed significant hypotension. The heart and kidney of these animals accumulated markedly reduced amounts of catecholamines formed from L-dopa compared with dogs receiving L-dopa alone: the amount of catecholamines accumulated in brain was unchanged. L-dopa, after extracerebral decarboxylase inhibition, appeared to produce hypotension by reducing peripheral vascular resistance without altering sympathetic nerve function. During hypotension, cardiac output was not altered and arterial pressure in perfused hindlimbs fell, even though flow was maintained. The pressor response to intravenous injections of norepinephrine and dopamine was unchanged. Hindlimb arterial pressure response to direct electrical stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic trunk was also unchanged.Pretreatment with a drug which inhibits brain as well as extracerebral dopa decarboxylase [D,L-seryl-2,3,4-trihydroxybenzylhydrazine hydrochloride] abolished all effects of L-dopa on blood pressure. In these animals, there was a marked reduction of catecholamine formation from L-dopa in the brain as well as the heart and kidney.It appears that L-dopa produces opposite effects on blood pressure depending on the site of accumulation of its metabolic products, dopamine and norepinephrine. If L-dopa is rapidly decarboxylated to catecholamines in peripheral organs, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias occur. If peripheral dopa decarboxylase is selectively inhibited, a centrally mediated hypotensive effect, probably secondary to the accumulation of catecholamines in the brain, becomes apparent. If dopa decarboxylase is inhibited in the brain in addition to extracerebral organs, L-dopa has no effect on blood pressure.