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N Perico

Publications and source records attributed to N Perico.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, abolishes the effect of estrogens on bleeding time in experimental uremia.

We have reported previously that conjugated estrogens that are effective in shortening the prolonged bleeding time in uremic patients are also effective on bleeding time in a rat model of uremia. Using such a rat model we have recently demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO), an endothelium-derived vasodilator, is involved in mediating the bleeding tendency of uremia. With the present study we wanted to investigate whether conjugated estrogen mixture or its active component, 17 beta-estradiol, reduce uremic bleeding by interfering with the NO pathway. Our results showed that the shortening effect of conjugated estrogen and 17 beta-estradiol on bleeding time of uremic rats was completely reversed by giving the animals the NO precursor L-arginine, but not D-arginine, which is not a precursor of NO. Dexamethasone which at variance to progesterone inhibits the process of induction of NO-forming enzyme, shortened the prolonged bleeding time of uremic rats within 4 hours from injection. This effect was eliminated by L-arginine but not D-arginine administration. The glucocorticoid receptor antagonist cortexolone prevented the shortening of bleeding time induced by dexamethasone, suggesting that a receptor-mediated mechanism is involved in the hemostatic effect of dexamethasone as previously reported for estrogens. Unlike conjugated estrogens and dexamethasone, progesterone had no effect on bleeding time. All these findings would indicate that the effect of estrogens and dexamethasone on primary hemostasis in uremia might be mediated by changes in NO synthetic pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Constitutive expression of endothelin gene in cultured human mesangial cells and its modulation by transforming growth factor-beta, thrombin, and a thromboxane A2 analogue.

The present study was designed to assess whether human glomerular mesangial cells in culture express preproendothelin gene and whether endothelin gene expression in the mesangium is regulated by factors potentially released by inflammatory cells and platelets infiltrating the glomerular tuft during the course of various types of glomerulonephritis. For this purpose mesangial cells were incubated for 6 hours in the presence of absence of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), transforming growth factor-beta (TBF-beta), the thromboxane A2 analogue U-46619, and thrombin. Resting mesangial cells expressed a 2.3-kilobase mRNA on blot hybridization analysis with a human cDNA preproendothelin probe, indicating that this type of cells, in addition to glomerular endothelial cells, constitutively expresses endothelin gene. IL-1 beta did not change endothelin mRNA levels in respect to unstimulated mesangial cells. At variance, TGF-beta, U-46619, and thrombin had a marked effect on endothelin mRNA, stimulating a 3- to 8-fold increase over basal levels. Quantification of actin mRNA and analysis of the autoradiographic signals provided validation of the difference in the endothelin mRNA levels. Expression of preproendothelin mRNA in either resting or stimulated mesangial cells was associated with synthesis and release of the corresponding peptide in the cell supernatant as determined by a specific radioimmunoassay for endothelin. Endothelin production from IL-1 beta stimulated mesangial cells was not different from that of unstimulated cells, whereas a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in endothelin production was observed after cell stimulation with TGF-beta, U-46619, and thrombin. The demonstration that mesangial cells constitutively express mRNA for preproendothelin and release endothelin into culture medium, together with the finding that endothelin gene expression and production in mesangial cells are regulated by molecules potentially released at glomerular level during an inflammatory reaction may suggest that endothelin participates in the complex process of glomerular disease progression.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1990

Renal metabolism and urinary excretion of platelet-activating factor in the rat.

The origin of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the urine remains ill defined. The present study documents that [3H]PAF (3.5 mu Ci) injected into the renal artery of isolated control rat kidney preparations perfused at constant pressure with a cell-free medium containing 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) was excreted in negligible amounts (0.034%) in the urine, whereas 6% was retained by the kidney. When kidneys were perfused with a BSA-free medium, 0.029 and 71% of the total radioactivity added to the perfusate was recovered in the urine and in the renal tissue, respectively. [3H]PAF urine excretion in proteinuric kidneys from adriamycin-treated rats was still negligible (0.015%). Analysis of the renal tissue-retained radioactivity in control and proteinuric kidneys perfused with 1% BSA indicated metabolism into long chain acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine species, lyso-PAF, glycerols, and intact PAF. Thin layer chromatography analysis of [3H]glycerol fraction in these renal extracts showed two major components comigrating with 1-O-alkylglycerol and 1-O-alkyl-2-fatty acylglycerol. Isolated proximal tubules, but not glomeruli from nephrotic rats exposed to increasing concentrations of BSA (0-4%), had a higher PAF uptake than control tubules for BSA concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.1%. Our findings in the isolated perfused kidneys indicate that, in normal conditions, circulating PAF is excreted in the urine in negligible amounts and that the altered glomerular permeability to proteins does not affect this excretion rate. Moreover, analysis of renal tissue radioactivity documented that the renal metabolism of PAF is comparable in control and nephrotic kidneys.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Role of enhanced glomerular synthesis of thromboxane A2 in progressive kidney disease.

Normotensive rats of the Milan strain (MNS) spontaneously develop focal glomerulosclerosis. In order to explore the contribution of glomerular thromboxane (TX) A2 synthesis to the development of the disease, we have characterized the time course of renal functional and biochemical changes, and their modification by long-term treatment with a TX-synthase inhibitor. Oral administration (150 mg.kg-1 from 1 to 14 months of age) of FCE 22178 suppressed enhanced glomerular TXB2 production at all experimental times (mean inhibition 80%) and proteinuria (varying between 27.1 and 73.0%) while preserving renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. These effects of TX-synthase inhibition were seen in the absence of any statistically significant changes in systemic blood pressure. Moreover, FCE 22178 had no antihypertensive effects in hypertensive rats of the Milan strain (MHS) nor in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Treatment also prevented the age-related hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia observed in control MNS and significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced glomerular histologic damage, as demonstrated by light microscopy studies and measurement of sclerotic area. We conclude that: 1) MNS rats provide an animal model of long-lasting proteinuria characterized by an age-related increase in glomerular TXB2 production paralleled by progressive loss of renal structural integrity and function and by a secondary dyslipidemia; 2) pharmacological inhibition of glomerular TX-synthase attenuates the structural as well as the functional expression of kidney disease, without a primary effect on systemic blood pressure. These data are suggestive of an important modulating role of TXA2 in the progression of MNS renal disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Endothelin and eicosanoid synthesis in cultured mesangial cells.

We investigated the effect of endothelin on the generation of eicosanoids, which are known to regulate basal and stimulated mesangial cell tone. The results showed that endothelin is a potent stimulus of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostacyclin (PGI2), and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) synthesis by bovine mesangial cells. Percentage increases in eicosanoid synthesis induced by endothelin (10(-10) to 10(-6) M), were 50 to 275% for PGE2, 28 to 168% for PGI2 and 42 to 111% for TxA2, respectively. Endothelin-induced eicosanoid synthesis in mesangial cells was concentration, but not time dependent. Aspirin (500 microM) completely prevented endothelin-induced eicosanoid synthesis. The calcium entry blocker nitrendipine (10(-8) M) failed to inhibit endothelin-induced eicosanoid synthesis. These data suggest that endothelin-induced changes in renal circulation and glomerular function in normal and disease conditions may be modulated by the concomitant stimulation of mesangial eicosanoid synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Ticlopidine prevents renal disease progression in rats with reduced renal mass.

Functional and morphological studies were done in three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats after removal of the right kidney and infarction of approximately five-sixths of the left. Group 1 received no specific therapy. Group 2 was treated with ticlopidine, 150 mg/kg per os, for 50 days starting 10 days after surgical ablation. Group 3 was given the thromboxane antagonist, GR 32191, 3 mg/kg b.i.d. orally for 50 days, like ticlopidine. Untreated Group 1 rats developed renal insufficiency, systemic hypertension, progressive proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. In Group 2 treatment with ticlopidine was associated with less severe impairment of renal function. Proteinuria was significantly lower and animals were partially protected from the development of glomerulosclerosis. These animals had significantly prolonged skin bleeding time. In vitro ADP and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited. Systemic blood pressure was significantly lower than in controls. In Group 3 rats GR 32191 failed to influence progressive proteinuria and severity of glomerulosclerosis which were comparable to those in Group 1. Bleeding time was not prolonged, and in vitro platelet aggregation was inhibited only when AA was used as aggregating agent. Systemic blood pressure was not influenced. These studies suggest that a drug like ticlopidine, which has a broad spectrum of pharmacological actions on platelets and platelet-cell interactions, does retard the development of progressive renal injury when nephron number is reduced. Specific blocking of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) biological activity does not influence progressive renal disease in rats with remnant kidney.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Role of platelet-activating factor in renal immune injury and proteinuria.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been implicated as a potential mediator in renal immune injury, but little is known on the mechanisms by which this endogenous phospholipid could contribute to the development of glomerular proteinuria that occurs during immunologically mediated inflammatory reactions. Several experimental models of renal immune injury, including hyperacute kidney allograft rejection, acute serum sickness and nephrotoxic nephritis, and human studies have clearly indicated that renal damage is associated with increased intraglomerular formation of PAF. However, a definitive proof of its pathophysiologic role has been obtained only by pharmacological inhibition of PAF activity at receptor level. In this context we have documented that the PAF receptor antagonist L-652,731 markedly prevented renal function deterioration and development of proteinuria, and reduced glomerular hypercellularity, fibrin deposition in Bowman's space, and tubular cast formation in a rabbit model of nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Concerning the mechanisms by which PAF may induce proteinuria, it has been suggested that PAF increases glomerular permeability to proteins through the release of cationic proteins from platelets and polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltrating the glomerular tuft, and their deposition in the glomerular capillary wall with loss of fixed anionic charges. We have recently shown that in isolated rat kidney preparations perfused with a cell-free medium, the addition of PAF, but not its vehicle or 2-lyso-PAF, to the perfusate caused a progressive increase in urinary protein excretion. PAF-induced proteinuria was prevented by exposure of isolated kidneys to the PAF receptor antagonist L-652,731.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Functional implications of decreased renal cortical atrial natriuretic peptide binding in experimental diabetes.

Glomerular hyperfiltration in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats may be mediated by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). We wanted to evaluate plasma levels of ANP and plasma volume in relation to renal ANP receptor density and affinity in rats 6 weeks after induction of diabetes. Plasma levels of immunoreactive ANP were significantly higher in hyperglycemic diabetic (75.2 +/- 8.3 pg/ml) than in control animals (34.7 +/- 8.1 pg/ml; p less than 0.01). Administration of insulin to keep diabetic rats normoglycemic normalized plasma levels of immunoreactive ANP (30.5 +/- 5.2 pg/ml). In contrast, plasma volume did not show significant differences among the groups (hyperglycemic diabetes, 46.6 +/- 3.8; normoglycemic diabetes, 42.4 +/- 3.2; controls, 43.2 +/- 2.0 ml/kg body wt). No correlation was found between plasma levels of immunoreactive ANP and plasma volume. By autoradiography a significant reduction in the number of renal cortical ANP receptors was observed in hyperglycemic diabetic rats as compared with controls. At variance, ANP receptor affinity did not change either in the cortex or in the medulla in hyperglycemic diabetics in comparison with control animals. The pathophysiological implication of cortical ANP receptor down-regulation was underscored by the blunted response of glomerular filtration rate to ANP infusion in diabetic animals as compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in the bleeding tendency of uremia.

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor, now identified as nitric oxide (NO), is a labile humoral agent formed by vascular endothelial cells from L-arginine. NO mediates the action of substances that induce endothelium-dependent relaxation and plays a role in regulating blood pressure. In this study we investigated whether NO is involved in the pathogenesis of the bleeding tendency associated with renal failure. Rats with extensive surgical ablation of renal mass develop renal insufficiency due to progressive glomerulosclerosis. Like uremic humans, rats with renal mass reduction and uremia have a bleeding tendency that manifests itself by a prolonged bleeding time. We found that N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a specific inhibitor of NO formation from L-arginine, completely normalized bleeding time when given to uremic rats. L-NMMA injection also increased ex vivo platelet adhesion but did not affect ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, arachidonic acid, and calcium ionophore A23187. The shortening effect of L-NMMA on bleeding time was completely reversed by giving the animals the NO precursor L-arginine, but not D-arginine, which is not a precursor of NO. It thus appears that NO is a mediator of the bleeding tendency of uremia.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Thromboxane synthesis inhibition increases renal prostacyclin and prevents renal disease progression in rats with remnant kidney.

Previous studies have demonstrated that inhibition of thromboxane A2-dependent platelet aggregation by the thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor, OKY 1581, ameliorated the progressive kidney disease of rats with subtotal renal ablation. OKY 1581 also decreased the excessive renal thromboxane A2 synthesis and lowered systemic blood pressure. In the same model, a low dose aspirin and a specific thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist failed to influence proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, and hypertension, thus excluding a role for either platelet or renal thromboxane A2 in renal disease progression. The aims of this study were to establish (1) whether a thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor different from OKY 1581 could retard the progression of glomerular disease in rats with remnant kidney and (2) whether this effect was associated with an increase in renal synthesis of the vasodilatory prostacyclin. Treatment of rats with renal mass ablation with FCE 22178 (100 mg/kg by gavage and 200 mg/kg in the drinking water) for 35 days starting 10 days after surgical ablation was associated with an improvement in renal function in comparison with rats receiving the vehicle alone. Proteinuria was significantly lower, and rats were partially protected from the development of glomerulosclerosis. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower than in animals given the vehicle. Urinary thromboxane B2 excretion was significantly decreased, and urinary 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha increased in respect to vehicle-treated rats. We conclude that FCE 22178 limits glomerular injury in rats with remnant kidney.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1990

Endothelin mediates the renal vasoconstriction induced by cyclosporine in the rat.

The effect of cyclosporine on renal function was first investigated in the isolated perfused rat kidney. Kidneys from normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused at constant pressure. After control clearance periods, cyclosporine (0.6, 1.2, or 3 mg/min) or vehicle was infused over 5 min period in the renal artery and then four 10-min experimental periods followed. Cyclosporine, but not vehicle caused a dose dependent fall in renal perfusate flow associated with a concomitant increase in renal vascular resistance. Glomerular filtration rate was also decreased in parallel. We also examined whether endogenous endothelin mediates cyclosporine-induced acute renal vasoconstriction. In isolated kidneys pre-exposed to specific anti-endothelin antibody and then challenged with cyclosporine (1.2 mg/min) the renal perfusate flow, renal resistance, and glomerular filtration rate were 22.3 +/- 1.8 ml/min, 4.50 +/- 0.36 mmHg/ml.min-1, 1.06 +/- 0.05 ml/min, respectively, as compared with 12.9 +/- 1.2 ml/min, 7.8 +/- 1.2 mmHg/ml.min-1, 0.55 +/- 0.06 ml/min (P less than 0.01) measured in isolated kidneys pre-exposed to a non-immunized rabbit serum. The effectiveness and specificity of anti-endothelin antibody were confirmed by its capability of preventing the renal function deterioration caused by a single bolus dose (150 pmol) of synthetic endothelin, but not by infusion of angiotensin II, norepinephrine, or thromboxane A2 mimetic U-46619 in isolated kidneys. To test further the relationship between endogenous endothelin and cyclosporine-induced renal vasoconstriction, a second series of in vivo studies was performed in normal rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1990

Thromboxane receptor blockade attenuates the toxic effect of cyclosporine in experimental renal transplantation.

Renal dysfunction, manifested as a dose-dependent reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), is a common complication of cyclosporine A (CyA) administration to laboratory animals and humans. We have recently shown that chronic CyA treatment in normal rats is associated with a selective increase in renal thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesis, which may play a role in GFR reduction. The present experiments were designed to investigate whether pharmacological inhibition of TXA2 activity could reduce CyA nephrotoxicity in a rat model of renal transplantation. To discriminate the possible biochemical changes due to rejection episodes from those due to CyA nephrotoxicity, we selected a model of renal isograft free of graft rejection processes. We demonstrated that oral CyA administration for 30 days to rats undergoing renal isograft is associated with the development of renal insufficiency, as indicated by a progressive increase in serum creatinine concentration and reduction in creatinine clearance. In the same animals, a parallel increase in the urinary excretion of TXB2 was found. Combination of the specific thromboxane receptor antagonist GR32191 with CyA treatment partially prevented the deterioration in renal function observed in animals given CyA alone, without modifying the urinary TXB2 excretion. In contrast, renal-isografted rats given GR32191 alone or vehicle alone for 30 days did not show any changes in serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and urinary TXB2 excretion throughout the experimental period. Mild hypercellularity of the glomerular tuft was observed in isografted kidneys chronically exposed to either CyA or CyA plus GR32191.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cyclooxygenase products and atrial natriuretic peptide modulate renal response to endothelin.

The effects of porcine endothelin on renal function were investigated in the isolated perfused rat kidney. After control clearance periods, endothelin (80, 120 or 320 pmol) or vehicle was added to the perfusate, and four 10-min experiments followed. Endothelin markedly reduced renal perfusate flow (RPF) as a result of its potent renal vasoconstrictor effect. At the highest but not low doses of endothelin, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) fell disproportionately to the reduction in RPF. Fractional Na excretion was also increased after kidney exposure to endothelin, suggesting an inhibition of tubular Na reabsorption by the peptide. Perfusion with low [Ca] severely blunted the hemodynamic effects of endothelin. Pharmacological blocking of renal cyclooxygenase by indomethacin or ibuprofen caused a further decline in RPF, GFR and absolute but not fractional Na excretion in kidneys challenged with endothelin. Atrial natriuretic peptide increased GFR and filtration fraction (FF), but not RPF, in kidneys previously exposed to 120 pmol endothelin. This was associated with a dramatic diuretic and natriuretic effect. The results demonstrate that 1) endothelin acts directly on the kidney, eliciting hemodynamic, diuretic and natriuretic responses that are dependent on the dose used and partially on the availability of extracellular Ca, 2) the renal effects of endothelin are exacerbated by cyclooxygenase blocking, suggesting that the vasoconstrictor effect of the peptide may be modulated by vasodilatory prostaglandins, and 3) atrial natriuretic peptide counteracts the renal function deterioration induced by endothelin, raising the possibility of an interplay between these vasoactive hormones in the control of renal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Metabolism of thromboxane B2 in the isolated perfused rat kidney: mass spectrometric identification of urinary products.

The metabolism of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), the stable breakdown product of thromboxane A2, has been studied in isolated perfused kidney preparations using a recirculating system. In a first experiment, TXB2 was infused at a rate of 20 micrograms/kg per min. In a second experiment, a 1:1 mixture of TXB2 and octadeuterated TXB2 (0.4 microgram/kg per min each) was infused. Urinary samples collected during the infusion of TXB2 or vehicle were extracted on C18 cartridges and derivatized to methyl or pentafluorobenzyl ester, methyloxime, trimethylsilyl ether. Samples were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the electron impact and negative ion chemical ionization modes. Products of beta-oxidation, reduction of the delta 5,6 double bond and dehydrogenation at C-11 (2,3-dinor-TXB2, 2,3-dinor-TXB1, 2,3,4,5-tetranor-TXB1 and 11-dehydro-TXB2) were identified in addition to unmetabolized TXB2. 2,3,4,5-tetranor-TXB1 and 2,3-dinor-TXB1 were the most abundant metabolites.

Animals↗