Biomedical subjects

L Hedler

Publications and source records attributed to L Hedler.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Modulation of noradrenaline release in the pithed rabbit: a role for angiotensin II.

This study in the pithed rabbit with electrically stimulated sympathetic outflow (spinal region, T-8; 3 Hz) was conducted to determine the contribution of the renin-angiotensin system to noradrenaline release in vivo. The rate of noradrenaline release (spillover) into the plasma was determined from the endogenous plasma noradrenaline level and the simultaneously determined noradrenaline plasma clearance. In the pithed rabbit, infusion of angiotensin II (0.1 microgram/kg/min i.v.) failed to increase the noradrenaline release rate and only slightly increased blood pressure. On the other hand, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (1 mg/kg i.v.) decreased both blood pressure and the noradrenaline release rate. Bilateral nephrectomy was performed to reduce endogenous angiotensin II formation; and in this case, infusion of angiotensin II markedly increased the noradrenaline release rate and blood pressure, whereas captopril had no effect on either parameter. These results suggest that angiotensin II modulates noradrenaline release in vivo through activation of facilitatory prejunctional angiotensin II receptors, and that in the pithed rabbit these receptors are probably maximally activated by endogenously synthesized angiotensin II. The actions of angiotensin II on noradrenaline release open the possibility that increases in blood pressure in the pithed rabbit--by decreasing renin release via intrarenal baroreceptors and hence decreasing angiotensin II formation--may lead to decreased noradrenaline release. This was investigated using phenylephrine (6 micrograms/kg/min i.v.), a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, and adrenaline (1 microgram/kg/min i.v.), and alpha 1/alpha 2-agonist. Both drugs increased blood pressure and decreased the noradrenaline release rate. After bilateral nephrectomy, the inhibitory effect of phenylephrine on noradrenaline release was abolished, whereas that of adrenaline was maintained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dual effect of adrenaline on noradrenaline release in the pithed rabbit.

We examined the effects of adrenaline on the noradrenaline release rate and plasma catecholamine levels in the pithed rabbit with electrically stimulated sympathetic outflow (3 Hz). Adrenaline (0.06 micrograms/kg/min) increased the rate of noradrenaline release into the plasma. This increase was prevented by propranolol (0.2 mg/kg + 0.1 mg/kg/h) and probably involves activation of presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors. A higher dose of adrenaline (1.0 micrograms/kg/min) significantly reduced the noradrenaline release rate. The reduction was "reversed" to a facilitatory effect by phenoxybenzamine (4 mg/kg). Propranolol alone slightly inhibited the noradrenaline release rate. After pretreatment with desipramine (1.0 mg/kg + 0.2 mg/kg/h), the inhibitory effect of propranolol on noradrenaline release was more pronounced and blood pressure was also lowered. However, in rabbits pretreated with captopril (1 mg/kg) in addition to desipramine, the sympathoinhibitory effect of propranolol was not observed. These results suggest that adrenaline can activate either presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors to increase noradrenaline release or, in higher doses, presynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors to inhibit noradrenaline release in vivo. The decrease in the noradrenaline release rate produced by propranolol alone may not be due to blockade of facilitatory presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors, but rather to depression of renin secretion. This would decrease angiotensin II formation and hence decrease the presynaptic release-enhancing effect of angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bremazocine causes sympatho-inhibition and hypotension in rabbits by activating peripheral kappa-receptors.

We have studied the effects of bremazocine on the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the arterial blood pressure of pithed rabbits with electrically (2 Hz) stimulated sympathetic outflow, and compared them with the effects of Leu-enkephalin and fentanyl. The 3H-noradrenaline plasma clearance and the plasma concentration of noradrenaline were used to calculate the rate of spillover of endogenous noradrenaline into the plasma; the spillover rate reflects the overall release of noradrenaline from postganglionic sympathetic neurones. Bremazocine (10 and 100 micrograms kg-1, followed by an infusion of 2 and 20 micrograms kg-1 h-1, respectively, i.v.) persistently decreased the noradrenaline spillover rate as well as blood pressure. Both effects were antagonized by naloxone. Leu-enkephalin (70 and 350 micrograms kg-1 min-1 i.v.) caused only transient hypotension. Fentanyl decreased blood pressure only at a very high dose (250 micrograms kg-1, followed by an infusion of 500 micrograms kg-1 h-1 i.v.). The effects of Leu-enkephalin and fentanyl were also antagonized by naloxone. When the blood pressure of pithed rabbits was raised by an intravenous infusion of noradrenaline, rather than by electrical stimulation, bremazocine, Leu-enkephalin, and fentanyl failed to produce hypotension. The results indicate that bremazocine inhibits the release of noradrenaline and, in consequence, lowers arterial pressure by activation of peripheral, probably prejunctional, opioid receptors. The receptors appear to be of the kappa-type.

Analgesics↗