Biomedical subjects

L P Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to L P Thompson.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Predictive testing for Huntington disease in Canada: adverse effects and unexpected results in those receiving a decreased risk.

By January 1, 1991, a total of 388 persons had enrolled in the Canadian collaborative study of predictive testing for Huntington disease (HD). Of these participants, 105 persons have been given a decreased risk result. Contrary to expectations, approximately 10% of persons with a decreased risk result have had psychological difficulties coping with their new status. Here, we describe the individual responses of 6 such persons and experimental themes emerging after following these persons for up to 2 years. Individuals who are more likely to suffer an adverse reaction to a decreased risk result include those persons who have made irreversible decisions based on the belief they would develop HD or those who had unrealistic overoptimistic expectations of the positive effects of a decreased risk result. In contrast to those receiving an increased risk result, the most vulnerable time for persons receiving a decreased risk result is between 2 and 12 months after learning the outcome. The need for assessment and counselling of participants in predictive testing programs, even when there is a decreased risk result, is emphasized.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor and indomethacin-sensitive contracting factor alter arterial contractile responses to thromboxane during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy reduces uterine artery contractile responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in many species, including the human and the guinea pig, by release of endothelium-derived relaxing substances. We hypothesized that vascular reactivity to thromboxane during pregnancy would also be reduced by a similar mechanism. STUDY DESIGN: Isolated ring segments of uterine and carotid arteries from nonpregnant and near-term pregnant guinea pigs were suspended in a myograph for the measurement of isometric tension. RESULTS: Uterine but not carotid artery sensitivity to cumulative addition of the thromboxane analog U46619 was decreased during pregnancy. The maximal contractile responses of both vessels were unaltered by pregnancy. N omega-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) mol/L), an inhibitor of nitric oxide endothelium-derived relaxing factor synthesis, increased the sensitivity of uterine and carotid arteries to U46619 in both pregnant and nonpregnant animals. The maximal contractile response of uterine arteries from pregnant guinea pigs was also increased, but that of nonpregnant ones was not. The maximal U46619 contractile response of the carotid artery was not significantly altered by N omega-nitro-L-arginine. Indomethacin (10(-5) mol/L), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, reduced both the sensitivity and the maximal response of U46619 in each vessel group. Removal of the endothelium from uterine artery of pregnant animals enhanced both sensitivity and maximal response to U46619. Pretreatment of the denuded segments with indomethacin reduced the sensitivity to U46619. However, indomethacin-treated denuded segments were still more sensitive to U46619 than controls. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of guinea pig uterine artery but not carotid artery to thromboxane is reduced during pregnancy. Although the precise mechanism remains unclear, both endothelium-derived relaxing factor and an indomethacin-sensitive contracting factor are involved. If indomethacin-sensitive contracting factor is released by humans and disease alters that release, it is possible that any enhanced contractile response to thromboxane resulting from the loss of endothelium-derived relaxing agents such as prostacyclin and endothelium-derived relaxing factor would be offset by the loss of indomethacin-sensitive contracting factor.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Pregnancy reduces serotonin-induced contraction of guinea pig uterine and carotid arteries.

Because platelet activation and serotonin have been implicated in preeclamptic hypertension, we investigated the effect of pregnancy on the contractile response to this agent. Prior studies have shown that the vascular contractions to norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and thromboxane are reduced during normal pregnancy by the altered release of endothelium-derived vasoactive substances. We hypothesized that the contraction to serotonin would also be reduced during pregnancy by an endothelium-dependent mechanism. Isolated ring segments from uterine and carotid arteries of near-term pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs were studied after stimulating a small amount of active tone with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Serotonin (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) contractile responses of both arteries were reduced by pregnancy. Regardless of pregnancy status, the contractile responses of the uterine artery to serotonin were severalfold greater than that of the carotid artery whose maximum averaged only 10% of the 120 mM KCl contraction. Denudation of uterine artery abolished acetylcholine-stimulated relaxation in vessels from pregnant and nonpregnant animals. However, serotonin-induced contractions were enhanced by denudation only in ring segments obtained from pregnant animals. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition by either NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or N omega-nitro-L-arginine and cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin had no effect on serotonin-induced contraction of intact uterine artery regardless of pregnancy. L-NMMA modestly enhanced the intact carotid arterial response to 10(-5) M serotonin independent of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Protein kinase C as a modulator of response amplification in vascular smooth muscle.

The amplification of alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction by angiotensin II was studied in femoral artery rings from rabbits. Threshold concentrations of angiotensin II (0.1 nM) increased the maximal response to clonidine to 139 +/- 8% of control and produced a 3.2-fold increase in sensitivity. These effects of angiotensin II were reversed when tissues were pretreated with staurosporine (50 nM), an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The amplification of the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor effects of thrombin and norepinephrine by angiotensin II were also reversed by pretreatment with staurosporine. Angiotensin II induced a response amplification in vascular smooth muscle known to be a nonspecific phenomenon, implying postreceptor interaction at intracellular transducer systems. Our findings suggest that upon activation of protein kinase C by angiotensin II, arterial responses to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists are amplified. This provides for nonspecific changes in vascular sensitivity by tonic alterations in postsynaptic modulation by enzyme systems known to regulate Ca2(+)-dependent phenomena, e.g. those related to vascular excitation-contraction mechanisms.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1989

Pharmacology of TA-3090 (8-chloro diltiazem) related to its cerebrovascular protective properties.

TA-3090 (8-chloro diltiazem) has been shown in three experimental circumstances to have cerebrovascular protective properties. In vitro investigation of its pharmacology was undertaken to determine the foundation of this effect. Based on contractile responses of rabbit arteries to high potassium and norepinephrine, TA-3090 has some selectivity for cerebral and renal artery potential-sensitive and cerebral receptor-operated calcium-dependent mechanisms. It has no effect on arterial contraction to sympathetic nerve stimulation. It prevents the increase in uptake of 45Ca2+ in response to K+ (80 mM) in rabbit thoracic aorta and antagonizes the contractile effect of the putative cerebrovascular spasmogen alpha-thrombin on the femoral artery. All these effects take place in concentrations below those that significantly depress the action of the rabbit atrium. TA-3090 has little or no effect on other factors known to regulate cerebral blood flow (e.g., stretch-induced contraction and flow-induced contraction and dilation). This spectrum of pharmacologic activity suggests that TA-3090 would selectively block Ca2+ entry into cerebrovascular smooth muscle through potential-sensitive and receptor-operated Ca2+ channels that would be expected to increase in subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral ischemia. The action would occur using doses that have little effect on other factors that contribute to the control of cerebral blood flow.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Purification and characterization of two forms of rat interleukin-2.

Rat IL-2 produced by spleen cells in culture with concanavalin A was purified using gel filtration, hydrophobic chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. At least two forms of rat IL-2 were found to be separable by ion-exchange chromatography. These two forms have been designated form I and form II. Form I of rat IL-2 was purified by a factor of 1297 and found to have a pI of 6.4. Form II was purified by a factor of 669 and found to have a pI between 5.4 and 6.1. Lectin chromatography was used to demonstrate that these two forms most likely differ in the extent of glycosylation. In the presence of tunicamycin the production of form II was significantly reduced. The two forms of rat IL-2 differ in their abilities to promote a mixed-lymphocyte reaction. Their differences in glycosylation may be the reason for these differences in activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Calcium influx and vascular reactivity in systemic hypertension.

Numerous studies have focused on functional vascular changes that characterize the hypertensive state. Recent evidence that suggests that increased vascular reactivity in hypertension is due to changes in the delivery of activator Ca++ through channels in the cell membrane will be reviewed. The primary evidence supporting this hypothesis comes from studies that characterize the effects of Ca++-free solution and calcium channel blockers on contractile properties of isolated vascular smooth muscle. In the present study, experiments were performed to investigate the role of Ca++ influx in vascular contractions produced by interventions that cause membrane depolarization. Isometric tension development in helical strips of carotid arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats in response to elevated K+ and tetraethylammonium chloride was greater than that in carotid arteries from Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats. The rate of tension development to K+-free solution in carotid arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats was faster than in Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rat arteries. Contractile responses to all 3 depolarizing interventions were reduced in arterial strips incubated in Ca++-free solution containing the chelator ethylene glycol bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and in arterial strips treated with the Ca++ channel blocker verapamil. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that constrictor stimuli that produce membrane depolarization cause an opening of Ca++ channels in the plasma membrane that are sensitive to the organic channel blockers. Further, a change in Ca++ permeability or membrane depolarizing mechanisms contributes to increased contractile responsiveness in carotid arteries of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Vascular responsiveness to serotonin metabolites in mineralocorticoid hypertension.

This study characterizes vascular responsiveness to serotonin and its metabolites and to several monoamines that are structurally related to serotonin in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Mesenteric arteries from normotensive and hypertensive rats were excised and cut into helical strips for isometric force recording. Dose-response curves to serotonin in arteries from hypertensive rats were shifted significantly to the left compared with those in arteries from normotensive rats (ED25: DOCA-treated = 2.4 X 10(-8) M; control = 17.1 X 10(-8) M). Contractile responses to 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and 5-hydroxytryptophol were greater in mesenteric arteries from hypertensive rats, whereas reactivity to 5-methoxytryptamine and melatonin in arteries from hypertensive rats did not differ from that in arteries from normotensive rats. Mesenteric arteries from both rat groups were unresponsive to the serotonin metabolite N-acetylserotonin. Contractile responses to 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine and 6-hydroxytryptamine were greater in mesenteric arteries from hypertensive rats, whereas responsiveness to 3-hydroxytryptamine in hypertensive arteries did not differ from normotensive values. Contractile responses to serotonin and its metabolites and to the structurally related monoamines were inhibited by the serotonergic antagonist ketanserin. These results demonstrate that vascular sensitivity to serotonin is increased in DOCA-hypertensive rats. Based on the experiments with serotonin metabolites and with other monoamines, the increased responsiveness to these compounds appears to be related to the structural location of hydroxyl and amine moieties.

5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

PubMed1986

Aminophylline and interstitial adenosine during sustained exercise hyperemia.

We tested the hypothesis that an increase in interstitial fluid (ISF) adenosine concentration contributes to vasodilation of high oxidative skeletal muscle during sustained free-flow exercise. Canine calf muscles were stimulated at 3 Hz for 10 min before and after the infusion of the adenosine receptor antagonist aminophylline (10 mg/kg). The vasodilation that occurred during aminophylline infusion was allowed to decay before the postaminophylline exercise period was begun. This dose of aminophylline shifted the response to infused adenosine 20-fold during rest and reduced the response to a standard dose by 90% during exercise. Aminophylline had no significant effect on blood flow or on O2 consumption at rest or during exercise. Adenosine release (venous minus arterial plasma concentration times plasma flow) increased during 3-Hz exercise both before and after aminophylline infusion, but venous plasma adenosine concentration did not increase in either case. We developed a mathematical model of adenosine movement between ISF and plasma to help us judge whether to use adenosine release or venous concentration as an index of ISF adenosine and decided that venous concentration should be used. We conclude that aminophylline has no effect on sustained 3-Hz exercise hyperemia because under these conditions ISF adenosine concentration does not increase.

Adenosine↗

PubMed1983

Blood flow and oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle during sympathetic stimulation.

We studied the effects of physiological rates (0-4 Hz) of sympathetic stimulation on blood flow and oxygen consumption of extensor digitorum longus muscles isolated from anesthetized dogs. Observations were made with the preparation at rest and during isometric twitch exercise at 1 and 4 Hz produced by somatic nerve stimulation. Graded increases in sympathetic stimulation rate resulted in graded and sustained reductions in muscle blood flow in all cases. A given rate of sympathetic stimulation reduced muscle blood flow by nearly the same absolute amount regardless of muscle exercise rate. Consequently the curve relating muscle blood flow to muscle oxygen consumption was progressively shifted downward in a parallel fashion with graded increases in sympathetic stimulation rate. Sympathetic stimulation at 0.5 and 1 Hz reduced muscle oxygen consumption during 4-Hz exercise but failed to do so during rest or 1-Hz exercise. Thus even during heavy exercise, local metabolic mechanisms do not override sympathetic vasoconstriction sufficiently to prevent the latter from limiting muscle oxygen consumption. In addition, the functional consequences of sympathetic activation appear to be greater for heavily exercising muscle than resting muscle.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Regionalization of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the thoracic aorta of pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs.

Regional variation in the response of the thoracic aorta to contractile agonists has previously been demonstrated. Since the net contractile response reflects the interaction between smooth muscle activation and the release of endothelial substances, we hypothesize that agonist-stimulated release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) also varies along the length of the thoracic aorta. The distribution of thoracic aorta estrogen receptors is also regionalized. Since pregnancy augments the release of endothelium-derived NO by acetylcholine (ACh) in some arterial beds, we further hypothesize that pregnancy enhances the stimulated release of NO from the thoracic aorta. Aortae were removed from nonpregnant and near term pregnant guinea pigs and cut into ring segments numbered sequentially proximal to distal. The rings were suspended at their optimal passive tension and submaximally contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Endothelium-derived NO-dependent relaxation to ACh increased moving proximal to distal along the aorta independent of pregnancy and ACh relaxation was unaffected by pretreatment with physostigmine to inhibit cholinesterase. The magnitude of the relaxation to carbachol among the different segments was similar to ACh. Pregnancy decreased the ED50 for ACh of segments from the middle and distal segments of the thoracic aorta. Relaxation to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside and the nonreceptor-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxing agent A23187 was uniform along the length of the aorta and independent of pregnancy. These experiments demonstrate regional variation in the stimulated release of endothelium-derived NO in the guinea pig thoracic aorta which is increased by pregnancy.

Acetylcholine↗