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J Claustre

Publications and source records attributed to J Claustre.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Response of noradrenaline and dopamine to hypoxia and sympathectomy: evidence for an independent dopaminergic reactivity.

In order to assess the status of dopamine in the periphery, we submitted rats to sympathectomy (with guanethidine), to hypoxia, and to both, and measured the concentration and turnover of noradrenaline and dopamine in peripheral organs. Sympathectomy decreased noradrenaline content by 96-99% in all the organs tested. In contrast, dopamine content, which was decreased by 90% in the heart, was not significantly changed in the bladder or lungs. Based on dopamine decrease after guanethidine, and on dopamine:noradrenaline ratios in organs, we conclude that in the heart the dopamine is contained mostly in noradrenergic terminals. In other organs it appears to be contained in non-noradrenergic structures. These are found in: the bladder, stomach, lungs, and kidneys, in decreasing importance. We estimated the turnover of noradrenaline by measuring the decrease of its concentration after inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Among the five organs studied, the turnover of noradrenaline was increased by long-term hypoxia (10% O2, 15 days) in the heart only (+140%). An increase of sympathetic activity during hypoxia was also found in the kidneys and lungs as shown by the increase in turnover of dopamine that was suppressed by sympathectomy. Hypoxia induced large increases in dopamine concentration in the stomach and the lungs (70 and 190% respectively). These increases were not abolished by sympathectomy and we propose that they are related to a chemosensory function of dopamine-containing paraganglia in the stomach and the lung.

Animals

Preganglionic sympathetic fibres modulate dopamine turnover in rat carotid body during long-term hypoxia.

To assess the influence of sympathetic efferents on the dopamine function of carotid bodies, rats were exposed to long-term hypoxia (10% O2 in nitrogen for 1 or 3 weeks) after unilateral removal of the superior cervical ganglion. In the intact carotid bodies. long-term hypoxia increased the content and turnover of dopamine (DA). The dopaminergic response to hypoxia was reduced but not abolished by the ganglionectomy. To determine whether pre- or postganglionic sympathetic fibres are involved in the control of the dopamine function, rats were exposed to hypoxia either after unilateral transection of the preganglionic cervical trunk or after selective destruction of the postganglionic fibres by guanethidine. The preganglionic transection blunted the dopaminergic response to hypoxia whereas guanethidine had no effect. It is concluded that the sympathetic efferents may activate the synthesis and release of dopamine in glomus cells during long-term hypoxia. The sympathetic efferents responsible for the modulation of dopamine function are probably preganglionic fibres.

Animals

Plasma free and sulphated catecholamines after ultra-long exercise and recovery.

We investigated the early and late effects of two types of ultra-long exercise on sympatho-adrenal and dopaminergic activity. With this aim both free and sulphoconjugated plasma catecholamines (CA), noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), and dopamine (DA) were determined in two groups of athletes immediately after completion of 24-h running or a 10-h triathlon and on recovery during the next 1-3 days. Both races stimulated the sympathetic activity, but differences were observed in the CA pattern: the 24-h run induced a marked elevation of free and sulphoconjugated NA (+175% and +180%, respectively) but failed to alter significantly A and DA levels. The triathlon challenge increased the three conjugated CA (NA sulphate +350%; A sulphate +110%; DA sulphate +270%) and to a lesser extent free CA (NA +45%; A +30%). On the first post-exercise morning, a sustained intense noradrenergic activity was still present in the 24 h-runners, as evidenced by the large increase in free and sulphated NA levels (+140% and +100%, respectively). Such a prolonged activity was also indicated after completion of the triathlon, by the increase of NA sulphate (+140%) observed on the 1st recovery day. However, after the triathlon there was a decreased release of A from the adrenal medulla for several days. These data show that both types of ultralong exercise are able to induce for several hours a sustained sympathetic activation during the test and in the recovery period. Furthermore, the study shows that plasma conjugated CA may provide delayed and cumulative indexes of sympathetic activation, complementary to the instantaneous markers such as free CA.

Catecholamines

Conjugation and deamination of circulating dopamine: relationship between sulfated and free dopamine in man.

In order to assess the importance of conjugation in dopamine metabolism, we infused dopamine (20 nmol/kg/min, 1 h) to seven male subjects, then measured the kinetics of free and conjugated dopamine and DOPAC (deaminated dopamine) in plasma both during and after the infusion. Dopamine increased as early as 2 min after the start of the infusion, then reached a plateau and remained elevated on a level of 25 times the basal value. Dopamine sulfate and DOPAC followed very similar patterns and increased continuously from the 30th and 20th min, respectively, until the end of the infusion (5.18- and 5.76-fold, respectively), but only dopamine sulfate remained elevated (1.65-fold) on the first day following infusion. DOPAC glucuronide increased moderately (2.58-fold) at the end of the experiment, but neither dopamine glucuronide nor DOPAC sulfate were increased despite high precursor circulating levels. Free DOPAC and dopamine sulfate levels during infusion were correlated with dopamine levels when all subjects were pooled. In addition, within a subject dopamine sulfate to dopamine correlations were found with slopes varying in a range of 1 to 15. Our results show that sulfation is significantly involved in the metabolism of circulating dopamine and is not easily saturated, suggesting that dopamine sulfate may be an index of endogenous dopamine release.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid

Catecholamines and fuels after an ultralong run: persistent changes after 24-h recovery.

This study examined the alterations induced by an ultralong distance run (169 +/- 6 km in 24 h) and by prolonged postrace recovery (24 h) on blood fuel metabolites and catecholamines in seven trained subjects. Ten minutes after the race, plasma concentrations of glycerol and free fatty acids (FFA) were decreased twofold. Plasma glucose was unchanged. Plasma concentrations of free norepinephrine (NE) and free dopamine (DA) increased from 2.73 +/- 0.28 to 5.41 +/- 1.11 nmol.l-1 and from 0.45 +/- 0.13 to 0.62 +/- 0.18 nmol.l-1 whereas free epinephrine (E) and insulin were unchanged; 24 h after the race, plasma glycerol and FFA concentrations remained elevated (twofold) and TG decreased twofold compared with resting levels. Concomitantly, plasma NE and DA levels remained elevated, respectively, 6.23 +/- 0.41 and 0.77 +/- 0.13 nmol.l-1. These data show that the alterations in circulating fuel metabolites and NE induced by the ultralong race were still present 24 h later. The involvement of lipid metabolism and catecholamines in processes of post-exercise recovery is discussed.

Adult

[A misdiagnosed disorder: syndrome of the musculocutaneous nerve of the foot].

The syndrome of the pedal dorsal cutaneous nerve (described by one of us in 1979) is caused by irritation of the nerve in its course at the dorsum pedis. This is a rather frequent syndrome, often overlooked. It is manifested by a distinct association of atypical pain at the dorsum pedis and in the foot. After a review of 10 cases and a literature survey, the authors describe the characteristic signs of this syndrome. There are many factors at the origin of this pathology: static deformities (pes cavus anterior, valgus calcaneus, hallux valgus), local trauma or repeated microtrauma (ill sitting shoe). The diagnosis is essentially clinical, based on a positive Tinel sign along the course of the nerve and on the result of a trial infiltration of the region. The treatment is initially conservative with correction of deformities, adaptation of shoes, and local infiltration with corticosteroids. The neurolysis (performed in 4 cases because of persistent pain), showed dystrophic fibrosis. Such histologic lesions are an argument for considering entrapment as a potential cause of the syndrome.

Adult

[Malaria in Guiana. I. General status of the endemic].

Before 1949 malaria was highly prevalent in the whole territory of French Guiana. When malaria control based on house-spraying and drug prophylaxis was implemented in 1950 the disease sharply dropped below 20 cases per year. Since 1976 despite vector control malaria is rising again. In 1987, 3,269 cases have been notified giving an incidence of 37.6 per thousand for the whole country population; only four deaths were recorded. All the age groups were concerned but the transmission was restricted to some foci along the Oyapock river (prevalence rate 25%), along the Maroni river (prevalence 2.3%) and in a few places of the coastal area. The main cities remain malaria free. In vivo resistance to chloroquine was observed in 22% of the cases which could be cleared by amodiaquine or quinine.

Adolescent

[Malaria in Guiana. II. The characteristics of different foci and antimalarial control].

In French Guiana, the distribution of malaria in foci inhabited by quite different ethnic groups calls for specific studies. Along the Oyapock on the Brasilian border and along the Litani on the Surinam border, incidence among American Indians and Creoles ranges from 300 and 900 per thousand; Plasmodium falciparum accounts for 65% and P. vivax for 35%. Along the middle and lower Maroni on the Surinam border, the Boni and Ndjukas Negroes move freely through the frontier and since the civil strife Surinamese used to attend health centres of Guiana. Therefore it is difficult to find the sources of contamination and the incidence among French citizens; P. falciparum is the only parasite recorded in this focus. In 1987 a small outbreak mainly due to P. vivax, occurred in a Lao refugees village in the hinterland. The coastal foci harbour large communities of Haitian and Brazilian migrants. The vector is Anopheles darlingi and up to now there is no evidence that other species could be involved. The rise of malaria despite of control measures involves several factors: the house spraying is no more accepted by a large percentage of house holders and the alternative larviciding has only a limited efficacy; the houses of American Indians have no walls to be sprayed; there is a continuous introduction of parasites by migrants. It has been said that vectors have change their behaviour toward exophily but such a statement has not yet been supported by evidence. All these factors should be taken in account to improve malaria control.

Animals

[Musculo-cutaneous nerve syndrome in the foot. Apropos of 10 cases].

In 10 cases, the authors describe the musculo-cutaneous nerve syndrome in the foot. It involves pain and paresthesias located on the dorsal aspect of the foot, occurring after local trauma or repeated microtraumas (ill fitted shoes), promoted by a static disorder (anterior hollow foot, calcaneal valgus). The diagnosis is essentially clinical, based on the presence of a Tinel sign on the dorsum of the foot and on the infiltration test. The treatment consists in the combination of local measures and steroid infiltration. Neurolysis is only indicated in case of failure of the medical treatment (4 cases). Then, it always proves to be effective.

Adult

Inhibitory effect of almitrine on dopaminergic activity of rat carotid body.

Almitrine increases ventilation by stimulating the peripheral arterial chemoreceptors. This study assessed the effects of acute and chronic almitrine treatments on the dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) contents and utilization rates in the rat carotid body. Almitrine (5 mg/kg ip) caused a 34% reduction in DA content after 30 min. Extending the almitrine treatment for 15 days (one daily ip injection) produced a further progressive diminution in DA stores (-55%; P less than 0.01). The utilization rate of DA measured after inhibiting catecholamine biosynthesis by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine was strongly reduced by almitrine (-98% after 15 days; P less than 0.01). The effects of almitrine were dose dependent. The noradrenergic activity was much less altered by the drug. The data showed that almitrine can modify the dynamics of DA in rat carotid body producing a decrease in both content and utilization rate.

Almitrine

[Conjugation of catecholamines: basic and physiopathological aspects].

In man, the major portion of plasmatic and urinary catecholamines is found in a conjugated/sulfate form. The biological characteristics of the conjugates (formation sites, kinetics of appearance and disappearance from the plasma, genetic regulation, influence of biological factors) are different from those of the free forms. Physiopathological data show that the dosage conjugated catecholamines together with that of free amines, provides interesting informations on the integrative level of sympathetic activity and on the regulation of the catecholamines plasma concentrations by conjugation. In these two objectives, the dosage of DA sulfate proves very important.

Binding Sites

[Talalgia].

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Adult

Free, glucuronide, and sulfate catecholamines in the rat: effect of hypoxia.

The formation and excretion of conjugated catecholamines (CA) was studied in conscious rats after sympathetic stimulation by hypoxia (5.5-6% O2, 4 h). Hypoxia induced a rapid and intense increase of free epinephrine (E, X 12) and norepinephrine (NE, X 6) but only a limited enhancement of free dopamine (DA, X 2). Sulfate conjugates of E and NE had kinetics similar to the free forms, while glucuronides were only moderately and lately altered. In contrast to free and sulfated DA, DA glucuronide, the major plasma conjugate, was decreased (-25%). This result suggests that DA glucuronide, unlike other CA conjugates, is not related to detoxication but might supply a CA precursor. Urinary conjugates badly reflected plasma conjugates. In normoxic controls, CA conjugates prevailed in the plasma, whereas the free amines prevailed in the urine. Hypoxia increased mainly the excretion of E and NE glucuronide but not of the free amines. Urinary DA, free or conjugated, was decreased (-25%), a result in keeping with plasma DA glucuronide only. The poor relations between plasma and urine catecholamines pinpoint the importance of the kidney in CA handling.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid

[Changes in blood levels of noradrenaline in man following short and long term exogenous infusion].

Norepinephrine (NE) was infused in four normal men in doses of 1.5, 6.0 and 9.0 microgram/min for 60 min. The rise in plasma NE was observed only after 5 min and steady state plasma NE and infusion rates. The calculated turnover time averaged 35 sec for 1.5 microgram/min infusion and 20 sec for both 6.0 and 9.0 microgram/min infusion experiments. These differences may be explained by adjustments occurring in inactivation processes in relation to infused doses. A basal endogenous overflow rate of 15 ng kg-1 min-1 was calculated for NE. In the month following NE infusion plasma concentrations decreased exponentially but remained above preinfusion values during about 10 days. The above results confirm the important role of inactivation mechanisms to remove NE from plasma and show that the amine taken up by sympathetic neurons may be released over a long period following the end of infusion.

Adult