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Biomedical subjects

K Kasamatsu

Publications and source records attributed to K Kasamatsu.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Enhanced efficacy of nilvadipine in hypertensives whose raised ambulatory blood pressure is sustained during sleep.

This study was designed to clarify the relationship between the antihypertensive effects of the calcium antagonist nilvadipine, and circadian changes in blood pressure. Based on measurements using an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system (ABPM), 17 outpatients with untreated essential hypertension were divided into two groups: a sustained hypertensive group (with a fall in blood pressure during sleep < 10%, n = 7) and a waking time hypertensive group (with a fall in blood pressure during sleep > or = 10%, n = 10). During treatment with nilvadipine (8 mg/day, > or = 2 weeks), patients were reexamined by ABPM. The antihypertensive effect of nilvadipine was significantly and negatively correlated with the night time fall in blood pressure: this effect was significantly greater in the sustained hypertensive group than in the waking time hypertensive group. These data suggest that the long acting calcium antagonist nilvadipine has more potent antihypertensive effects in patients with sustained hypertension ("nondippers") than in those whose hypertension lessens during sleep ("dippers").

Aged

Deficient activity of stimulatory nucleotide-binding regulatory protein in lymphocytes from patients with essential hypertension.

Lymphocytes are widely used as a model for the cardiovascular beta-adrenoceptor-adenylate cyclase system. We evaluated the role of this system in the pathogenesis of hypertension by studying lymphocytes obtained from patients with essential hypertension. Untreated hypertensive patients and normotensive control subjects were studied. The number and affinity of the beta-adrenoceptors were measured by a radioligand binding method with 125I-cyanopindolol. The responses of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to isoproterenol, cholera toxin, and forskolin were also determined. The concentration and affinity of beta-adrenoceptors did not differ significantly in the two groups, nor was a significant difference found in the basal level of cAMP. The effects of isoproterenol on the accumulation of cAMP were reduced in the lymphocytes from the hypertensive compared with the normotensive subjects. There was no significant difference in the effect of forskolin on cAMP accumulation in the two groups. These results indicate that the activity of the stimulatory nucleotide binding regulatory protein (Gs-protein) is reduced in lymphocytes from patients with essential hypertension. This defect of Gs-protein in the lymphocytes may represent a defect of Gs-protein in the cardiovascular system in such patients.

Adenylyl Cyclases

The noradrenaline precursor L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine exhibits antinociceptive activity via central alpha-adrenoceptors in the mouse.

1. Systemic (s.c. or p.o.) administration of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (droxidopa, L-threo-DOPS; L-DOPS), a noradrenaline precursor, at a dose-range of 100-800 mg kg-1, produced naloxone-resistant antinociception in a dose-dependent manner in the mouse, as assessed by the tail flick test, kaolin-induced writhing test and formalin-induced nociception test. 2. Antinociception elicited by L-DOPS (400 mg kg-1, s.c.) was not affected by s.c. injection of benserazide, a peripherally preferential L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, but was suppressed by its intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection. 3. I.c.v. or intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the non-selective alpha-blocker, phentolamine, significantly reduced L-DOPS-induced antinociception. 4. I.c.v. administration of the alpha 1-blocker, prazosin, but not the alpha 2-blocker, yohimbine, abolished the antinociceptive effects of L-DOPS. In contrast, both blockers, when administered i.t., exhibited significant inhibitory effects. 5. These results suggest that systemic L-DOPS produces opioid-independent antinociception, mediated by supraspinal alpha 1-adrenoceptors and by spinal alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors and may predict additional therapeutic applications of L-DOPS as an analgesic.

Administration, Oral

A case of orthostatic and postexertional hypotension with ischemic electrocardiographic changes.

A case of orthostatic and postexertional hypotension with ischemic electrocardiographic changes is reported. The etiology was considered to be the partial dysfunction of efferent sympathetic nerve endings. Peripheral adrenergic receptors (alpha and beta) were up-regulated, which might have caused pseudoischemic electrocardiographic changes and abnormal vasodilation after exercise.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases

L-Tyrosine-induced antinociception in the mouse: involvement of central delta-opioid receptors and bulbo-spinal noradrenergic system.

L-Tyrosine methyl ester (L-Tyr-OMe) produces naloxone-reversible antinociception in mice. This effect was characterized in the present study. L-Tyr-OMe administered s.c. at doses of 100-400 mg/kg elicited dose-dependent antinociception, which was antagonized by s.c. and i.c.v. naloxone at 1 mg/kg and 10 ng/mouse, respectively, but not by i.t. injection at 10 ng/mouse. The antinociceptive effect of systemic L-Tyr-OMe was also inhibited by naltrindole (0.1 mg/kg s.c.), a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, but was resistant to L-leucyl-L-arginine (3 micrograms/mouse i.c.v.), a kyotorphin (L-tyrosyl-L-arginine) receptor antagonist. This effect was reduced by i.t., but not by i.c.v., phentolamine at 0.1-1 microgram/mouse, while methysergide (10 microgram/mouse i.t.) and p-chlorophenylalanine (500 mg/kg s.c.) did not have such an inhibitory effect. L-Tyr-OMe, given i.c.v. and i.t. at 0.1-10 microgram/mouse, also produced dose-dependent antinociception, the latter effect being naloxone-reversible but resistant to i.t. phentolamine. These results suggest that L-Tyr-OMe (s.c.)-induced antinociception is mediated by central delta-opioid receptors and by the bulbo-spinal noradrenergic system, but not by the central 'kyotorphinergic' system, and that L-Tyr-OMe, when given i.t., produces antinociception via spinal opioidergic, but not noradrenergic systems.

Animals