Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Ganten

Publications and source records attributed to D Ganten.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Effect of high calcium diet on magnesium, catecholamines, and blood pressure of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To test the effect of a high dietary calcium intake on blood pressure, we fed stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHR-SP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) diets containing (a) 0.25% Ca/0.08% Mg, (b) 4.0% Ca/0.02% Mg, and (c) 4.0% Ca/0.08% mg, beginning at 6 weeks of age. SHR-SP and WKY rats receiving 4% Ca with the lower Mg content had lower blood pressures, hypomagnesemia, and hypomagnesuria, and grew poorly. SHR-SP receiving 4% Ca and the higher Mg diet had blood pressures no different from those of rats receiving the 0.25% Ca diet, in spite of having lower body weights. Rubidium flux studies in erythrocytes were not influenced by Ca or Mg in the diets. Plasma phosphate values were moderately reduced in rats receiving 4% Ca diets. Epinephrine and norepinephrine values were higher in SHR-SP than in WKY rats. Norepinephrine increased with stress in both strains, independent of diet. Epinephrine values were lower in SHR-SP receiving the 4% Ca diets and showed less of an increase with stress compared to SHR-SP receiving the 0.25% Ca diet. After 26 weeks of diets, SHR-SP and WKY rats were given 0.9% NaCl in their drinking water. NaCl increased blood pressure in SHR-SP irrespective of Ca content of the diet. These data suggest that a high Ca diet influences Mg homeostasis and adrenal medullary function in SHR-SP. Further, SHR-SP appear resistant to any blood pressure lowering effect of Ca irrespective of NaCl intake.

Animals↗

Brain angiotensin: pathways and pharmacology.

The existence of a brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as one of various tissue RASs is now firmly established. Angiotensin-containing pathways within brain areas involved in central blood pressure regulation have been described. Evidence from biochemical, neurophysiologic, pharmacologic, and most recently, molecular genetic studies indicate that the brain RAS is regulated independently of the hormonal RAS and may contribute to blood pressure control and body fluid homeostasis. In addition, circulating angiotensin II can exert some of its action through stimulation of brain angiotensin receptors accessible from the blood. In experimental animal preparations of hypertension, especially in spontaneously hypertensive rats, an overactive brain RAS may be one of the factors involved in pathogenesis and maintenance of hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, inhibitors of the angiotensin II-generating converting enzyme (CE) have been shown to lower blood pressure by a central action when applied to the brain and to inhibit brain CE when applied systemically. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying a particular cardiovascular disease and the characteristics of the CE inhibitor used (e.g., its lipid solubility governing penetration into tissue) may determine the degree to which CE inhibition within a given organ, such as the brain, contributes to the action of these drugs.

Angiotensin II↗

[Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the renal kallikrein-kinin system in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats].

Injection of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) induces marked diuresis, natriuresis and less marked blood pressure reduction. These effects are similar to those of renal kallikrein-kinin system (rKKS). In this study we investigated the influence of ANP on rKKS of rats. ANP was injected intravenously in male normotensive (WKy) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp) as a bolus of 3.5 micrograms atriopeptin III. ANP induced, in both groups of rats, a marked increase in diuresis and natriuresis, while blood pressure decreased significantly. Renal plasma flow and urinary excretion of potassium increased only a little. The observed changes were similar in both strains of rats and there was no statistically significant difference except the lower potassium stimulation in the SHRsp than in the WKy (p less than 0.05). In regard to the basal activity of the rKKS there was a significant difference between the two strains of rats. The activity of renal kallikrein in urine and of kininase II in plasma was reduced in the SHRsp about 50%, while renal kinin excretion in urine was markedly enhanced in these rats, if compared to the WKy controls. In both groups of rats renal kallikrein and kinin excretion was stimulated by ANP for a short time and, simultaneously, total kininogen in plasma decreased after the injection of ANP. The increment of renal kallikrein excretion in urine was much less marked in the SHRsp than in the WKy rats. The reduced kallikrein stimulation was compensated by the reduced kinin degradation by kininase II in these rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[The renin-angiotensin system: systemic and local function].

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has long been known as a hormonal system, which is important for the maintenance of volume homeostasis, and which contributes under certain circumstances to the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiac failure. More recent findings have demonstrated that the individual components of this system can also be synthesized locally in tissue, e.g. in the brain, the vascular wall, the kidney, the adrenals, and the heart. Although the role of locally generated angiotensin within cardiovascular- and body volume regulation needs to be further investigated, it has already become clear that the mechanism of action of drugs interfering with the RAS is not confined to the circulating RAS, but also includes an interaction with local renin-angiotensin systems. These agents, particularly the converting enzyme inhibitors, have proved to be indispensible tools for elucidating the function of local renin-angiotensin systems, in addition to being therapeutically useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Angiotensin II↗

Measurement and characterization of angiotensin peptides in plasma.

We report a method for the extraction of angiotensin peptides from plasma with a mixture of acetone, 1 mol/L HCl, and water (40/1/5 by vol). The method is highly reproducible for the measurement of angiotensin I and angiotensin II in small sample volumes, with analytical recoveries of about 80% for both peptides. We investigated the influence of sample handling and found a standard procedure for blood collection, plasma preparation, and extraction was essential. The method was used to measure angiotensin I and II in rat and human plasma. In rat plasma, the mean (+/- SEM) concentrations of angiotensin I and angiotensin II were determined to be 67 (+/- 8) and 14 (+/- 1) pmol/L (n = 10), respectively. Neither angiotensin I nor angiotensin II was detectable 24 h after bilateral nephrectomy. Acute oral administration of the converting-enzyme inhibitor ramipril caused a significant increase of angiotensin I from 85 (+/- 6) to 257 (+/- 33) pmol/L (n = 10; P less than 0.001) and a significant decrease of angiotensin II from 12 (+/- 1) to 7 (+/- 0.4) pmol/L in rat plasma (n = 9; P less than 0.001). In human plasma, angiotensin I and angiotensin II values of 21 (+/- 1) and 6.6 (+/- 0.5) pmol/L (n = 10) were found. A single oral dose of the diuretic furosemide increased angiotensin I significantly from 21 (+/- 1) to 32 (+/- 1.7) pmol/L (n = 5); P less than 0.001), whereas angiotensin II remained unchanged, 6.6 (+/- 0.5) vs 6.4 (+/- 0.4) pmol/L (n = 5). Extracted peptides could be identified as [IIe5]-angiotensin I and [IIe5]-angiotensin II by HPLC in combination with specific radioimmunoassays for angiotensin I and angiotensin II.

Adult↗

Intracardiac generation of angiotensin and its physiologic role.

The emerging recognition of the existence and potential biological significance of local tissue renin-angiotensin systems in a number of organs has fostered interest in a possible intrinsic cardiac renin-angiotensin system. Evidence for such a system was first provided by biochemical measurements of components of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiac tissue. It has recently been demonstrated that the genes coding for renin and angiotensinogen are expressed in all regions of the heart, an essential prerequisite for the postulated intracardiac biosynthesis of these proteins. Moreover, we have shown the presence of a functional and physiologically active pathway for the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in the beating mammalian heart. This conversion appears to be catalyzed by a specific cardiac converting enzyme that is susceptible to systemically administered converting-enzyme inhibitors. Evidence for the physiologic importance of the cardiac renin-angiotensin system comes from experimental data as well as indirect clinical evidence. The potent coronary vasoconstrictor properties of angiotensin II underscore its possible significance in myocardial ischemia and ischemic heart disease, in particular when viewed in the context of selective local activation. The long-known positive inotropic effects of angiotensin II are based on its direct myotropic properties and on its facilitatory effects on sympathetic neurotransmission and may be of added significance in metabolically compromised states. We have recently demonstrated that locally generated angiotensin may be a dominant etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of reperfusion arrhythmias. In addition, we have found experimental evidence for a deleterious effect of angiotensin II on myocardial metabolism in the setting of regional myocardial ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

Improved immunohistochemical staining of angiotensin II in rat brain using affinity purified antibodies.

Recent immunohistochemical studies that have sought to detect angiotensin II/III (AII/AIII) immunoreactive material in the brain have been forced to rely on a small number of antisera because most AII/AIII antibodies have unexplainably proved unsuitable for immunohistochemistry. Although extremely useful tools, these antisera have suffered from high background staining. The purpose of this study was to re-examine and characterize the staining using the most popular AII/AIII antiserum (Denise) before and after purification on an AII CH-sepharose affinity column. The use of crude AII/AIII antiserum resulted in the staining of large varicosities and cell bodies. Fibres were all but invisible owing to extensive background staining. In contrast, the purified antibodies yielded little background staining and produced a discrete staining of AII/AIII fibres with small varicosities in the paraventricular-hypophysial pathway and of cell bodies of large hypothalamic neurones. In addition punctate staining demarcated the perikarya of some neurones and resembled boutons containing immunoreactive AII/AIII. Biochemical and histochemical analysis of the crude antiserum, the affinity purified antibodies and other fractions off the sepharose column demonstrated that a large portion of the total staining (various types of background) seen with crude antiserum and column fractions was not to AII/AIII or several angiotensin-derived fragments. Furthermore, successful preabsorption blanks for the purified antibodies could only be achieved with AII coupled through its N-terminal, suggesting that these purified antibodies reacted best with conjugated angiotensin in the fixed tissue. In total the results of this study indicate that the background staining seen with crude antiserum is not to AII/AIII. The use of affinity purified antibodies greatly enhances resolution, enabling one to visualise even small fibres in rats not treated with colchicine, and should improve our ability to develop accurate maps of central angiotensinergic pathways.

Angiotensin II↗

Effect of converting enzyme inhibitors on tissue converting enzyme and angiotensin II: therapeutic implications.

Local tissue renin-angiotensin systems have recently been discovered in various organs, and evidence is accumulating that inhibition of these local renin-angiotensin systems may contribute to the actions of converting enzyme (CE) inhibitors. Measurements of CE activity and angiotensin II concentrations revealed that after oral administration of CE inhibitors, CE was inhibited not only in lung vascular endothelium and blood, but also in the heart, kidney, vascular wall, brain and other organs. The functional significance of tissue CE inhibition is suggested first by the antihypertensive effect of brain CE inhibition in spontaneously hypertensive rats, second by the concomitant persistence of blood pressure decrease and CE inhibition in vascular wall and kidney after long-term oral CE inhibitor treatment and third by ex vivo experiments demonstrating marked effects of oral CE inhibitor pretreatment on cardiac function in isolated rat hearts. Local inhibition of tissue renin-angiotensin systems may be an important factor involved in the beneficial effects of CE inhibitors in such cardiovascular diseases as arterial hypertension, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

Administration, Oral↗

Relationship between renin mRNA and renin secretion in adrenalectomized, salt-depleted, or converting enzyme inhibitor-treated rats.

Renin secretion was stimulated in rats by adrenalectomy (ADX), by treatment with the converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (MK 421), or by feeding a low salt diet plus furosemide treatment (FUR). Relative amounts of renin mRNA were measured by densitometric Northern blot analysis using a 32P-labeled 700 bp mouse submaxillary gland cDNA fragment as hybridization probe. Renin secretion was measured in isolated kidneys taken from pretreated rats. Treatment resulted in a 4.4-, 7- and 12.7-fold increase in total renin mRNA in kidneys of ADX, MK 421 and FUR rats, respectively. Plasma renin levels increased 5-, 9- and 12-fold in ADX, MK 421 and FUR rats, whereas ex vivo secretion rates from the isolated kidney were 4.7-, 0.5- and 4.2-fold, respectively, that of controls. Thus, a close relationship between increases in renin secretion in vivo (reflected by plasma renin concentration) and renin mRNA exists, whereas secretion rates in the isolated perfused kidney ex vivo change in a non-proportional fashion.

Adrenalectomy↗

The renin-angiotensin system in the central control of blood pressure.

The results of biochemical, immunohistochemical and autoradiographic studies led to the description of the endogenous brain angiotensin II system as a highly localized network of angiotensin II-containing cell bodies and fibres as well as characteristic sites with high angiotensin II-receptor density. The specific localization of this system predominantly within limbic, hypothalamic and brain stem structures that are known to be involved in central cardiovascular regulation and the control of volume homeostasis, suggests a possible functional role for brain angiotensin II in the control of these homeostatic functions. A role for brain angiotensin II in the central control of blood pressure is further supported by physiological and pharmacological experiments that demonstrate characteristic central angiotensin-induced cardiovascular responses. However, it should be kept in mind that the mechanisms mediating these responses (e.g. sympathetic activation, vasopressin release), as well as the exact functional role of endogenously synthesized angiotensin II in specific brain areas, are not yet completely understood. Pathophysiologically, there is evidence that an activated brain renin angiotensin system may participate in the development and maintenance of primary hypertension.

Angiotensin II↗

Release and regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).

Mammalian atrial cardiocytes synthesize and secrete a hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which causes natriuresis, diuresis and inhibition of smooth muscle contraction, aldosterone and renin release. Volume loading, vasoconstrictor agents, immersion in water, atrial tachycardia and high salt diets have been reported to increase the release of cardiac ANP, thereby suggesting that the peptide is released in response to an increase in atrial pressure. That stretch is an important stimulus for ANP release is also suggested by clinical studies demonstrating a direct correlation between secretion rate and atrial pressure. The experiments using isolated perfused rat heart provide direct evidence that distension of the right atrium stimulates the release of ANP. Pharmacological studies in the isolated heart point to roles of cytosolic calcium, the phosphoinositide system and the cyclic AMP pathway in the regulation of ANP release. The concentration of calcium in heart muscle cells, in addition to the length of the muscle fibers, depends on many factors such as the action of humoral substances, cardiac nerve activity and heart rate, which may all contribute to the regulation of ANP secretion.

Acetylcholine↗

Atrial natriuretic factor in sodium-sensitive and sodium-resistant Dahl rats.

We tested the hypothesis that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) may play a role in the development of hypertension in salt-sensitive Dahl (S) rats as compared to normotensive salt-resistant Dahl (R) rats. We measured immunoreactive ANF in plasma and atria of the inbred (JR) strain of Dahl S and R rats receiving 0.9 or 8% NaCl diets for up to 8 weeks. We also tested the effect of acute volume expansion on plasma and atrial ANF values in rats receiving the 0.9% salt diet. In addition, we examined the effects of exogenous ANF in the form of atriopeptin III given as intravenous bolus infusion at both levels of salt intake. We found no difference in plasma and atrial values between S and R rats irrespective of salt intake. The S and R rats showed a similar, five- to sevenfold increase of plasma ANF in response to acute saline expansion. Finally, we were unable to demonstrate differences between S and R rats in response to atriopeptin III with respect to transient decreases in blood pressure, and pronounced increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow or natriuresis. These results do not reveal appreciable changes in the ANF system of Dahl S rats either before or after onset of hypertension when compared to normotensive R rats. Therefore, our findings do not support the notion that ANF is important in the development or maintenance of chronic salt-induced hypertension in S rats.

Anesthesia↗

Blood pressure, electrolyte and adrenal responses in swim-trained hypertensive rats.

In order to test the effect of aerobic training on blood pressure, and to examine the putative mechanisms involved, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP), borderline hypertensive rats (BHR), and Wistar-Kyoto control rats (WKY) were swim-trained for up to 1.5 h twice-daily for 22 weeks. The BHR were F1 back-cross SHR-SP, WKY. A training effect was observed in the trained rats compared to controls, as demonstrated by slower heart rates, heavier hearts and increased cytochrome oxidase activity in their skeletal muscle. Trained SHR-SP and BHR had significantly lower blood pressures at the end of the intervention period (approximately 10 mmHg) compared to controls. Acute increases in blood pressure with swimming were less in trained than in untrained rats. Trained rats had higher extracellular sodium values than untrained rats. Further, trained SHR-SP and BHR had lower intra-erythrocyte sodium values than controls. Increases in corticosterone, epinephrine and norepinephrine with swimming were less in trained rats than in controls. We conclude that exercise conditioning ameliorates hypertension in rats. The mechanism may involve an effect on cation transmembrane transport, as well as decreased, adrenosympathetic tone. Moreover, these effects may be related.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Atrial natriuretic peptide: a new factor in blood pressure control.

The hypothesis of a natriuretic factor-originally an intriguing possibility and now an experimentally documented reality-has occupied the minds of scientists for more than 30 years. It has attracted not only experts in salt and water metabolism but also those interested in hypertension, because of the well known link between sodium homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. There are at least two distinct types of natriuretic substances: one is an inhibitor of the Na+K+ATPase and has been proposed to contribute to a rise in blood pressure; the other, now isolated from atrial tissue, is vasodilatory, natriuretic, diuretic, and has been demonstrated to decrease blood pressure. Our knowledge of regulation and function of this ANP has increased rapidly since its detection. Its role in blood pressure regulation is now fairly well understood. As depicted in Fig. 1, both synthesis and release of ANP are induced by atrial and ventricular wall stretch. In hypertension, distension of the left atrium and ventricle may be of particular importance for ANP release. The endocrine function of myocardial cells is stimulated in response to wall stretch in the ventricle. ANP is synthesized and stored as a 126 amino acid prohormone. Enzymatic processing of this prohormone to the circulating forms ANP 1-98 and ANP 99-126 takes place within the myoendocrine cells. The biological effects of ANP 1-98 are as yet unknown. ANP 99-126 acts at multiple sites to reduce blood pressure. One may distinguish between acute and more chronic effects. The acute effects include shift of fluid to the extravascular compartment and vasorelaxation. This shift is indicated by the rapidly developing rise in haematocrit, which is observed in intact as well as in nephrectomized rats and therefore not due to diuresis alone. The reduction of blood volume in addition to an increase in venous capacitance may be responsible for the reduced cardiac output. The latter may cause a reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system and an increase in peripheral resistance, thereby overriding the vasodilator effects of the peptide. ANP appears to have a 'de-pressor' effect rather than a direct vasodilator effect. A lowering of peripheral resistance in response to ANP is not observed in normotensives, but is readily seen in at least certain forms of hypertension associated with an increased vascular tone. This most likely explains the discrepancy in the haemodynamic responses to ANP in normotensives and hypertensives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Tissue renin-angiotensin systems: focus on the heart.

Recent findings support the existence of independently functioning, local renin-angiotensin systems in a number of tissues. The clinical importance that inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system have gained in the treatment of hypertension and cardiac failure, as well as molecular biology data, suggest that a functional, tissue renin-angiotensin system is present in the heart. Using several experimental approaches we present evidence to support the existence and the possible physiopathological relevance of such a cardiac renin-angiotensin system. Tissue angiotensins were documented and quantified in different regions of the heart by high performance liquid chromatography combined with specific radio-immunoassay. Reduction of cardiac angiotensin after administration of converting enzyme inhibitors in nephrectomized animals indicates that these peptides are generated locally. Effects of converting enzyme inhibitors on angiotensin II-dependent facilitation of cardiac sympathetic tone further support this concept and emphasize the potential physiological role of a cardiac renin-angiotensin system. Further, direct evidence for local generation of angiotensin II in the myocardium is provided by assessment of the intracardiac conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and by measurement of the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme in the heart.

Angiotensin II↗