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Biomedical subjects

J E Hall

Publications and source records attributed to J E Hall.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Vesicle-membrane fusion. Observation of simultaneous membrane incorporation and content release.

Vesicle fusion, the central process of neurotransmitter release and hormonal secretion, is a complex process culminating in simultaneous incorporation of vesicle membrane into the plasma membrane and release of the vesicular contents extracellularly. This report describes simultaneous observation of membrane incorporation and content release using a model system composed of a planar bilayer and dye-filled vesicles.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Role of channels in the fusion of vesicles with a planar bilayer.

Fluorescence microscopy combined with electrical conductance measurements were used to assess fusion of phospholipid vesicles with a planar bilayer. Large unilamellar vesicles (0.5-3 microns diam.) filled with the fluorescent dye, calcein, were made both with or without porin channels. Vesicle-bilayer fusion was induced by increasing the osmolarity of the solution on the side of the bilayer to which the vesicles were added. Fusion was detected optically by the fluorescent flash due to release of vesicular contents. Although both porin-containing and porin-free vesicles give the same kind of flash upon content release, the conditions necessary to induce release are very different. Only 4% of the porin-free vesicles fuse (release their contents) when subjected to 3 M urea. However, the same conditions induce 53% of the porin-containing vesicles to fuse and most of these fusions occur at a lower osmolarity ([urea] less than 400 mM). Thus channels greatly enhance fusion in this model system. A physical model based on the postulate that fusion is induced by an increase in surface tension, predicts that three conditions are necessary for fusion in this system: (a) an open channel in the vesicle membrane, (b) an osmotic gradient across the bilayer, and (c) the vesicle in contact with the planar membrane. These are the conditions that experimentally produce fusion in the model system.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Alamethicin adsorption to a planar lipid bilayer.

The effect of alamethicin and its derivatives on the voltage-dependent capacitance of phosphatidylethanolamine (squalane) membranes was measured using two different methods: lock-in detection and voltage pulse. Alamethicin and its derivatives modulate the voltage-dependent capacitance at voltages lower than the voltage at which alamethicin-induced conductance is detected. The magnitude and sign of this alamethicin-induced capacitance change depends on the aqueous alamethicin concentration and the kind of alamethicin used. Our experimental data can be interpreted as a potential-dependent pseudocapacitance associated with adsorbed alamethicin. Pseudocapacitance is expressed as a function of alamethicin charge, its concentration in the bathing solution and the applied electric field. The theory describes the dependence of the capacitance on applied voltage and alamethicin concentration. When alamethicin is neutral the theory predicts no change of the voltage-dependent capacitance with either sign of applied voltage. Experimental data are consistent with the model in which alamethicin molecules interact with each other while being adsorbed to the membrane surface. The energy of this interaction depends on the alamethicin concentration.

Alamethicin↗
PubMed1988

Computer models for designing hypertension experiments and studying concepts.

This paper demonstrates how computer models along with animal experiments have been used to work out the conceptual bases of hypertensive mechanisms, especially the following: (1) The renal-fluid volume pressure control mechanism has a feed-back gain for pressure control of infinity. Therefore, the chronic level to which the arterial pressure is controlled can be changed only by altering this pressure control mechanism. (2) An increase in total peripheral resistance is not sufficient by itself to cause hypertension. The only resistances in the circulatory system that, when increased, will cause hypertension are those along a restricted axis from the root of the aorta to Bowman's capsule in the kidneys. (3) Autoregulation in the peripheral vascular beds does not increase the arterial pressure in hypertension. However, autoregulation can convert high cardiac output hypertension into high peripheral resistance hypertension. (4) In a computer simulation that cannot yet be performed in animals, a simulated hypertension caused by a combination of increased renal afferent and efferent arteriolar resistances has characteristics that match almost exactly those of essential hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Pressure natriuresis and control of arterial pressure during chronic norepinephrine infusion.

The goal of this study was to quantitate changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal function during chronic increases in plasma levels of norepinephrine, and to determine the role of the renal pressure natriuresis mechanism in controlling sodium balance in norepinephrine hypertension. In six conscious dogs in which renal artery pressure (RAP) was allowed to increase during 7 days of norepinephrine infusion (0.2 micrograms/kg per min), sodium excretion (UNaV) rose from 66 +/- 3 to 112 +/- 15 mmol/day and MAP increased from 100 +/- 3 to 109 +/- 3 mmHg on the first day. On days 2-7, UNaV returned toward the control level while MAP averaged 108 +/- 2 mmHg. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) did not change significantly, averaging 85.9 +/- 4.0 and 235 +/- 17 ml/min, respectively, during 7 days of norepinephrine, compared to controls of 84.1 +/- 3.9 and 252 +/- 20 ml/min. When RAP was servo-controlled for 7 days during norepinephrine infusion, the natriuresis was abolished; UNaV averaged 76 +/- 8 during control, 77 +/- 13 during the first day of norepinephrine and 65 +/- 4 mmol/day during 7 days of norepinephrine. GFR and ERPF did not change significantly during norepinephrine infusion with RAP held constant. MAP did not reach a plateau but continued to rise from 102 +/- 3 to 137 +/- 3 mmHg after 7 days of norepinephrine and servo-control of RAP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1988

Control of sodium excretion in NE-ACTH hypertension: role of pressure natriuresis.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in the presence of high circulating catecholamines, ACTH decreases renal excretory capability and that its natriuretic effects are caused by increased renal arterial pressure (RAP). In six conscious dogs, norepinephrine (NE, 0.4 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) alone for 5 days caused a small but significant rise in arterial pressure (AP) from 102 +/- 6 to 115 +/- 8 mmHg. An infusion of ACTH (600 micrograms/day) for 7 days, superimposed upon the NE, caused a further rise in AP to a plateau of 143 +/- 9 mmHg after 5 days while cumulative sodium balance fell to -149 +/- 41 meq by the 7th day. Cumulative water balance fell to -660 +/- 232 ml by the 3rd day and then increased slightly. In contrast, when ACTH infusion was repeated during NE infusion while RAP was prevented from increasing using a servo-controlled aortic occluder, cumulative sodium balance increased to 197 +/- 35 meq and AP rose from 108 +/- 5 to 168 +/- 5 mmHg after 7 days and did not plateau. Cumulative water balance rose to 2,325 +/- 445 ml. Thus, in dogs receiving a background infusion of NE, ACTH causes moderate hypertension and natriuresis. However, when RAP is not allowed to rise, ACTH is associated with sodium retention and severe systemic hypertension, suggesting that the natriuretic effects of ACTH are caused by increased RAP and that the natriuresis blunts the chronic hypertensive effects of ACTH.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Interactions between angiotensin II and renal nerves during chronic sodium deprivation.

The aim of this study was to examine the importance of the renal nerves in mediating the sodium-retaining actions of angiotensin II (ANG II) during chronic sodium deprivation. In seven female dogs the left kidney was denervated and the urinary bladder was split, allowing continuous urine collection from separate innervated and denervated kidneys in the same dog. The dogs were maintained on a low-sodium diet (7 meq/day) for 9 days and then infused with the converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril (CAP, 14 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, 7 days) followed by CAP plus ANG II (10 ng.kg-1.min-1, 7 days). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell from a control of 88 +/- 4 (average for 5 days preceding CAP) to 65 +/- 3 mmHg during CAP. Infusion of ANG II along with CAP restored MAP to 97 +/- 5 mmHg. There were no significant differences in urine volume or sodium, potassium, chloride, or osmolar excretions between innervated and denervated kidneys during the control period, CAP infusion, or CAP plus ANG II infusion. Norepinephrine content was reduced by 99 +/- 1% in denervated kidneys. Because a differential response was not observed between innervated and denervated kidneys during ANG II blockade or infusion of ANG II, we conclude that the renal nerves do not play a major role in mediating the sodium-retaining effects of ANG II during chronic sodium restriction.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1988

Venous occlusion pressure and vascular permeability in the dog lung after air embolization.

Pulmonary edema has frequently been associated with air embolization of the lung. In the present study the hemodynamic effects of air emboli (AE) were studied in the isolated mechanically ventilated canine right lower lung lobe (RLL), pump perfused at a constant blood flow. Air was infused via the pulmonary artery (n = 7) at 0.6 ml/min until pulmonary arterial pressure (Pa) rose 250%. While Pa rose from 12.4 +/- 0.6 to 44.6 +/- 2.0 (SE) cmH2O (P less than 0.05), venous occlusion pressure remained constant (7.0 +/- 0.5 to 6.8 +/- 0.6 cmH2O; P greater than 0.05). Lobar vascular resistance (RT) increased from 2.8 +/- 0.3 to 12.1 +/- 0.2 Torr.ml-1.min.10(-2) (P less than 0.05), whereas the venous occlusion technique used to determine the segmental distribution of vascular resistance indicated the increase in RT was confined to vessels upstream to the veins. Control lobes (n = 7) administered saline at a similar rate showed no significant hemodynamic changes. As an index of microvascular injury the pulmonary filtration coefficient (Kf) was obtained by sequential elevations of lobar vascular pressures. The Kf was 0.11 +/- 0.01 and 0.07 +/- 0.01 ml.min-1.Torr-1.100 g RLL-1 in AE and control lobes, respectively (P less than 0.05). Despite a higher Kf in AE lobes, total lobe weight gains did not differ and airway fluid was not seen in the AE group. Although air embolization caused an increase in upstream resistance and vascular permeability, venous occlusion pressure did not increase, and marked edema did not occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The utility of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test in the detection of alcoholics and problem drinkers.

This study examined the vulnerability of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), a widely used, direct alcohol inventory, to positive dissimulation. An earlier study by developers of the MAST suggested that most alcoholics were unable to alter their scores and thereby avoid detection by the instrument. But closer examination indicated that a standard scoring procedure was not employed. This study examined the ability of alcoholics to avoid detection by the MAST when using a standard scoring procedure. As predicted, alcoholics readily manipulated their MAST scores and avoided detection when so motivated. These results are discussed, indications and contraindications for use are included, and recommendations regarding future research are made.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Hyperfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in women with polycystic ovarian disease: indirect evidence for partial gonadotroph desensitization.

To examine gonadotropin secretory frequency as a component of the disordered neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), we measured serum gonadotropin concentrations in 12 women with PCOD at 10-min intervals for periods of 12-24 h. The patterns of LH and FSH release in these patients were compared to the findings of 24 studies in 21 age-matched normal women during the early, mid- and late follicular phases (EFP, MFP and LFP) of their cycles. Serum sex steroid levels during the 12-24 h of study in the women with PCOD were compared to those in normal women studied during the follicular phase. The mean serum estradiol (E2) level in the women with PCOD was similar to that in normal women studied in the EFP, but lower than those in normal women in the MFP (P less than 0.05) and LFP (P less than 0.01). Mean serum estrone, however, was significantly higher in women with PCOD than in women in the EFP and MFP (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.02, respectively), but lower than that in women in the LFP (P less than 0.02). Total and unbound testosterone (T) levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOD compared to those in normal women at all stages of the follicular phase (P less than 0.001). The mean serum LH concentration and LH pulse amplitude were markedly elevated in the women with PCOD compared to normal women at all three stages of the follicular phase (P less than 0.05 or less). In addition, LH pulse frequency was faster in women with PCOD [24.8 +/- 0.9 ( +/- SE) pulses/24 h] than that in women in the EFP (15.6 +/- 0.7; P less than 0.01), MFP (22.2 +/- 1.1; P less than 0.05) and LFP (20.8 +/- 1.2; P less than 0.01). This increased LH pulse frequency in women with PCOD correlated with ambient serum E2 levels on the day of study (r = 0.84; P less than 0.001), but not with serum estrone, T, or unbound T. Repeat studies in four women with PCOD demonstrated a similarly abnormal gonadotropin secretory pattern in each. We conclude that 1) women with PCOD have an increase in both the amplitude and frequency of LH secretion compared to those in normally cycling women throughout the follicular phase; 2) the defect in women with PCOD is reproducible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Evidence of differential control of FSH and LH secretion by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the use of a GnRH antagonist.

The differential regulation of immunoactive FSH and LH secretion by endogenous GnRH was studied using a GnRH antagonist, [Ac-D2Nal1,D4FPhe2,DTrp3,DArg6]GnRH (the NAL-ARG antagonist), in normal women in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, and their responses were compared to those in two groups of control women. Pulsatile LH secretion was examined as an index of the completeness of blockade of endogenous GnRH secretion. There was a dose-dependent decrease in both the frequency and amplitude of LH pulses. At the highest dose, LH pulses were completely abolished within 20 min after sc administration of the GnRH antagonist and for a minimum of 8 h in all women. The mean plasma LH levels were reduced within the first 4 h after antagonist administration at all doses (P less than 0.001). The duration of LH suppression was influenced by antagonist dose, with a continued effect 24 h after administration of the 500 micrograms/kg dose only. The maximum degree of LH suppression was 40% after 50 micrograms/kg (n = 6), 60% after 150 micrograms/kg (n = 6), and 59% after 500 micrograms/kg (n = 5). In contrast, plasma immunoreactive FSH levels did not change after these doses of the NAL-ARG GnRH antagonist. The maximum degree of FSH suppression was 16%, and the changes in plasma FSH concentrations were not dose dependent. Serum antagonist concentrations rose within 30 min after its administration to mean peak levels of 7.5 +/- 2.1 (+/- SE), 20.4 +/- 6.1, and 151 +/- 21 ng/mL after the 50, 150, and 500 micrograms/kg doses, respectively. The half-time of the disappearance of the NAL-ARG GnRH antagonist from plasma was 8.8 +/- 1.5 h. While there were no effects of antagonist administration on hematological, hepatic, or renal function, three women developed urticaria distant from the site of injection when administered the highest dose. We conclude that blockade of GnRH receptors by a GnRH antagonist 1) effectively antagonizes the action of GnRH, as assessed by its ability to block pulsatile LH secretion and reduce mean plasma LH levels; and 2) inhibits LH release to a considerably greater degree than FSH release, providing further evidence of possible GnRH-independent FSH secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Interaction between renal prostaglandins and angiotensin II in controlling glomerular filtration in the dog.

Although previous studies suggest that the renal vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) are normally confined to the efferent arterioles, the mechanisms that prevent ANG II from constricting preglomerular vessels are still unclear. In the present study, the role of prostaglandins (PG) in protecting preglomerular vessels from ANG II constriction was examined in dogs with normal or non-filtering kidneys in which ANG II formation was blocked with captopril and renal artery pressure was servo-controlled at 75-80 mmHg. Before PG blockade (n = 6), ANG II infusion (20 ng min-1 kg-1) decreased renal blood flow (RBF) by 54 +/- 4%, but did not change glomerular filtration rate (GFR) significantly. After PG blockade (n = 6), ANG II infusion decreased GFR by 37 +/- 7% and RBF by 56 +/- 6%, while increasing calculated preglomerular resistance much more than before PG blockade. In another group of dogs, secondary changes in renal resistances, due to tubuloglomerular feedback, were prevented by occluding the ureter during mannitol diuresis until glomerular filtration ceased. After inhibition of tubuloglomerular feedback in non-filtering kidneys (n = 7), ANG II decreased RBF by 40 +/- 3% and increased glomerular hydrostatic pressure, estimated from stop-flow ureteral pressure and plasma colloid osmotic pressure, by 8.7 +/- 1.7 mmHg. Postglomerular resistance increased by 91 +/- 12% while preglomerular resistance was unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1987

Autoregulation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate in the pregnant rabbit.

Our purpose was to determine whether renal autoregulatory capability is retained in pregnancy despite the marked renal vasodilation that occurs at this time. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured in anesthetized pregnant (22-27 days gestation) and nonpregnant rabbits during step reductions in renal perfusion pressure from control (100 +/- 3 mmHg) to 50 mmHg. Control renal blood flow and GFR were significantly higher in pregnant animals, averaging 65 +/- 5 and 13.1 +/- 1.1 ml/min, respectively, compared with 50 +/- 5 and 9.4 +/- 1.2 ml/min in nonpregnant rabbits. Filtration fraction was also significantly elevated in pregnant animals (0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.01 in nonpregnant rabbits). During step reductions in renal perfusion pressure, renal blood flow was well autoregulated down to approximately 70 mmHg in both nonpregnant and pregnant animals, falling by only 9 +/- 4 and 12 +/- 5%, respectively. Likewise, GFR was also well autoregulated, falling by 10 +/- 2 and 8 +/- 3% in nonpregnant and pregnant animals, respectively, when perfusion pressure was reduced from 90 to 70 mmHg. These results suggest that renal autoregulation is preserved in pregnancy despite the fact that the renal circulation is already markedly vasodilated.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Control of renal hemodynamics in hyperglycemia: possible role of tubuloglomerular feedback.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that hyperglycemia, comparable with that found in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, increases renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through a tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. We infused glucose intrarenally (0.1-0.3 g/min) into anesthetized dogs with normal kidneys (NK), with nonfiltering kidneys (NFK) in which changes in TGF were blocked, and with normal kidneys in which renal perfusion pressure (RAP) was lowered to the limits of renal autoregulation (LPK). Calculated intrarenal plasma glucose levels rose to 250-400 mg/dl. In NK (n = 6) RBF and GFR increased by 18 +/- 3 and 19 +/- 5%, respectively, and renal vascular resistance fell by 17 +/- 2% after 90 min. The renal hemodynamic responses to glucose were abolished in NFK (n = 8); RBF averaged 96 +/- 4% of control after 60 min of hyperglycemia. RBF and GFR did not change during hyperglycemia in LPK (n = 5), averaging 96 +/- 1 and 100 +/- 8% of control, respectively, after 60 min. Autoregulation of RBF and GFR during reductions in RAP was impaired during hyperglycemia in NK; RBF and GFR were effectively autoregulated between RAP of 126 and 70-85 mmHg during the control period, whereas during glucose infusion RBF and GFR fell by 31 +/- 9 and 47 +/- 10%, respectively, when RAP was reduced in steps to 70 mmHg. These data suggest that hyperglycemia impairs renal autoregulation and may increase renal blood flow and GFR through a tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism.

Animals↗