Abdominal vagotomy attenuates interleukin-1β-induced nitric oxide release in the paraventricular nucleus region in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We measured levels of nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique in conscious rats. Intraperitoneally administered IL-1β produced a significant increase in both NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ levels in the PVN region. We also examined the possible involvement of the abdominal vagal afferent nerves in this effect. In abdominal-vagotomized rats, the increase was significantly attenuated compared to that in sham-operated rats. Our results suggest that the abdominal vagal afferent nerves are involved in intraperitoneally administered IL-1β-induced NO release in the PVN region.     

Relations between vasoactive hormones and diastolic function in hypertensive uraemic patients

Background. Arterial hypertension is a significant risk factor for the high rate of cardiovascular disease in chronic uraemic (CU) patients. Any role that hypertension may play in CU patient outcomes assumes added significance. The elevation of some hormonal factors in early clinical stage could represent a valuable marker of cardiac disease in CU. Aim. This study first investigated the role of several hormones on cardiac diastolic properties in CU patients. Moreover, the study investigated the association of hypertension with both diastolic function and release of vasoactive hormones in CU patients. Results. We have reported that the early impairment of diastolic function is correlated with the elevation of both circulating plasma atrial natriuretic factor and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in hypertensive CU patients. Since the effect of ET-1 on diastolic function is still poorly understood, we have investigated also this issue. In eight additional patients with reduced E/A ratio, but without uraemia, hypertension or chronic heart failure, we have showed a high inverse correlation between the values of E/A ratio and ET-1 plasma concentrations. Conclusions. These results strongly suggest that the elevation in ET-1 levels was correlated with diastolic dysfunction in man. This phenomenon may have important pathophysiological implications suggesting the possibility of an early therapeutic approach in these patients.     

Deficiency of P-selectin in a patient with grey platelet syndrome

Abstract: Patient B.G. is a 29-yr-old female with a lifelong bleeding disorder characterized clinically by a highly increased bleeding time, menorrhagias, long-lasting bleeding after cuts and tooth extractions and large post-traumatic haematomas. Her coagulation tests were within normal range, platelet count was 140,000–160,000 per μl, but platelet function was impaired as demonstrated by the absence of collagen-induced aggregation, although no abnormalities were detected in aggregation response to ADP and ristocetin. Morphologically her platelets were characterized by gigantic size – average profile area was about 2.5 times higher than that of control donors, and severe deficiency of α-granules – only 16% of their number in control donors. These features taken together indicated the diagnosis of grey platelet syndrome. As has been shown by quantitative immunoblotting, patient's platelets contained small amounts of α-granule membrane protein P-selectin – about 15% of that in control donors. The content of plasma membrane glycoproteins IIb–IIIa and Ib was not reduced, suggesting the specific deficiency of α-granule membrane protein. Thus, B.G. is the second patient described in the literature (see also Lages et al, J Clin Invest 1991: 87: 919–929) with combined deficiency of α-granules and P-selectin.     

Effect of prolonged inhibition of neutral endopeptidase on cardiac hypertrophy in rats with myocardial infarction

Summary Myocardial infarction was induced in rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. Treatment with TM1, a prodrug of SQ 28,603, an inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase (NEP, EC 3.4.24.11), was started 18–20 hours after ligation and was continued for 4 weeks (100 mg/kg, orally, twice daily). Morphological and biochemical parameters were assessed at the end of therapy. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction of heart hypertrophy, which was restricted to the parts of myocardium hemodynamically upstream of the infarcted left ventricle. The weights of the right ventricle and atria were reduced by 15–20%, whereas the treatment had no effect on the left ventricle and septum weights. Treatment led to an almost complete inhibition of plasma NEP activity and to a slight decrease (-14%, p<0.05) in plasma ACE activity. Plasma ANF level increased 3.8-fold after ligation, and treatment resulted in a slight (+29%) and nonsignificant additional increase in the ANF level. The amount of hydroxyproline in the right ventricle was enhanced by +207% in control ligated rats and by +140% (NS) in treated rats. These data indicate that prolonged NEP inhibition exerts a favorable effect in heart failure by reducing the development of right ventricular and atrial hypertrophy. These effects may result from an improvement in hemodynamic conditions, leading to a reduction in cardiac preload.     

Polycystic kidney disease genes and polycystins

Conclusion The past decade has seen extraordinary progress in the study of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease. The 2 major genes for this disorder have been identified. Animal models of ADPKD have been produced. The molecular basis of the disease has been characterized. ADPKD is a “second-hit” disease, much like many cancer predisposition syndromes. This has profound implications for our understanding. The progression of ADPKD in individual patients is likely related more to their individual rate of acquisition of second hits at thePKD1 orPKD2 locus than to the inherited germ line mutation itself. Therapeutic approaches will perhaps now be considered, which will include interventions that may limit the rate at which somatic mutations occur in the kidney. The major focus of research at present is to elucidate the normal functions ofPKD1 andPKD2. Protein binding partners are being sought for both proteins. The possible calcium channel function ofPKD2 is being investigated. The downstream effects of cellular deficiency of either protein are likely to yield many clues. Modifying genetic factors that may independently affect disease progression are likely to be identified using the several mouse models. Perhaps the next decade will bring great strides in understanding and in potential therapy for this common disease. This paper was presented at the 2nd International Forum “The Frontiers of Nephrology,” Tokyo, May 10, 1998.     

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Inhibiting Excitatory Synapses in the CA1 Area of Rat Hippocampus

In the CA1 region of hippocampal slices prepared from young adult rats, we studied the ability of several specific agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) to depress excitatory synaptic transmission at the CA3–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses. Three groups of mGluRs have been described: group 1 (mGluR1 and 5) receptors are positively coupled to phospholipase C whereas group 2 (mGluR2 and 3) and group 3 (mGluR4, 6, 7 and 8) receptors are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. We found that the broad-spectrum agonist (1 S ,3R)-1-aminocyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate and the group 1-specific agonist ( R,S )-dihydroxyphenylglycine both reversibly inhibited evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials, indicating the involvement of group 1 mGluRs. ( R,S )-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine presumably inhibited transmission via a presynaptic mechanism, as whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings revealed that inhibition of the synaptic transmission was always accompanied with an increase in paired-pulse facilitation. Treatment with a specific blocker of mGluR1 receptors, the phenylglycine derivative ( S )-4-carboxyphenylglycine, was without effect on the (1 S ,3 R )-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate-induced depression of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials, strongly suggesting that mGluR5 receptors are responsible for the (1 S ,3 R )-1-aminocyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate effect. Two selective agonists of group 2 mGluRs, (2 S ,1' s ,2' s )-2-(2'-carboxycyclopropyl)glycine and 4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine, were totally ineffective in blocking CA3-CA1-evoked synaptic transmission, excluding the involvement of mGluR2/3 subtypes at this developmental stage.     

Formation of pyridinium species of haloperidol in human liver and brain

Recent interest in the neurotoxicity of haloperidol is based on its oxidation in rodents to the pyridinium derivative, HPP⁺, a structural analog of the neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺). Recently, we reported that HPP⁺ and a newly identified reduced pyridinium, RHPP⁺, were present in blood and urine of haloperidol-treated schizophrenics and that the concentrations of RHPP⁺ exceeded those of HPP⁺. In this study, we examined pathways for formation of RHPP⁺ in subcellular fractions of human liver (n=5) and brain (basal ganglia;n=5). The major pathway was reduction of HPP⁺ (20 µM) to RHPP⁺ in cytosol (0.17–0.39 and 0.03–0.07 µM RHPP⁺/g cytosolic protein per h in liver and brain, respectively). The reactions were inhibited significantly by menadione and in brain also by daunorubicin. The inhibition profile, cytosolic location and strict NADPH dependence suggest that the enzymes involved are ketone reductases. A second pathway was oxidation of reduced haloperidol (50 µM), a major metabolite of haloperidol in blood and brain, to RHPP⁺. In liver microsomes, 0.17–0.63 µmol RHPP⁺ was formed /g microsomal protein per h. A potent inhibitor of the pathway was ketoconazole (IC₅₀, 0.8 µM), which suggests that P-450 3A isozymes could be involved. In brain mitochondria but not microsomes, reduced haloperidol (120 µM) was oxidised to RHPP⁺ at a small but significant rate (0.005–0.020 µmol RHPP⁺/g mitochondrial protein per h) which was not attenuated by SKF 525A, quinidine, ketoconazole, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Further studies are warranted to establish the biological importance of these metabolites in vivo.     

The nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine in the rat

Recent studies have shown that tetrafluoroethylene is a renal and hepatic carcinogen in the rat. In this study, we have examined the ability of a single i.p. dose of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-l-cysteine (TFEC), a major metabolite of tetrafluoroethylene, to produce hepatic and renal injury in male and female rats. We have also examined the effect of blocking the renal organic anion transport system with probenecid and of inhibiting the activity of cysteine conjugate β-lyase with aminooxyacetic acid on the extent of renal injury produced by TFEC. Doses of ≥12.5 mg/kg TFEC produced renal tubular necrosis to the pars recta of the proximal tubules within 24 h in both male and female rats. This was associated with an increased kidney to body weight ratio and plasma urea at doses of ≥25 mg/kg. No consistent evidence of liver injury was seen at doses up to 50 mg/kg TFEC in rats of either sex, although occasional vacuolation of hepatocytes and a small dose-related increase in liver to body weight ratio was observed. Prior treatment of female rats with probenecid completely prevented the renal injury produced by either 25 or 50 mg/kg TFEC as judged by plasma urea and histopathology. However, prior treatment of female rats with aminooxyacetic acid afforded no protection against the nephrotoxicity produced by either TFEC or the cysteine conjugate of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene. Thus no major sex difference in nephrotoxicity in the rat was seen with TFEC, while accumulation of TFEC, or its N-acetyl derived metabolite, into renal proximal tubular cells via a probenecid sensitive transport system appears to be a key event in the mechanism of nephrotoxicity. The lack of protection observed with the cysteine conjugate β-lyase inhibitor, aminooxyacetic acid, may reflect the inability to completely inhibit the mitochondrial form of this enzyme and thereby prevent the formation of the reactive metabolite. Our acute studies provide no insight concerning the liver carcinogenicity of tetrafluoroethylene. Received: 8 December 1997 / Accepted: 3 February 1998     

Quantification of regional blood volumes by rapid T1 mapping

A new method is presentd for the quantitative determination of regional blood volumes in vivo. It is based on rapid quantitative T₁ mapping by Snapshot FLASH MRI combined with the injection of an intravascular MR contrast agent. Regional blood volumes in four different tissues of the rat (skeletal muscle, heart, liver, kidney) were determined in an In vivo experiment.