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Biomedical subjects

C W Leffler

Publications and source records attributed to C W Leffler.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity after positive pressure ventilation.

Pressure ventilation of the newborn can adversely affect the cardiovascular system. Increasing airway pressure increases cerebral venous pressure, thus stressing brain vasculature. To test the hypothesis that cerebral venous distension caused by mechanical ventilation alters cerebral microvascular responses, we studied cerebrovascular responses before, during, and after positive pressure ventilation. Anesthetized newborn pigs were ventilated with a standard time-cycled, pressure-limited infant respirator. Pial arterioles were measured in response to hypercapnia, topical isoproterenol, and topical norepinephrine during control [mean airway pressure (Paw) = 0.9 +/- 0.05 kPa (4.8 +/- 0.3 cm H2O)] conditions, during 40-60 min of increased Paw [2.5 +/- 0.2 kPa (13.9 +/- 1.3 cm H2O)], and when the Paw was lowered again. Pial arteriolar dilation in response to hypercapnia was not changed by increasing Paw. Similarly, responses to isoproterenol and norepinephrine were unaltered during raised Paw. However, a significant decrease in responses to topical isoproterenol and norepinephrine was observed after increased Paw. These experiments show that specific prostanoid-independent cerebrovascular responses are altered subsequent to pressure ventilation, whereas prostanoid-dependent dilation to hypercapnia was not affected. These changes suggest that the newborn cerebral vasculature is affected by positive pressure ventilation, further raising the possibility that ventilation-induced alterations in microvascular responses could make the brain more vulnerable to added stresses after pressure ventilation.

Animals↗

Vasopressin modulates cerebrovascular responses to opioids in newborn pigs.

Vasopressin receptor blockade has been observed to attenuate the systemic vascular effects of dynorphin. This study was designed to determine the ability of vasopressin to modulate cerebrovascular responses to opioids in newborn pigs equipped with closed cranial windows. Topical dynorphin 13 increased pial arteriolar diameter during normotension (151 +/- 5, 171 +/- 4, 183 +/- 4 and 187 +/- 4 microns for control, 10(-10), 10(-8) and 10(-6) M dynorphin 13, respectively). During hypotension, however, responses to dynorphin 13 were reversed to concentration-dependent decreases in pial arteriolar diameter (184 +/- 3, 169 +/- 4, 165 +/- 4 and 159 +/- 4 microns for control 10(-10), 10(-8) and 10(-6) M dynorphin 13, respectively). Dynorphin 13-induced pial arteriolar dilation was potentiated by the V1 receptor antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid) 2(o-methyl)-Tyr-AVP] (MEAVP; 5 micrograms/kg i.v.; 14 +/- 1, 22 +/- 1 and 24 +/- 1% vs. 19 +/- 1, 26 +/- 1 and 30 +/- 1% increase for 10(-10), 10(-8) and 10(-6) M dynorphin 13 before and after MEAVP, respectively). In contrast, dynorphin 13-induced constriction during hypotension was markedly reduced by MEAVP (10 +/- 1, 15 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 2% vs. 1 +/- 1, 4 +/- 1 and 9 +/- 1% decrease for 10(-10), 10(-8) and 10(-6) dynorphin 13 before and after MEAVP, respectively). Dynorphin 8 and the synthetic kappa-opioid selective agonist, U5O,488H, elicited similar tone-dependent responses that were modified by MEAVP in a similar fashion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

Evidence against parenchymal metabolites directly promoting pial arteriolar dilation during cortical spreading depression in rabbits.

The role of parenchymal metabolic factors in directly promoting pial arteriolar dilation during cortical spreading depression (CSD) in anesthetized rabbits was examined by direct measurement of periarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of a representative metabolite (i.e., K+) or superfusion of the cerebral cortical surface with artificial CSF. CSD was induced by KCl microinjection or tissue puncture and its movement was monitored electrophysiologically. Pial arteriolar diameter was determined using a closed cranial window and intravital microscopy. CSD propagated across the cortex under the window with a velocity of 2.9 +/- 0.2 mm/min, and caused pial arteriolar diameter to increase from 87 +/- 9 microns to 133 +/- 11 microns (53%, n = 23) for 1.6 +/- 0.1 min. At the same time, K+ concentration increased from 3.0 +/- 0.2 mM to a maximum of 4.6 +/- 0.3 mM. Topical application of 6 mM K+ increased pial arteriolar diameter by only 8%. Continuous superfusion of the cortical surface with aCSF at a rate of 3.0-4.5 ml/min (window volume = 0.5 ml) did not affect pial arteriolar dilation during CSD, but virtually abolished pial arteriolar dilation during inhalation of 10.2% CO2. These results suggest that pial arterioles dilate via a mechanism which does not involve diffusion of vasoactive metabolites released from the parenchyma during CSD.

Animals↗

Opioids and the prostanoid system in the control of cerebral blood flow in hypotensive piglets.

The interaction between opioid and prostanoid mechanisms in the control of cerebral hemodynamics was investigated in the conscious hypotensive piglet. Radiomicrospheres were used to determine regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in piglets pretreated with the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, or its vehicle, saline, during normotension, hypotension, and after the administration of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, during hypotension. Hemorrhage (30 ml/kg) decreased systemic arterial pressure from 68 +/- 12 to 40 +/- 10 mm Hg but did not decrease blood flow to any brain region. Indomethacin treatment (5 mg/kg) of hypotensive piglets decreased blood flow to all brain regions within 20 min; this decrease in CBF resulted from increases in cerebral vascular resistance of 65 and 281% at 20 and 40 min after treatment, respectively. In hypotensive piglets, cerebral oxygen consumption was reduced from 2.62 +/- 0.71 to 0.53 +/- 0.27 ml 100 g-1 min-1 and to 0.11 +/- 0.04 ml 100 g-1 min-1 at 20 and 40 min following indomethacin, respectively. Treatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg) had no effect on rCBF, calculated cerebral vascular resistance, or cerebral oxygen consumption of normotensive or hypotensive piglets. However, decreases in CBF and oxygen consumption and increases in cerebral vascular resistance upon treatment of hypotensive piglets with indomethacin were attenuated in animals pretreated with naloxone. These data indicate that the removal of prostanoid modulation of an opioid-mediated constrictor influence on the cerebral circulation is a potential mechanism for the increase in cerebral vascular resistance that follows indomethacin treatment of hypotensive piglets.

Animals↗

Activated oxygen species do not mediate hypercapnia-induced cerebral vasodilation in newborn pigs.

In newborn pigs, vasodilation in response to hypercapnia is dependent on prostaglandin (PG) H synthase. We investigated the contribution of activated oxygen by-products to hypercapnia-induced PGH synthase-dependent dilation of pial arteries and arterioles in anesthetized newborn pigs. Activated oxygen species were generated on the cerebral surface using xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine. Catalase, H2O2, and iron or N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (MPG) were used to separate effects of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical. All the activated oxygen species tested caused vasodilation of both arteries and arterioles. Vasodilation to all activated oxygen species was largely reversible with only the hydroxyl radical encouraging combination of xanthine oxidase, hypoxanthine, H2O2, and FeCl3, causing significant dilation 20 min after removal of treatment. Cotreatment with MPG blocked this residual dilation. Neither pretreatment with the extracellular superoxide anion radical scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD), the intracellular superoxide anion radical scavenger, Tiron, the H2O2 scavenger, catalase, nor hydroxyl radical scavengers, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and MPG, altered vasodilation of pial arteries or arterioles in response to hypercapnia. Furthermore, the increase in cerebral prostanoid synthesis in response to hypercapnia was not affected by pretreatment with SOD, Tiron, catalase, DMSO, or MPG. We conclude that the progressively reduced forms of oxygen that would be produced during PGH synthase metabolism of arachidonic acid can dilate pial arteries and arterioles of newborn pigs. However, these activated oxygen species are not responsible for the vasodilation to hypercapnia in the newborn pig, suggesting that eicosanoids cause the dilation.

Animals↗

Prostanoids attenuate pial arteriolar dilation induced by cortical spreading depression in rabbits.

The role of prostanoids in mediating cerebrovascular responses to cortical spreading depression (CSD) was examined in anesthetized rabbits. CSD was elicited by KCl microinjection, and its propagation was monitored electrophysiologically. Pial arterial diameter was determined using a closed cranial window and intravital microscopy, and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was determined using laser flowmetry. Levels of peri-arachnoid cerebrospinal fluid prostanoids were determined by radioimmunoassay. CSF increased pial arteriolar diameter 62% and rCBF 354% over the baseline levels. Locations of propagating CSD, dilating pial arteriole, and increased rCBF were always closely associated spatiotemporally. Cerebrospinal fluid prostanoid levels increased during single CSD-induced arteriolar dilation, and they were further augmented during multiple CSDs. Indomethacin enhanced both CSD-induced vasodilation (88%) and rCBF increase (580%), but it decreased the cerebrospinal fluid levels of prostanoids below the baseline levels and prevented their increase during CSD-induced vasodilation. These results indicate that prostanoids are synthesized from neurons or glial cells and/or the brain vessels and, as the net result, counteract pial arteriolar dilation and rCBF increase during CSD. In addition, they support the hypothesis that the vasodilation is caused primarily by neurogenic factors associated with CSD.

Animals↗

Positive-pressure ventilation alters blood-to-brain and blood-to-CSF transport in neonatal pigs.

These experiments examine the transfer of sucrose, urea, sodium, and albumin from blood to brain in new-born pigs exposed to an increase in ventilation pressure. We also studied the movement of urea and sodium from blood to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). By use of a standard time-cycled pressure-limited infant respirator, mean airway pressure (Paw) was increased from approximately 3 to 17 cmH2O. Urea and albumin transfer into the brain were unchanged with increased Paw. Sodium transport decreased significantly in all brain regions, while sucrose transfer was increased in the cerebrum [transfer constant (Kin) = 3.5 +/- 0.04 vs. 9.9 +/- 1.0 cm3.g-1.s-1.10(6)] at the increased Paw. Transport of urea nd sodium from blood to CSF decreased to half of control values with increased Paw. Thus, in newborn pigs, increasing Paw selectively alters blood-to-brain transport. In addition, movement of tracers from blood to CSF was severely restricted, possibly by a decrease in CSF production. It appears likely that the increased cerebral venous pressure causes the observed changes in tracer transport. Such altered blood-to-brain transport could adversely affect neuronal function.

Animals↗

Opioids in cerebrospinal fluid in hypotensive newborn pigs.

This study was designed to determine if opioids were detectable in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and if these concentrations were altered by hemorrhagic hypotension. This study was further designed to determine the effects of topically administered opioids on pial arteriolar diameter during normotension and hypotension. Closed cranial windows were used to determine pial arteriolar diameter. Periarachnoid cortical and cisterna magna CSF was collected from piglets during normotension and hypotension (systemic arterial pressure decreased from 63 +/- 1 to 33 +/- 1 mm Hg). Opioid profiles were assessed qualitatively by radioreceptor assay, and individual opioids were measured quantitatively by radioimmunoassay. Periarachnoid cortical and cisterna magna CSF methionine enkephalin-, leucine enkephalin-, dynorphin-, and beta-endorphin-like receptor active values all were increased by hypotension. When quantified by radioimmunoassay, periarachnoid cortical CSF values for methionine enkephalin-like immunoreactivity were 1,167 +/- 58 and 2,975 +/- 139 pg/ml for normotension and hypotension, respectively. Periarachnoid cortical CSF radioimmunoassay values for dynorphin-like immunoreactivity were 15 +/- 2 and 28 +/- 2 pg/ml for normotension and hypotension, respectively. When applied topically to the cortical surface, synthetic methionine enkephalin increased pial arteriolar diameter (134 +/- 4, 158 +/- 4, and 163 +/- 4 microns for control, 574 pg/ml [10(-10) M], and 5,740 pg/ml [10(-9) M], respectively). Similarly, topical synthetic leucine enkephalin and dynorphin elicited pial arteriolar dilation. However, beta-endorphin produced arteriolar constriction. Hypotension attenuated methionine and leucine enkephalin-induced dilation and reversed dynorphin-induced dilation to concentration-dependent constriction. beta-Endorphin-induced constriction was not changed by hypotension. Therefore, opioids could contribute to the control of the cerebral circulation during hypotension.

Animals↗

Effects of phorbol esters on pial arteriolar diameter and brain production of prostanoids in piglets.

We determined the effects of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), which activates protein kinase C, on pial arteriolar diameter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prostanoid levels in newborn pigs. A closed cranial window was implanted, and the diameter of one pial arteriole was determined by intravital microscopy. In addition, CSF was sampled from under the window, and prostanoid levels (prostaglandin [PG] E2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, and thromboxane B2) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Diameter and CSF prostanoid levels were determined during application of artificial CSF containing no drugs and during application of 10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) M PDB. We also determined effects of 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD), a phorbol ester that does not activate protein kinase C, and dimethyl sulfoxide, the vehicle for the phorbol esters, on pial arteriolar diameter and CSF prostanoid levels. Initial diameters were 100-200 microns. At 10(-8)-10(-6) M, PDB progressively constricted pial arterioles and increased CSF levels of prostanoids; the other phorbol ester and dimethyl sulfoxide had no such effects. Baseline arteriolar diameter was 147 +/- 17 microns (mean +/- SEM), and diameter was 140 +/- 17 microns at 10(-8) M PDB, 120 +/- 18 microns at 10(-7) M PDB (p less than 0.05), and 108 +/- 14 microns at 10(-6) M PDB (p less than 0.05) (n = 5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Selective attenuation by perivascular blood of prostanoid-dependent cerebrovascular dilation in piglets.

Cerebral hemorrhagic insults are common in neonates. However, the consequences of intracranial blood on cerebral hemodynamics are poorly understood. We examined the effects of perivascular blood on cerebrovascular dilator responses in 29 piglets. Fresh, autologous blood (n = 15) or cerebrospinal fluid (n = 14) was placed under the dura mater over the parietal cortex, and the piglets were allowed to recover from anesthesia. One to four days later, a closed cranial window was placed over the parietal cortex and pial arteriolar responses to arterial hypercapnia (PaCO2 greater than 55 mm Hg), hemorrhagic hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure less than 35 mm Hg), or topical application of 10(-6) and 10(-4) M isoproterenol were determined. Pial arterioles in the cerebrospinal fluid group dilated 27 +/- 4% (mean +/- SEM) (n = 11) in response to hypercapnia, 26 +/- 5% (n = 9) in response to hypotension, and 26 +/- 3% in response to 10(-6) M and 40 +/- 4% in response to 10(-4) M isoproterenol (n = 11). In the group in which blood was placed on the parietal cortex, pial arterioles did not dilate significantly in response to hypercapnia (8 +/- 3%, n = 11) or hypotension (2 +/- 5%, n = 13) but dilated normally in response to isoproterenol (25 +/- 5% in response to 10(-6) M and 36 +/- 7% in response to 10(-4) M, n = 13). We conclude that prolonged contact of pial arterioles with extravascular blood selectively attenuates cerebrovascular dilation in piglets.

Animals↗

Blood to brain transport after newborn cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

These experiments examine the transfer of urea, sodium, and sucrose from blood to brain in an animal model of newborn cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Cerebral ischemia (20 min) was produced in anesthetized, ventilated piglets by increasing intracranial pressure above mean arterial blood pressure, thereby reducing cerebral perfusion pressure to zero. The blood to brain transfer of urea, sodium, and sucrose was then measured in sham control piglets and at 30 min and 2 hr of reperfusion following ischemia. At 30 min of reperfusion, urea and sodium transfer were increased while sucrose transfer was unchanged. However, at 2 hr of reperfusion, transfer of all three tracers was elevated. The difference in the time course of increased transport of these substances into the brain following ischemia cannot be explained by size differences, indicating that changes in the blood-brain barrier following ischemia are more complex than merely opening junctions between cells and creating leaky sites. Alterations in blood-brain barrier transport could participate in altered neuronal function after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

Cerebral hemodynamics during cortical spreading depression in rabbits.

Effects of a single cortical spreading depression (CSD), elicited by KCl microinjection, on diameter of pial arterioles and venules in the parieto-occipital cortex were examined in urethane-anesthetized adult rabbits using a closed cranial window. The velocity of CSD propagation was 2.7 +/- 0.1 mm/min (mean +/- S.E.M.). All arterioles (n = 39) except for those in the retrosplenial region (n = 6) increased their diameter significantly during CSD. The arteriolar dilation lasted for 1.5 +/- 0.1 min. Location of dilating arteriole and propagating CSD showed that they were always closely associated temporally. As a percentage change, diameters of smaller arterioles significantly increased (from 60 +/- 1 to 103 +/- 2 microns, 71%, n = 12) more than those of larger ones (from 82 +/- 2 to 129 +/- 3 microns, 57%, n = 27). While venules with initial diameter of 85 +/- 4 microns (n = 5) did not dilate, those with initial diameter of 49 +/- 3 microns increased to 57 +/- 3 microns (16%, n = 8) for 1.4 +/- 0.2 min during CSD. The majority of the dilated venules started to increase their diameter after nearby arterioles had dilated maximally. Pial arterioles, which dilated during ipsilateral CSD, decreased their diameter significantly from 78 +/- 2 to 72 +/- 3 microns (8%, n = 11) during contralateral CSD for 13.8 +/- 3.6 min with similar onset latencies as those observed for the dilation. Indomethacin pretreatment significantly enhanced arteriolar dilation during CSD (from 73 +/- 4 to 138 +/- 6 microns, 89%, n = 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia↗

Prostanoid synthesis and vascular responses to exogenous arachidonic acid following cerebral ischemia in piglets.

In newborn pigs, cerebral ischemia abolishes both increased cerebral prostanoid production and cerebral vasodilation in response to hypercapnia and hypotension. Attenuation of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase activity could account for the failure to increase prostanoid synthesis and loss of responses to these stimuli. To test this possibility, arachidonic acid (3, 6, or 30 micrograms/ml) was placed under cranial windows in newborn pigs that had been exposed to 20 min of cerebral ischemia. The conversion to prostanoids and pial arteriolar responses to the arachidonic acid were measured. At all three concentrations, arachidonic acid caused similar increases in pial arteriolar diameter in sham control piglets and piglets 1 hr postischemia. Topical arachidonic acid caused dose-dependent increases of PGE2 in cortical periarachnoid cerebral spinal fluid. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 only increased at the highest concentration of arachidonic acid (30 micrograms/ml). Cerebral ischemia did not decrease the conversion of any concentration of arachidonic acid to PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, or TXB2. We conclude that ischemia and subsequent reperfusion do not result in inhibition of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase in the newborn pig brain. Therefore, the mechanism for the impaired prostanoid production in response to hypercapnia and hypotension following cerebral ischemia appears to involve reduction in release of free arachidonic acid.

Administration, Topical↗

Eicosanoid levels in CSF of premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 11 premature infants suffering from posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus was examined by radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and peptidoleukotrienes (LTC4/LTD4). The LTs were detected in the CSF of more of these patients (70%) than any of the other eicosanoids, and usually in the highest concentration. Among the 11 posthemorrhagic patients CSF eicosanoid levels were highest when determined soon after injury. Moreover, the variety of eicosanoids present, as well as concentrations, in these infants decreased with time. The types of eicosanoids most evident in the CSF of patients who required shunting were TxB2 and LTs, being present together in 5 of 6 (83%) of these infants. In contrast, 1 of 5 (20%) of the patients who did not require this neurosurgical intervention contained both TxB2 and LTs, the remaining having only one or neither eicosanoid. The highest average concentration for each eicosanoid studied was (pg/ml): PGE2, 628; PGF2 alpha, 985; PGD2, 1410; 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 544; TxB2, 486 and LTs, 1229. This study is the first to demonstrate that the CSF of preterm infants may contain a wide variety of eicosanoids and indicates that these lipids are a manifestation of neurological assault.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Vasopressin and prostanoid mechanisms in control of cerebral blood flow in hypotensive newborn pigs.

The interaction between vasopressinergic and prostanoid mechanisms in the control of cerebral hemodynamics in the conscious hypotensive newborn pig was investigated. Indomethacin treatment (5 mg/kg) of hypotensive piglets caused a significant decrease in blood flow to all brain regions within 20 min. This decrease in cerebral blood flow resulted from increased cerebral vascular resistances of 52 and 198% 20 and 40 min after treatment, respectively. Cerebral oxygen consumption was reduced from 2.58 +/- 0.32 ml.100 g-1.min-1 to 1.01 +/- 0.12 and 0.29 +/- 0.08 ml.100 g-1.min-1 20 and 40 min after indomethacin, respectively, in hemorrhaged piglets. Treatment with the putative vascular (V1) receptor antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid-2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]arginine vasopressin (MEAVP) had no effect on regional cerebral blood flow, calculated cerebral vascular resistance, or cerebral metabolic rate either before or during hemorrhagic hypotension. However, decreases in cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate and increases in vascular resistance on treatment with indomethacin were blunted markedly in animals treated with MEAVP. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the prostanoid system contributes to the maintenance of cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate during hypotension in the newborn pig, as reported previously, and implicate removal of vasopressinergic modulation by prostanoids as a potential mechanism for indomethacin-induced cerebral vasoconstriction in hypotensive newborn piglets.

Animals↗

H2O2 effects on cerebral prostanoids and pial arteriolar diameter in piglets.

Effects of topical application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on pial arteriolar diameter and cerebral prostanoid synthesis were examined in newborn pigs. H2O2 (10 mM) caused initial constriction during the 1st min, followed by prolonged (20 min) dilation that was reversed on removal of the H2O2 in piglets treated with deferoxamine. H2O2 also caused an increase in cortical periarachnoid 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane (TX) B2, and prostaglandin (PG) E2. Indomethacin pretreatment or coadministration of SQ 29548 (PGH2/TXA2 receptor antagonist) with H2O2 blocked the constriction due to H2O2 but did not alter the dilation. The constriction, the dilation, and the increased prostanoids caused by H2O2 were not affected by topical and systemic deferoxamine (an iron chelator) or simultaneous application of FeSO4 and FeCl3. Neither prior treatment with H2O2 nor with H2O2 plus FeSO4 and FeCl3 altered pial arteriolar dilation in response to hypercapnia. Therefore the initial constriction caused by H2O2 appears to result from stimulation of prostanoid synthesis and activation of PGH2/TXA2 receptors, whereas the dilation is not caused by prostanoids. H2O2 alone does not produce detectable residual alteration of pial arteriolar responsiveness or cerebral prostanoid synthesis.

Animals↗