To evaluate possible roles of endogenous Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitors in vasoconstricted blood pressure elevation produced by acute volume expansion, we administered ouabain (Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitor) intravenously (30 micrograms/kg) for 10 min to dogs, 3 h after volume expansion with dextran in lactated Ringer's solution (20 ml/kg, for 1 h). Acute volume expansion resulted in the elevation of blood pressure associated with an increase in cardiac output. In some dogs the blood pressure remained elevated with gradual increase in total peripheral resistance (Group I) or with sustained high cardiac output (Group II), and in other dogs (Group III) it returned to the control level. Ouabain administration elevated the blood pressure and total peripheral resistance in these groups and sham dogs which did not have volume expansion. And these effects of ouabain were not correlated with the degree of blood pressure or vasoconstriction produced by volume expansion. Thus, it is not likely that endogenous Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitors increased to produce vasoconstricted hypertension after acute volume expansion.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of cromakalim (BRL 34915) on hemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes induced by endothelin in dogs.

We evaluated whether cromakalim (BRL 34915), a vasorelaxant agent which acts by opening potassium channels, could affect the systemic effects of endothelin, a newly discovered vasoconstrictive peptide. Intravenous administration of endothelin alone (400 pmol/kg) to anesthetized dogs produced blood pressure elevation, which was associated with an increase in cardiac output in the early phase, and was associated with an increase in total peripheral resistance in the late phase. Electrocardiogram showed significant ST-elevation in II, III, and aVF, and ST-depression in aVR and aVL. The same dose of endothelin given to dogs pretreated with cromakalim did not induce these hemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes. Thus, cromakalim, a potassium activator, inhibited the hemodynamic and electrocardiographic actions of endothelin, suggesting that hyperpolarization due to potassium channel activation inhibited the voltage-dependent calcium channel, which is thought to be a major mechanism for the pressor action of endothelin.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neurotological evaluation of vertical semicircular canal function in inner ear malformation. A case report.

A 9-year-old boy with inner ear malformation complained of slight deafness and unsteadiness. CT revealed a normal cochlea despite enlargement of the lateral semicircular canals. The vertical semicircular canals developed more or less normally. The caloric test showed complete canal paresis bilaterally; however, a horizontal rotational stimulus elicited a vestibulo-ocular response, which showed only rightward and downward nystagmus, and their maximal slow-phase velocities were low. In addition, the examination of the vertical semicircular canal function using the head-tilted rotation test revealed a more active response, and the maximal slow-phase velocities were higher than those of a standard horizontal rotational test. These results suggest that the function of the vertical semicircular canal was well preserved and that it may have perceived the horizontal acceleration instead of the lateral semicircular canal.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine in blood pressure regulation in rats.

The role of an endogenously occurring acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC) in blood pressure regulation was studied with an AGEPC antagonist in rats with hypertension of various etiologies. The hypotensive activity of an intravenously injected AGEPC was competitively suppressed by the intravenous infusion of 3-(N-n-octadecylcarbamoyloxy)-2-methoxypropyl-2-thiazolioethylphospha te (CV-3988) and was dose-dependent. The CV-3988 was infused intravenously into one- and two-kidney, one clip hypertensive, deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertensive, adrenal regeneration hypertensive, spontaneously hypertensive, and normotensive control rats. The increase in blood pressure caused by CV-3988 infusion in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive control rats was significant (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively, at 60 min) compared with that caused by vehicle infusion. The increase was not seen in rats with secondary hypertension. In rats with two-kidney, one clip hypertension, the initial rapid decrease in blood pressure seen after unclipping was significantly (p less than 0.05) inhibited by CV-3988 infusion as compared with that by vehicle infusion. These results suggest that endogenous AGEPC may participate in the blood pressure regulation and pathophysiology of some forms of hypertension in rats.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased atrial natriuretic factor secretion after endothelin injection in dogs.

Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to bolus intravenous injections of synthetic porcine endothelin (pET) were examined in anesthetized dogs. There were no significant changes in mean blood pressure (MBP), right atrial pressure (RAP), or plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) concentration in response to 40 pmol/kg of the peptide. However, responses to 400 pmol/kg of the peptide were significant: MBP rose from 114 +/- 6 mmHg (mean +/- SE) to 139 +/- 7 mmHg (p less than 0.01), RAP rose from 5.4 +/- 0.9 mmHg to 7.8 +/- 1.1 mmHg (p less than 0.01), and ANF increased from 45 +/- 10 pg/ml to 277 +/- 33 pg/ml (p less than 0.01). Peak value of RAP was observed 2.6 +/- 0.4 min, while peak of ANF was 11.4 +/- 0.9 min after peptide injection. There was a strongly positive correlation (r = 0.93, p less than 0.01) between the increase in RAP and the increase in ANF in dogs given 400 pmol/kg of pET. These results indicate that exogenously administered pET to anesthetized dogs alters hemodynamics and induces ANP release, and are compatible with a postulate that the ANF release is caused by elevated RAP.

Animals↗