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Biomedical subjects

J Genest

Publications and source records attributed to J Genest.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Conjugation of catecholamines, a variable to be accounted for in human hypertension.

A subgroup of essential hypertensive (EH) patients with high sympathetic tone had low plasma conjugated norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E), but elevated free NE and E and a hyperresponsiveness to various stimuli to the autonomic nervous system. Pheochromocytoma patients could also be divided according to conjugated NE + E levels, this time into normal and elevated conjugated groups. The latter seem to be somewhat protected by the conjugation, showing less free NE and E 'flooding' during hypertensive crises and lower VMA excretion. The degree of catecholamine conjugation can thus modify the sympathetic tone in hypertension.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Effect of captopril (SQ 14225) on blood pressure, plasma renin activity and angiotensin I converting enzyme activity.

Seven patients with essential hypertension and seven patients with hypertension associated with renal artery stenosis received captopril (SQ 14225), an inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme. There was a significant reduction in mean blood pressure, from 176/113 +/- 4/3 mm Hg during the control period to 140/90 +/- 5/3 mm Hg during captopril administration. Five patients received captopril alone and nine patients needed hydrochlorothiazide in addition to control their blood pressure. Captopril produced a significant increase in peripheral plasma renin activity. When measured 12 hours after the administration of captopril the angiotensin I converting enzyme activity was found to be similar to that during the control period even though the blood pressure was at or near normal. These findings indicate that although captopril is an effective antihypertensive agent, its action does not depend only on inhibition of plasma angiotensin I converting enzyme activity.

Adult↗

Effects of sodium chloride on early and chronic phases of malignant hypertension in rats.

Malignant hypertension was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a complete aortic ligation above the left renal artery. The effects of saline (0.9% NaCl) administration on the development and course of the malignant hypertensive vascular disease were studied and the treated rats were compared to non-saline-treated animals and to sham-operated controls in the early and chronic phases of the disease. In the early phase, blood pressure, hematocrit, body weight, and hypertensive vascular disease were characteristic of the malignant hypertensive process and were without significant difference in saline- and non-saline-treated animals. In contrast, the sham-operated rats remained normotensive and did not present abnormal histological findings. Plasma renin activity although decreased in the hypertensive saline-treated animals was not suppressed. In the chronic phase, NaCl administration caused an average increase of 40 g body weight during the 1-wk period this solution was given, but did not result in any improvement in blood pressure levels and vascular disease in treated rats compared to non-saline-treated animals.

Acute Disease↗

Role of the adrenal cortex and sodium in the pathogenesis of human hypertension.

After 30 years of continuous research into the mechanisms of human hypertension, we summarize the results obtained by the members of the multidisciplinary research group on hypertension of the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal on the disturbances of minerlocorticoid activity in a rigorously selected group of patients with early, mild essential hypertension. We attempt to integrate these findings with those of many other groups working on other aspects of hypertensive cardiovascular diseases. On the assumption that the increased peripheral resistance responsible for hypertension results from an imbalance or a disturbance of the equilibrium between the sympathetic nervous system and norepinephrine on one hand, and the vascular tone, sensitivity and responsiveness of the arterial smooth muscle to norepinephrine and to angiotensin II on the other hand, three models that fit the experimental and clinical facts as known at present are described.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Effect of antitonin on blood pressure in the one-kidney hypertensive rat.

1. The tonin concentration of saliva and submaxillary glands was studied in one-clip hypertensive rats with or without the contralateral kidney. 2. Salivary tonin concentration was elevated in one-kidney hypertensive rats, but not in one-kidney normotensive or two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats. In contrast, an elevated submaxillary gland tonin concentration was found only in uninephrectomized animals, whether normotensive or hypertensive. 3. A single intravenous administration of rabbit tonin antiserum into one-kidney hypertensive rats restored blood pressure to normal in seven out of ten animals. There was little change in blood pressure in two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive, uninephrectomized or sham-operated rats. 4. These findings suggest a connection between the physiology of the kidney and of the submaxillary gland in the rat, and indicate that tonin may play a significant role in maintaining high blood pressure in one-kidney hypertensive aniamls.

Animals↗

Free and conjugated catecholamines in human hypertension.

1. Noradrenaline and adrenaline in the adrenal vein of essential hypertensive patients are almost exclusively (99%) unconjugated or free. However only 17% of dopamine is free, the rest is conjugated. The further the site of sampling from the adrenal vein the closer come the free catecholamines to their normal peripheral venous proportion (noradrenaline + adrenaline 20%, dopamine less than 1% of total catecholamines). Deviations from these patterns help to detect the site and type of secretion of phaeochromocytoma. 2. Essential hypertensive patients have, compared with control subjects, higher conjugated plasma dopamine, less urinary free and conjugated dopamine with blunted urinary free dopamine and sodium responsiveness to frusemide. Conjugated noradrenaline + adrenaline, mean arterial pressure and age are positively interrelated. 3. Patients with primary aldosteronism have elevated plasma and urinary total dopamine. After removal of the adenoma urinary dopamine excretion decreases to normal. 4. Elevated conjugated dopamine appears to reflect a compensatory activation of the dopaminergic vasodilator pathway in hypertension, the total urinary dopamine excretion an intrinsic deficiency or compensatory increase of a dopamine-modulated natriuretic mechanism.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

A direct radioimmunoassay for tonin.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for the measurement of tonin is described. It is based on the use of antibodies produced in rabbits against highly purified tonin obtained from rat submaxillary gland. A radioiodinated enzyme with high specific activity was obtained by the chloramine-T method. Optimal conditions for radioimmunoprecipitation were established and the double-antibody method was used to separate bound and free tonin. The radioimmunoassay may be used to measure tonin in amounts as low as 150 pg. This radioimmunoassay was applied to the measurement of tonin in rat saliva and in homogenates of submaxillary glands. Excellent correlation was found between tonin activity measured fluorometrically and tonin concentration obtained by the radioimmunoassay.

Antibodies↗

N-Terminal amino acid sequence of rat tonin: homology with serine proteases.

In this paper, we present the amino-terminal sequence of rat tonin, an endopeptidase responsible for the conversion of angiotensinogen, the tetradecapeptide renin substrate, or angiotensin I to angiotensin II. It is shown that isoleucine and proline occupy the amino- and carboxy-terminal residues respectively. The N-terminal sequence analysis permitted the identification of 34 out of the first 40 residues of the single polypeptide chain composed of 272 amino acids. These results showed an extensive homology with the sequence of many serine proteases of the trypsin-chymotrypsin family. This information, coupled with the slow inhibition of tonin by diisopropylfluorophosphate, classified this enzyme as a selective endopeptidase of the active serine protease family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗