Biomedical subjects

E C Dumont

Publications and source records attributed to E C Dumont.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Involvement of central angiotensin receptors in stress adaptation.

The present study examined the effects of acute and chronic neurogenic stressors on the expression of two distinct angiotensin receptors in two stress-related brain nuclei: angiotensin type 1A receptor in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and angiotensin type 2 receptor in the nucleus locus coeruleus. Male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups. The first two groups were subjected once to an acute 90-min immobilization or air-jet stress session, respectively. The other two groups were subjected to 10 days of daily 90-min immobilization sessions and, on the 11th day, one group was exposed to an additional 90-min immobilization and the other to a single air-jet stress (heterotypic but still neurogenic) session. In each group, rats were perfused before stress (0 min), immediately following stress (90 min) or 150, 180, 270 or 360 min (and 24 h in chronic immobilization) after the beginning of the last stress session. Basal expression of both angiotensin receptor subtype 1A and angiotensin receptor subtype 2 messenger RNA was minimal in non-stressed animals. Acute immobilization as well as air-jet stress induced similar patterns (time-course and maximal values) of angiotensin receptor subtype 1A messenger RNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus. Angiotensin receptor subtype 1A messenger RNA expression increased 90-150 min after the beginning of the stress and returned to basal levels by 360 min. Chronic stress immobilization slightly modified the pattern, but not maximal values of angiotensin receptor subtype 1A messenger RNA expression to further immobilization (homotypic) or air-jet stress (heterotypic). Acute immobilization and air-jet stress sessions induced similar locus coeruleus-specific angiotensin receptor subtype 2 messenger RNA expression. This expression increased 90 min following the onset of the stress session and remained elevated for at least 360 min. Chronic immobilization stress increased angiotensin receptor subtype 2 messenger RNA expression to levels comparable to those observed in acute stress conditions. Novel acute exposure to neurogenic stressors did not further increase these levels in either homotypic (immobilization) or in heterotypic (air-jet stress) conditions. These results suggest that central angiotensin receptors are targets of regulation in stress; therefore, stress may modulate angiotensin function in the paraventricular nucleus and locus coeruleus during chronic exposure to neurogenic stressors.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1999

[Relationship between the central renin-angiotensin system, stress and hypertension].

The dynamic regulation of neurotransmitters and their receptors is an important component of the process of coping and stress adaptation. Among the central neurochemical systems, CRF and the renin-angiotensin may represent major modulatory systems involved in the adaptation of an organism to chronic stress, balancing the response demands that the stressor places on the central nervous system with the potentially detrimental effects that a sustained stress response may produce. As such, the study of these two systems with respect to their neurotransmitters and receptors will allow us to achieve a better perspective on the mechanisms responsible for effective short-term coping with stress as well as long-term adaptation and restoration in response to chronic or repeated stress. It will then be possible to verify the level of activation of different components of the central pathways involved in the mediation of stress responses in rat strains which develop hypertension following chronic exposure to stress. The primary objective of the present paper is to review some facts on the contribution of the central renin-angiotensin system on the regulatory mechanisms involved in the mediation of physiological responses to stress and on the involvement of these neurons in the CNS adaptation in rat strains that are developing hypertension when chronically exposed to stress. Neurons that are expressing angiotensin-receptors may be important in the short-term adaptation to stress by potentiating sympathoadrenal and/or hypophyseo-pituitary-adrenal responses. These same neurons may also participate in long-term stress-adaptation by altering gene expression of their angiotensin receptors. Moreover, these processes represent potential points of dysregulation in the case of extreme, repeated or prolonged stress, and thus in the development of stress-related pathological states such as hypertension and heart diseases.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1999

Modification of vasodilator response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

Functional dilatory response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated using thoracic aortas, isolated hearts, and mesenteric beds. Dose-response curves to the PGI2 analogue iloprost on phenylephrine-preconstricted rings of diabetic rats and controls were comparable. In contrast, decreased vasodilation in diabetic rats was observed when dose-response curves to iloprost were performed in hearts and on phenylephrine-preconstricted mesenteric beds. Dose-response curves to forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, performed with hearts and phenylephrine-preconstricted aortic rings and isolated mesenteric beds of diabetic rats and controls were comparable. However, a decreased vasodilation to the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)) activator lemakalim was observed in diabetic hearts, but not in aortic rings and mesenteric beds. In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, diabetes mellitus affects the vasodilation to iloprost in both coronary and mesenteric beds, but not in the aorta. In the heart, this modification of vascular reactivity may be due to a decrease in K(ATP) channel mediated response and not to a decreased activity of adenylyl cyclase. At this time, in the isolated mesenteric bed, the mechanism of this modification in vascular reactivity remains unknown.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1997

[Decrease of vascular response to iloprost in diabetic rats].

The functional dilatory response in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat was investigated using thoracic aortas and coronary microcirculation. The aortas were cut in 4 mm intact or denuded rings and mounted into 20-ml organ baths. Coronary microcirculation was evaluated with isolated hearts perfused under constant flow conditions. Firstly, vasodilation to iloprost (Ilo) was examined. Dose-response curves to Ilo (10 pM-10 microM) on phenylephrine (PE, 30 nM for endothelium-denuded, and 0.3 microM for intact) preconstricted rings of diabetics and age-matched controls were comparable (n = 6). Decreased vasodilation in diabetic group was observed when dose-response curves to Ilo (1 nM-0.1 microM) were realized in isolated hearts (-22 +/- 3.3% vs -46 +/- 3.9%, n = 6, p < 0.05). Secondly, dose-response curves to forskolin (FSK), an adenylate-cyclase activator, performed in hearts (1 nM-3 microM), and on PE preconstricted rings (10 pM-10 microM) of diabetics and age-matched controls were comparable. Finally, the effect of an activator of ATP sensitive potassium channels (KATP), cromakalim (CMK), was evaluated in coronary circulation (0.3 nM-3 microM) and in aortas (10 pM-10 microM). Decreased vasodilation to CMK was observed in diabetic hearts (-10.5 +/- 4.3 vs -30.1 +/- 2.8%, n = 6, p < 0.05). In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, diabetes affects selectively the coronary vasodilation to iloprost. This modification of vascular reactivity may be due to a decrease of KATP channels sensitivity but not to a decreased activity of adenylate-cyclase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1996

Modification of aortic contractility in the cardiomyopathic hamster.

1. The functional arterial response in the cardiomyopathic hamster compared with inbred control, was investigated in thoracic aortae. For this purpose, vessels were cut into 6-mm rings and mounted in 20-ml organ baths. 2. In a first experimental series, the function of the endothelium was evaluated. Dose-response curves to acetylcholine (0.1 nM-10 microM) on phenylephrine (0.3 microM)-preconstricted rings of cardiomyopathic hamsters and inbred age-matched controls were comparable (log[EC50] of -7.08 +/- 0.12 and -7.18 +/- 0.12, respectively; n = 4). 3. Changes in contractility of cardiomyopathic hamster endothelium-denuded aortae were investigated. Dose-response curves to phenylephrine (1 nM-0.1 mM), angiotensin II (10 pM-0.3 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (1 nM-0.1 mM) and KCl (1 mM-0.1 M) were performed. Increased sensitivity in cardiomyopathic hamster aortae, compared to controls, was observed with phenylephrine (log[EC50] of -7.25 +/- 0.05 and -6.83 +/- 0.05, respectively, n = 6, P < 0.001) and angiotensin II (log[EC50] of -8.67 +/- 0.07 and -8.26 +/- 0.06, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.001) but not with 5-HT or KCl. A decreased maximum response in cardiomyopathic, compared to control, was observed with 5-HT (1.28 +/- 0.06 g vs 1.56 +/- 0.07 g, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.03). Comparable results were found in aortae with an intact endothelium. 4. No difference in the maximum contractile response to the G-protein activator, NaF (3, 10 and 30 mM) was observed in either group of animals. 5. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 1-10 microM) was used to assess changes in the activity of protein kinase C (PKC). Contractility to PMA was increased in cardiomyopathic hamster aortae compared to controls (0.22 +/- 0.02 g vs 0.07 +/- 0.03 g at 3 microM, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.003). 6. Finally, cardiomyopathic hamsters aortae were found to be less sensitive when exposed to increasing concentrations of Ca2+ (10 microM-1 mM) in KCl-depolarized rings (0.58 +/- 0.04 g in cardiomyopathic vs 0.79 +/- 0.06 g in control aortae at 0.3 mM, n = 8, P = 0.03). 7. In conclusion, aortae from cardiomyopathic hamsters are more sensitive to phenylephrine and angiotensin II, but not to 5-HT, than those of controls. The increase in sensitivity does not implicate Ca2+ channels or Ca2+ itself since cardiomyopathic hamsters aortae are not more sensitive to KCl- and Ca(2+)-induced contraction. The greater effect of PMA on cardiomyopathic hamster aortae suggests that the increase in sensitivity to phenylephrine and angiotensin II involves an enhanced activity of PKC.

Acetylcholine↗