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Biomedical subjects

N T Buu

Publications and source records attributed to N T Buu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Catecholamine, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and atrial natriuretic factor content in separate heart chambers of cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Since previous investigations have suggested a relationship between atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylation, cardiomyopathic hamsters were studied for atrial and ventricular catecholamine (CA) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) content as correlates to a parallel finding of markedly decreased atrial but increased ventricular ANF concentrations in these animals. It was noted that, with progressive cardiomyopathy, the reduced tissue norepinephrine (NE) content paralleled the declining D beta H activity in the atria. In the ventricles, however, the progressively-decreasing NE content was associated with an increase of D beta H. These data indicate that the NE depletion is mediated by different mechanisms in the ventricles and atria. They do not support a simple relationship between NE depletion and tissue D beta H activity or between the latter and tissue ANF concentrations.

Animals↗

Atrial natriuretic factor partially inhibits the stimulated catecholamine synthesis in superior cervical ganglia of the rat.

We examined whether the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) may affect the function of the peripheral autonomic neurons. ANF was found to inhibit the carbachol-stimulated synthesis of catecholamines from their labelled [3H]tyrosine precursor in an organ suspension of the rat superior cervical ganglia in vitro. This is compatible with the possibility that the previously observed inhibitory action of ANF on sympathetic nervous activity and the presence of immunoreactive ANF in the rat peripheral autonomic ganglia is related to an inhibitory-neuromodulatory role of ANF in the process of ganglionic neurotransmission.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

An emerging relationship between peripheral sympathetic nervous activity and atrial natriuretic factor.

The sympathetic nervous system and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) are intimately involved in sodium, volume and blood pressure homeostasis, particularly in response to volume and pressure overloads. Although rapid progress in this field indicates several levels of interaction between both systems, the role of sympathetic nervous activity (SNA) in ANF release remains a controversial topic. There is growing evidence that ANF is an inhibitory modulator of sympathetic outflow (which in turn, may contribute to ANF's effect) and, vice-versa, SNA attenuates the target actions of ANF. Compensatory sympathetic reactions to changes induced by ANF may also have an overriding influence on its target actions. Dopamine appears to play a special role in these interactions. It is not only a precursor of norepinephrine but probably fulfills an independent function in the regulation of salt balance, similar in many respects to that of ANF.

Animals↗

Modification of dopamine and norepinephrine metabolism in the rat brain by monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

The treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (pargyline, tranylcypromine) profoundly affects dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) metabolism in the brain. In these rats injection of L-dopa led to large increases in norepinephrine (NE), normetanephrine (NMN) and 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in brain tissues. The response of MAO-inhibited rats to L-dopa contrasted sharply with those not treated with the MAO inhibitor; the latter showed no change in NE, NMN and 3-MT after similar administration of L-dopa. The increase of NE in pargyline-treated rats correlated closely with that of DA in the hypothalamus and in the brain stem. This response was greatly diminished in rats previously treated with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine, but was restored when the treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine was accompanied by desimipramine. This suggests that noradrenergic neurons were the origin of the NE response. The NMN and 3-MT increases occurring only in the rats treated with a MAO inhibitor were highly correlated. The results suggested that MAO inhibitor may affect entry of DA into catecholaminergic storage where NE synthesis takes place and from where DA is released.

Animals↗

Responses of plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor, aldosterone and urinary dopamine to salt-loading in a patient with severe idiopathic edema.

A patient with severe idiopathic edema and long history of diuretic abuse had, in response to salt loading, an inability to increase urinary sodium excretion associated with a paradoxical response (decrease) of urinary dopamine excretion, a non suppressible aldosterone and non stimulable immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor in plasma. These patterns distinguished this patient from those with a milder form of idiopathic edema who did not abuse diuretics and had, in comparison with controls, marginally decreased urinary sodium and dopamine responses but normal aldosterone suppressibility and ANF stimulability. Since the natriuretic action of ANF appears to be mediated by dopaminergic mechanisms, this severe natriuretic handicap may be due to a chronic diuretic abuse-induced combined ANF and dopamine deficiency.

Adult↗

Posture- and emotion-induced severe hypertensive paroxysms with baroreceptor dysfunction.

In a patient followed up for 30 years, severe but brief posture- or emotion-induced hypertensive paroxysms with flushing were associated with an increased cardiac output [inconsistently accompanied by increased plasma catecholamines (CA)] and a decreased blood pressure reactivity to norepinephrine with decreased reflex bradycardia. Sodium depletion further accentuated the latter abnormality and reproducibly reversed orthostatic hypertension to orthostatic hypotension. Abnormal responses in the Valsalva manoeuvre in an upright position suggested a defect in baroreceptor sensitivity, but may also have been due to an impaired venous return. The indices of the efferent portion of the reflex and central nervous system responses to stimuli were normal or exaggerated. The abnormality was probably due to a hypothalamic dysfunction and/or an abnormal central baroreceptor integration in the nucleus tractus solitarii. The absence of left ventricular hypertrophy and other target lesions, despite spectacular rises in blood pressure, suggests an excellent cardiovascular tolerance of hypertensive episodes if they are short-lived.

Affective Symptoms↗

Catecholamines and atrial natriuretic factor in Dahl and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We have previously demonstrated two different catecholaminergic patterns in genetic and experimental hypertension: a hyperdopaminergic state in spontaneously hypertensive (Okamoto) rats (SHR) and a hypernoradrenergic state in salt-sensitive Dahl rats. Plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (IR ANF) concentrations increase in both models as a response to hypertension. To distinguish between the genetic and acquired components of these abnormalities, we measured adrenal dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activity and coeliac ganglionic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) like immunoreactivity in the two animal strains. While adrenal D beta H activity was increased in Dahl S rats, it was diminished in SHR in the prehypertensive as well as in the hypertensive stages. In the hypertensive stage, the ANF-like immunoreactivity in the coeliac ganglia was lower in the Dahl S group but higher in SHR than in their respective normotensive controls; there were no changes in these animals when they were prehypertensive. Differences in D beta H activity, which determines the fine tuning of sympathoadrenomedullary catecholamine synthesis may account for the inheritance of mechanisms resulting in salt-sensitive hypertension (as in SHR) or salt-dependent hypertension (as in Dahl salt-sensitive rats). In contrast, plasma IR ANF concentrations may reflect a defense mechanism against hypertension. However ANF-like immunoreactivity in coeliac ganglia does not follow its plasma concentrations and changes in different directions in the two hypertensive strains; it may reflect a neuromodulatory function of ANF in the ganglionic neurotransmission and different implications of this role of ANF in the two hypertensive models.

Animals↗

L-dopa metabolism in genetically hypertensive mice: effect of pargyline.

This study on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the development of hypertension involves the measurement of dopamine and norepinephrine accumulation in various tissues of the hypertensive and random-bred normotensive strains of mice at basal levels, and following a pargyline-L-dopa treatment. Under such a treatment, designed to suppress the homeostatic action of monoamine oxidase and to better expose the relationship between dopamine and norepinephrine, the brain and heart of the hypertensive mice accumulated more dopamine than the normotensive mice. There was a significantly lower norepinephrine accumulation in the heart of the hypertensive mice in spite of comparable dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in this tissue between the two strains of mice. Under the pargyline-L-dopa treatment, the brain and heart of the older mice in both hypertensive and normotensive strains accumulated significantly (p less than 0.05) more dopamine than those of their younger counterparts, while their norepinephrine accumulation remained unchanged. The results demonstrated different patterns of response of dopamine and norepinephrine in the development of hypertension.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Presence of an atrial natriuretic factor-like peptide in the rat superior cervical ganglia.

The presence of a peptide resembling atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) was demonstrated in the peripheral sympathetic ganglia of the rat by a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Partially purified ANF-like compounds from the superior cervical ganglia exhibited biological activities which were similar to the synthetic peptide of cardiac origin; they inhibited ACTH-stimulated aldosterone release in vitro and displaced labelled [125I]-ANF from rat adrenocortical cell receptors. The exact source and role of ANF in peripheral nervous structures is not fully understood. We suggest that in sympathetic ganglia ANF may act as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in a manner similar to other neuropeptides.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Abnormal adrenal catecholamine synthesis in salt-sensitive Dahl rats.

The possible role of catecholamines in the abnormal renal response to salt loading, a genetic defect resulting in hypertension in the salt-sensitive strain of Dahl rats, was investigated by measuring the adrenal synthesis of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine as well as their content in several tissues and the urinary excretion of these catecholamines as well as some of their metabolites at the height of salt-induced hypertension. We found that salt-sensitive Dahl rats, compared with salt-resistant Dahl rats, have a higher adrenal synthesis of [3H]norepinephrine following a pulse injection of [3H]tyrosine, a higher adrenal norepinephrine and epinephrine content but a lower kidney and heart ventricle content of dopamine and norepinephrine, and a decreased excretion of urinary dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, and homovanillic acid. These data suggest that the primary abnormality in salt-sensitive Dahl rats may be their inability to turn off, during high salt intake, their increased adrenal norepinephrine synthesis from dopamine. The abnormal catecholamine response of salt-sensitive Dahl rats to high salt intake indirectly suggests increased noradrenergic activity and decreased dopaminergic activity in the kidney, which may be important mechanisms in the sodium retention and hypertension of these rats.

Adrenal Glands↗

Contrasting dopaminergic patterns in two forms of genetic hypertension.

Dopaminergic mechanisms in genetic hypertension were explored via the measurement of catecholamine (CA) turnover, tissue concentration and urinary excretion of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites. In salt-sensitive (S) Dahl rats, the tissue concentration and urinary excretion of DA and its metabolites were decreased in response to salt loading, while adrenal dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activity and aldosterone responsiveness to angiotensin II (A II) were increased. In contrast, spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR) showed elevated tissue levels and urinary excretion of DA and its metabolites, adrenal DA turnover and ganglionic DA generation following cholinergic stimulation, but D beta H activity and aldosterone responsiveness to A II were diminished. These two patterns, the hypodopaminergic state in Dahl S rats and the hyperdopaminergic state in SHR, account for two distinct mechanisms of hypertension and precede its development. We detected striking dopaminergic activity-related similarities between Dahl S rats and low-renin essential hypertension (EH) on the one hand, and SHR and non-modulator EH patients on the other.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Hormonal correlates of the inadequate natriuretic response to salt loading in idiopathic edema.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the body fluid and hormonal responses to salt loading in patients with idiopathic edema. In response to a combined intravenous and oral salt loading, patients with idiopathic edema were found, compared to control women, to have more weight gain, an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lower excretion of sodium and free dopamine (both the latter being partially accounted for by a diminished salt loading-induced increase in the creatinine clearance), and less plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase suppression. There were, between the groups, no differences in plasma and urinary concentrations of the dopamine precursor (dihydroxyphenylalanine), metabolites (dihydroxyphenyl-acetic and homovanillic acid, methoxytyramine and dopamine sulfate), or suppressibility of hormones which are under a partial dopaminergic inhibitory control (plasma renin activity, aldosterone and norepinephrine) by high salt. The inappropriate sodium retention, weight gain, and blood pressure increase following salt loading in idiopathic edema is thus associated with a blunted increase in the glomerular filtration and urinary dopamine excretion rates, as well as plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase non-suppressibility by saline. Some circumstantial evidence suggests that the dopamine deficiency is part of a wider disturbance within the cascade of natriuretic hormones.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Improved liquid chromatographic determination of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in tissues and plasma.

We describe a new assay for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activity in human and rat plasma and rat tissues using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Human and rat plasma D beta H activity was measured directly, without extraction of the enzyme. The D beta H from rat tissues was extracted on Concanavalin A-Sepharose before the assay to avoid interference from the presence of tissue catecholamines. Dopamine, the natural substrate of D beta H, was utilized at optimal (enzyme-saturating) concentration. The reaction product, norepinephrine, was isolated on Dowex AG 50W-X4 (H+ form) column. An internal standard, [3H]norepinephrine, was included to correct for the loss of norepinephrine during the procedure. This method allows for the first time the determination of D beta H activity in small volumes of rat and human plasma (5-20 microliters) and tissues. The procedure can be easily set up in any laboratory equipped with a high-performance liquid chromatograph, an electrochemical detector, and a liquid scintillation counter.

Animals↗

Increased plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in salt sensitive Dahl rats.

We measured the immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in plasma and right and left atria of salt-sensitive, salt-resistant Dahl rats and Wistar Kyoto rats, all fed for 5 weeks by 8% salt diet. We found an increase in plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (p less than 0.001) in salt-sensitive Dahl rats which became severely hypertensive in comparison with salt-resistant and Wistar Kyoto rats which remained normotensive on the same diet. There were however, no differences in the immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in the atria between the three groups of rats; all rats tended to have lower concentrations in the left than in the right atrium. The data show the presence of increased circulating atrial natriuretic factor immunoreactivity in hypertensive salt-sensitive Dahl rats which may be due either to the hypertension-induced left atrial distention, to volume expansion or indirectly renal hyposensitivity to the atrial natriuretic factor in these rats.

Animals↗

ANF-like peptide(s) in the peripheral autonomic nervous system.

The recent demonstration of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) within the brain has been extended in the present study by the additional localization of ANF-like activity in the peripheral nervous structures. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay, it was possible to detect ANF-like immunoreactive peptide(s) in crude and chromatographically separated extracts of parasympathetic rat ganglia. The partially purified ANF-like peptide exhibited a biological action similar to cardiac ANF. This finding supports a possible involvement of ANF in the regulation of both, central and peripheral neuronal activities.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Sympathomedullary activity in one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats.

In order to evaluate more directly the implications of the sympatho-adrenal system in one-kidney, one clip hypertension (1K1C), we studied adrenal catecholamine synthesis after a bolus injection of 3H-tyrosine, tissue norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations, as well as the urinary excretions of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and those of the major dopamine metabolites, dihydroxphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in 1K1C and control uninephrectomized rats. When compared with controls, the hypertensive rats had a markedly enhanced formation of adrenal 3H-norepinephrine and 3H-epinephrine, higher urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine excretions but lower heart and kidney content of norepinephrine and dopamine as well as decreased urinary excretions of the main dopamine metabolites, DOPAC and HVA. These data suggest an increased norepinephrine and epinephrine synthesis in 1K1C hypertensive rats associated with dopamine synthesis, which is normal but probably disproportionally low relative to the synthesis of norepinephrine and epinephrine. This abnormality may be an important pathogenetic factor in this model of experimental hypertension.

Adrenal Glands↗

Zona glomerulosa cell responses to atrial natriuretic factor in genetically hypertensive rats.

We examined whether abnormalities in target cell responsiveness to atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), similar to those previously found in the kidney, could also be present in the zona glomerulosa cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and salt-sensitive Dahl rats (S rats). We found an attenuated aldosterone (Aldo) response to angiotensin II (ANG II) in zona glomerulosa cell suspensions isolated from hypertensive SHR compared with those from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, whereas cells derived from hypertensive S rats showed a significantly higher Aldo response to the maximum stimulatory dose of ANG II than those from salt-resistant Dahl rats (R rats). The maximum observed Aldo responses to ACTH stimulation were not different in SHR or S rats compared with their respective controls. ANF exerted a potent inhibitory action on both ANG II- and ACTH-stimulated secretions of glomerulosa cell suspensions, without any difference in its potency between hypertensive and control rats. The equipotent inhibitory action of ANF on the ANG II- and ACTH-stimulated secretion of Aldo in those cell suspensions suggests that the previously observed alterations in the target cell responsiveness to ANF do not exist in the adrenal zona glomerulosa cells of SHR and Dahl S rats.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗