INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE CIRCULATORY EFFECTS OF CENTRAL HYPOVOLAEMIA AND ARTERIAL HYPOXIA IN CONSCIOUS RABBITS

1. Eight conscious rabbits were repeatedly subjected to progressive reduction in central blood volume by gradually inflating a thoracic inferior vena caval-cuff so cardiac index (CI) fell at a constant 8.5% of baseline/min. 2. Caval-cuff inflations were performed after 10 min exposure to 100, 21, 12–14 and 8–10% O₂, with and without the addition of 3–4% CO₂, in randomized order. 3. The haemodynamic response to progressive reduction in central blood volume was biphasic. In Phase I, systemic vascular conductance index (SVCI) fell linearly, supporting mean arterial pressure (MAP). When CI had fallen to a critical level, Phase II occurred in which SVCI rose abruptly, MAP plummeted and respiratory drive progressively increased. 4. During Phase I, there were independent linear relationships between Pao₂ (but not Pao₂) and the rates at which SVCI and MAP changed during the progressive fall of CI. The higher the level of Pao₂, the greater was the rate of fall of SVCI and the less the rate of fall of MAP. 5. There was an inverted U-shaped effect of Pao₂, on the level of CI at which Phase II occurred: (a) during hyperoxia (100% O₂), Phase II occurred later than during normoxia (21% O₂); and (b) across the normoxic and hypoxic gas mixtures (21–8% O₂, with and without added CO₂), there was an independent linear relationship between Pao₂ (but not Pao₂ or Pao₂×Pao₂) and the level of CI at which Phase II occurred. That is, the lower the level of Pao₂, the later was the onset of Phase II. This interaction is best explained by an increased level of central sympathetic vasoconstrictor drive during hypoxia.     

格隆溴铵对高氧诱导幼鼠急性肺损伤的影响及其机制研究

目的 探究格隆溴铵对高氧诱导幼鼠急性肺损伤（ALI）的影响及作用机制。方法 从30只SD幼鼠中随机选取10只为对照组,其余幼鼠成功复制高氧诱导的ALI模型,随机分为ALI组、格隆溴铵组,每组10只。格隆溴铵组雾化吸入0.8 mg/（kg·d）格隆溴铵,ALI组、对照组吸入等体积生理盐水,连续给药7 d后,测量幼鼠肺组织湿/干重比值（W/D）、肺指数,检测白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平及血清活性氧基团（ROS）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）水平,比较肺组织病理学变化及Toll样受体4/髓分化因子88（TLR4/MyD88）通路蛋白的表达。结果 与对照组比较,ALI组W/D及肺指数升高（P <0.05）,血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、SOD水平升高（P <0.05）,ROS水平降低（P <0.05）,TLR4、MyD88蛋白相对表达量上调（P <0.05）;与ALI组比较,格隆溴铵组W/D及肺指数降低（P <0.05）,血清IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、SOD水平降低（P <0.05）,ROS水平升高（P <0.05）,TLR4、MyD88蛋白相对表达量下调（P <0.05）。结论 格隆溴铵能改善血清炎症指标及氧化应激指标,降低高氧诱导的ALI,其作用机制可能与TLR4/MyD88通路有关。     

In vivo and in vitro models demonstrate a role for caveolin-1 in the pathogenesis of ischaemic acute renal failure

Caveolae and their proteins, the caveolins, transport macromolecules; compartmentalize signalling molecules; and are involved in various repair processes. There is little information regarding their role in the pathogenesis of significant renal syndromes such as acute renal failure (ARF). In this study, an in vivo rat model of 30 min bilateral renal ischaemia followed by reperfusion times from 4 h to 1 week was used to map the temporal and spatial association between caveolin-1 and tubular epithelial damage (desquamation, apoptosis, necrosis). An in vitro model of ischaemic ARF was also studied, where cultured renal tubular epithelial cells or arterial endothelial cells were subjected to injury initiators modelled on ischaemia-reperfusion (hypoxia, serum deprivation, free radical damage or hypoxia-hyperoxia). Expression of caveolin proteins was investigated using immunohistochemistry, immunoelectron microscopy, and immunoblots of whole cell, membrane or cytosol protein extracts. In vivo, healthy kidney had abundant caveolin-1 in vascular endothelial cells and also some expression in membrane surfaces of distal tubular epithelium. In the kidneys of ARF animals, punctate cytoplasmic localization of caveolin-1 was identified, with high intensity expression in injured proximal tubules that were losing basement membrane adhesion or were apoptotic, 24 h to 4 days after ischaemia-reperfusion. Western immunoblots indicated a marked increase in caveolin-1 expression in the cortex where some proximal tubular injury was located. In vitro, the main treatment-induced change in both cell types was translocation of caveolin-1 from the original plasma membrane site into membrane-associated sites in the cytoplasm. Overall, expression levels did not alter for whole cell extracts and the protein remained membrane-bound, as indicated by cell fractionation analyses. Caveolin-1 was also found to localize intensely within apoptotic cells. The results are indicative of a role for caveolin-1 in ARF-induced renal injury. Whether it functions for cell repair or death remains to be elucidated.     

γ干扰素和转化生长因子β1在高氧肺损伤中的表达及其意义

目的动态观测高氧肺损伤动物模型中（IFN-γ）和转化生长因子β1（TGF—β1）的变化规律，探讨高氧肺损伤纤维化的发病机制。方法取2周左右的Wistar大鼠32只，随机分为空气组和高氧暴露3、7、14d组，采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫组织化学染色观察IFN-γ和TGF-β1在空气和高氧暴露3、7、14d组肺组织中的分布和表达。结果IFN-γ mRNA在高氧3d达高峰水平，高氧7d后开始下降，高氧14d下降更为明显，与空气组比较P分别〈0．05，〉0．05，〉0．05；TGF-β1 mRNA的表达在高氧3、7、14d均明显高于空气组（P均〈0．05）；高氧3d IFN-γ／TGF-β1比值显著增高（P〈0.05），高氧7d开始下降（P〉0．05），高氧14d明显下降（P〈0．05）。免疫组织化学染色也显示了基本一致的动态变化趋势。结论高氧肺损伤早期，IFN-γ的升高促进了高氧肺损伤炎症的发展；高氧肺损伤中晚期IFN-γ和TGF-β1的失衡可能是促进高氧肺损伤纤维化发展的原因。     

Measurement of brain natriuretic peptide in plasma samples and cardiac tissue extracts by means of an immunoradiometric assay method

Background: The mechanisms of oxygen‐induced effects on blood vessels (vasoconstriction in hyperoxaemia and vasodilatation during hypoxaemia) are uncertain. Many investigators have suggested that the vasoconstriction seen during hyperoxia/hyperoxaemia is mediated through the endothelium as a result of either increased release or activity of vasoconstrictors (oxygen radicals, endothelin, norepinephrine, angiotensin II, or serotonin (5‐HT)), or reduced activity of vasodilators (prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide). Serotonin has been assumed to have a central role. Methods: Eight healthy volunteers were exposed to F_iO₂ of 1.0 for 20?min and serum concentrations of serotonin and activated platelets were measured (indicated by concentrations of β‐thromboglobulin (β‐TG)). Results. During hyperoxaemia in humans, serum concentrations of serotonin and β‐TG remained unchanged. Conclusion: If serotonin is involved in oxygen‐induced vasoconstriction, the mechanism is more likely to be either a potentiating effect of serotonin on other vasoconstrictors or increased activity of serotonin on its receptor.     

4-Hydroxynonenal regulates mitochondrial function in human small airway epithelial cells

Prolonged exposure to oxidative stress causes Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and significantly impairs pulmonary function. Previously we have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is a key pathological factor in hyperoxic ALI. While it is known that hyperoxia induces the production of stable, but toxic 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) molecule, it is unknown how the reactive aldehyde disrupts mitochondrial function. Our previous in vivo study indicated that exposure to hyperoxia significantly increases 4-HNE-Protein adducts, as well as levels of MDA in total lung homogenates. Based on the in vivo studies, we explored the effects of 4-HNE in human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs). Human SAECs treated with 25 μM of 4-HNE showed a significant decrease in cellular viability and increased caspase-3 activity. Moreover, 4-HNE treated SAECs showed impaired mitochondrial function and energy production indicated by reduced ATP levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and aconitase activity. This was followed by a significant decrease in mitochondrial oxygen consumption and depletion of the reserve capacity. The direct effect of 4-HNE on the mitochondrial respiratory chain was confirmed using Rotenone. Furthermore, SAECs treated with 25 μM 4-HNE showed a time-dependent depletion of total Thioredoxin (Trx) proteins and Trx activity. Taken together, our results indicate that 4-HNE induces cellular and mitochondrial dysfunction in human SAECs, leading to an impaired endogenous antioxidant response.