Biomedical subjects

E Ritz

Publications and source records attributed to E Ritz.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

Renin-dependent water intake in hypovolemia.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system as a mediator of water intake, induced by hypovolemia after polyethylene glycol (PEG) injection, was investigated. Blockade of angiotensin I converting enzyme and of angiotensin receptors was used as a pharmacological tool. A significant reduction of water intake was observed when angiotensin I converting enzyme was inhibited by captopril and enalapril. In PEG-treated rats with blockade of angiotensin I converting enzyme, hypertonic saline injection continued to elicit substantial drinking. Normalization of low blood pressure by vasopressin infusions in PEG and captopril treated rats did not interfere with the antidipsogenic effectiveness of converting enzyme blockade. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist, saralasin, also reduced PEG-induced drinking although less effectively than converting enzyme inhibitors. We conclude that water intake due to isotonic depletion of the extracellular fluid compartment may depend on the activity of the renin-angiotensin system.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1988

The spectrum of renal involvement in epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica hereditaria: report of two cases.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica Hallopeau-Siemens (EBDH) is one of the most severe inherited epidermolyses, a group of mechanobullous dermatological disorders. We observed two patients presenting with a severely multilating type of EBDH who developed biopsy-proven renal disease, which substantially altered the evolution and pathogenesis of their disease. In a boy, chronic postinfectious glomerulonephritis developed, most probably due to recurring superinfections of bullous skin lesions. He also experienced acute oliguric renal failure due to severe diarrhea during exacerbation of EBDH. A female patient developed a nephrotic syndrome due to secondary amyloidosis. Hypoalbuminemia caused further fluid losses through bullous skin lesions, aggravating intravascular hypovolemia and leading to rapid renal failure secondary to bilateral renal vein thrombosis. The study shows that, although rare, renal complications may alter the natural course of EBDH.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Cuprammonium membranes stimulate interleukin 1 release and arachidonic acid metabolism in monocytes in the absence of complement.

Contact of blood with foreign surfaces, specifically dialysis membranes, causes cell activation which has widely been assumed to be mediated by complement (C). To explore the possibility of C-independent activation, we examined different cell types: PMN, human monocytes and the cell lines U937 or HL60, washed human platelets and rat glomerular epithelial cell (primary) cultures (GEC), under serum-free conditions and after addition of anti-C3 F(ab)2, respectively. The monitored biological effects were release of PGE2, TXB2 or interleukin 1 and generation of O2- radicals. To further explore the mechanisms involved, phospholipid metabolism was studied by measuring IP3 and DG (14C-arachidonic or oleic acid prelabeled U937 and HL60 cells); changes of cytosolic Ca++ (Quin2 technique) were also determined. The results show that in absence of C, brief (2 min) contact with cuprammonium (CU) stimulated: (a) PGE2 release in U937 and human monocytes or GEC; (b) TXB2 release in washed platelets; (c) slow interleukin 1 release by monocytes; and (d) generation of O2- radicals in PMN. Artifacts due to endotoxin were excluded by appropriate polymyxin control experiments and by comparison of effects with those of bacterial LPS. Potential synthesis of C3 by U937 was excluded by addition of anti-C3 F(ab)2. C-independent cell activation was accompanied by increase of DG, but not IP3 (suggesting involvement of protein C kinase dependent mechanisms) and by increased cytosolic Ca++. To further explore the initial signal involved, incubations were carried out with covalently modified CU members (DEAE cellulose) and in the presence of mM concentrations of monosaccharides. Cationic modification of CU membranes reduced C-independent cell activation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1988

Improvement of growth and food utilization by human recombinant growth hormone in uremia.

We compared growth rate, food conversion ratio and morphology of the growth zone in female Sprague-Dawley rats with subtotal nephrectomy or sham operation. Both groups were either given vehicle or 1.4 IU/day recombinant human growth hormone (GH) by s.c. osmotic minipump, or 2.5 IU twice daily intraperitoneally for 14 or 20 days, respectively. Compared to uremic rats infused with vehicle, infusion of GH significantly (P less than 0.01) improved growth; that is, it increased gain of weight (delta 27.0 +/- 7.7 g vs. 11.6 +/- 4.9 g) and length (delta 1.8 +/- 0.3 cm vs. 1.12 +/- 0.44 cm) in ad libitum fed uremic rats. This was accompanied by increased food utilization ratio (0.146 vs. 0.065 g weight gain per g food intake). A similar increment of growth and food utilization ratio was also observed in GH versus solvent infused controls, either pairfed as for the uremic animals or fed ad libitum. Despite administration of GH, growth was not completely restored to normal in uremic animals. Circulating immunoreactive IGF I was not significantly increased by GH infusion in either uremic animals or controls. Histological analyses of the proximal tibia showed increased rate of longitudinal growth, as evaluated by tetracyclin-labeling, and increased volumetric density of primary spongiosa with unchanged width of primary spongiosa trabecules when GH was infused in uremic animals. The data suggest that growth impairment in the uremic rat is partially responsive to GH, and this is not accompanied by an increase of circulating IGF I. Therapeutic trials with recombinant GH in uremic children appear justified.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

Myocardial interstitial fibrosis in experimental uremia--implications for cardiac compliance.

Experimental uremia is known to cause cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study we examined the effect of uremia with or without concomitant treatment of hypertension by the converting enzyme Ramipril (125 micrograms/day) on micromorphometric indices of cardiac interstitium at the light microscopical and ultrastructural level. In male SD rats, 21 days of uremia caused an increase of total heart weight (1040 +/- 73 mg wet wt vs. 871 +/- 81 in controls, P less than 0.05) with an increase of both right and left ventricular weight. This was accompanied by reduction of capillary cross-sectional area despite unchanged capillary length. The volume density (cm3/cm3) of cardiomyocytes was unchanged (0.881 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.871 +/- 0.016 in controls), but volume density of interstitial tissue (excluding capillary lumen) was significantly increased (0.042 +/- 0.011 cm3 interstitial tissue/cm3 total heart tissue vs. 0.019 +/- 0.007 in controls). This was associated with signs of activation of interstitial cells, that is, increased volume of interstitial cell nuclei and interstitial cell cytoplasm. Concomitantly, a significant increase of volume density of non-cellular interstitial ground substance was found which was not normalized by antihypertensive treatment using Ramipril. After three months of uremia, electron microscopy showed collagen fiber deposition in the interstitium. Comparable interstitial fibrosis was not observed in hearts of rats with renovascular (one clip-two kidney) hypertension. It is concluded that uremia increases myocardial interstitial ground substance by mechanisms independent of hypertension. The data may be relevant for recent findings of diastolic heart malfunction secondary to impaired compliance in uremic patients.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed1988

Salt and the action of calcium antagonists.

Calcium antagonists are unique in that they combine vasodilating and natriuretic properties. Although the acute natriuretic response, and details on intrarenal mechanisms of action, have been documented in the past, recent evidence shows intrarenal actions even in the chronic steady state of antihypertensive medication. Chance observations led to recent systematic studies that clearly document (a) that the antihypertensive action of calcium antagonists is not antagonized by high sodium diet and (b) that there is negative interaction between diuretics and calcium antagonists with respect to their antihypertensive actions. Potential mechanisms for the salt/diuretic-calcium antagonist interactions include (i) intrinsic natriuretic property of calcium antagonists, (ii) interaction of volume control and hormonal calcium control systems, and (iii) modulation of--at least dihydropyridine--binding sites by dietary sodium.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗

PubMed1988

Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein interferes with bacterial adherence to human kidney cells.

The effect of Tamm Horsfall protein (THP) of 18 healthy subjects and 14 diabetics on adherence of Escherichia coli (06:K13) 2699 strain to human kidney cells (HUK) was studied. Adhesion of bacteria (without additions: 100 bacteria per cell) was reduced dose-dependently by THP, half maximal inhibition occurring with 250 micrograms THP ml-1. Maximal inhibition (-84% at 1000 micrograms ml-1) exceeded inhibition by alpha-methyl-mannoside (36% at 50 mM), was specific (not reproduced by other glycoproteins, e.g. ovalbumin, mucin or thyroglobulin) and reversible (abolished by washing THP off HUK cells). Anti-adherence property of THP was not abolished by neuraminidase treatment. No significant difference of anti-adherence activity of THP was found between controls and diabetics, despite altered carbohydrate composition of THP in diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein in diabetes mellitus: abnormal chemical composition and colloid stability.

Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein (THP) was isolated, using sodium chloride precipitation technique, from 24-h urine of 19 non-proteinuric insulin-dependent diabetics and 19 matched controls. Tamm Horsfall glycoprotein was pure, as judged by PAGE electrophoresis, by Ouchterlony double diffusion against anti-THP or anti-albumin antibodies, and by isoelectric focusing. Content of carbohydrates (gas-chromatography), amino acids or amino sugars (AA-analyser), N-acetylneuraminic acid (thiobarbituric acid method) and lysyl-bound glucose (furosine method) were determined and showed the following abnormalities: THP of diabetics had significantly higher glucose content (d: 2.55 +/- 0.66 g 100 g-1 THP; CO: 0.99 +/- 0.23; P less than 0.05) and increased lysyl-bound glucose, but diminished N-acetyl-neuraminic acid content (3.54 +/- 0.25 vs. 4.96 +/- 0.15; P less than 0.01) with no significant differences of amino acids or amino sugars. Low N-acetyl-neuraminic acid content was paralleled by reduced surface charge density of THP, as revealed by polyelectrolyte titration. No abnormality of the protein core was revealed by amino acid analysis and by probing reactivity to seven different monoclonal antibodies to human THP. Altered colloid stability, i.e. greater precipitation of THP of diabetic patients, was demonstrated by laser nephelometry. The data are consistent with abnormal post-translational modification of THP in diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1988