Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Garcia

Publications and source records attributed to R Garcia.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The velocity function of ipsilateral visual units in the frog optic tectum: comparison with retinal ganglion cells.

Ipsilateral retino-tecto-isthmo-tectal units in frogs were commonly classified in two groups (I1 and I2) according to their functional properties. Quantitative measurements of their discharge in response to automatically moved targets are described below for the first time. Results show that the velocity function of these units can be expressed by a power function respectively similar to that described earlier (see ref. 6) for R2 and R3 retinal ganglion cells. The existence of mixed 'sustained' units is also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Partial purification of a novel stimulant of gastric acid secretion from canine non-antral mucosa.

A novel stimulant of gastric acid secretion was extracted and purified from the non-antral gastric mucosa of the canine stomach and some of its biological properties were examined. Tissue was boiled in water and extracted in 2% trifluoroacetic acid. The stimulatory activity was purified by a combination of reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gel filtration. Fractions were assayed for a stimulation of basal, pentagastrin- and histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion in the anaesthetized rat. Stimulatory activity was eluted from reverse-phase HPLC columns with acetonitrile and its elution from Sephadex G-10 and G-50 columns suggested a molecular weight of 1,000 to 3,000. The highly purified extracts enhanced basal, pentagastrin- and histamine-stimulated acid secretion in the rat. A stimulatory fraction was purified which was devoid of immunoreactive gastrin and gastrin-releasing peptide and contained only small amounts of histamine. Its chromatographic properties differed from those of histamine and acetylcholine. On two occasions the stimulant was purified to homogeneity and found to contain amino acids. Insufficient pure material was obtained for full characterization. The stimulant has been tentatively called oxyntin.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Effect of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor on arginine vasopressin release by the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex in organ culture.

The effect of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic factor (ANF, Arg 101-Tyr 126) was evaluated in an in-vitro model of rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex (HNC) in organ culture in which part of hypothalamus containing a portion of undamaged magnocellular neurons is separated from posterior pituitary by a fluid tight barrier with an intact stalk connecting both structures. ANF, when added to the medium at the hypothalamus site at concentrations of 3 X 10(-5) M to 3 X 10(-7) M, did not change basal AVP release from the posterior pituitary. Similarly, a shorter form of ANF (Cys 105-Tyr 126), reported to be highly potent in inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity in various tissues, exerted no effect on AVP excretion from HNC in organ culture. The application of an hyperosomotic medium (osmolality 324 +/- 2 mOsm/kg H2O) to the hypothalamic side, together with ANF (3 X 10(-6) M), significantly lowered osmotically-stimulated AVP release. It is concluded that ANF has no effect on basal AVP release from HNC in culture and suppresses osmotically-stimulated AVP secretion in this in vitro model.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

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↗
PubMed1986

Identification of epsilon-N-mono-, epsilon-N-di-, and epsilon-N-trimethyllysine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Dansyl derivatives of epsilon-N-mono-, epsilon-N-di-, and epsilon-N-trimethyllysine were resolved from other amino acids in proteins by the use of high-performance liquid chromatography. The system was tested with amino acid standard combinations as well as with acid-hydrolyzed proteins known to contain methylated residues. In all cases the methylated lysines were well resolved.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1986

Atrial natriuretic factor and vasopressin during dehydration and rehydration in rats.

To determine the effect of water deprivation (mixed volume and osmotic stimulus) on the secretion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), plasma immunoreactive ANF (IR-ANF), and plasma AVP were measured in normal conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. IR-ANF was decreased to 19.9 +/- 3.6 pg/ml (24 h dehydration), 9.8 +/- 2.5 pg/ml (48 h dehydration), and undetectable level (72 h dehydration) from the control level of 62.4 +/- 2.4 pg/ml. These decreases were accompanied by significant increase in plasma AVP, serum Na+, osmolality (osm), and hematocrit (Hct). In animals deprived of water for 3 days the secretion of ANF and AVP was monitored at seven time points during the 1st h after voluntary rehydration with tap water. After rehydration, IR-ANF was elevated dramatically within 3 min and gradually for up to 1 h after water was offered; AVP decreased within 3 min of rehydration and stayed at the water-repleted level during the next 1 h. Na+, osm, and Hct did not change until 15, 9, and 30 min after rehydration, respectively. The rapid modifications in plasma IR-ANF and AVP were accompanied by a transient but significant increase in arterial blood pressure for up to 15 min after water consumption. These results indicate that oropharyngeal-gastric stimuli contribute to the release of both ANF and AVP.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Distinct localization of atrial natriuretic factor and angiotensin II binding sites in the glomerulus.

A comparative study of the localization of 125I-labeled atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and 125I-labeled angiotensin II (ANG II) binding sites in the glomerulus of the rat, after an intravascular injection, has been done by ultrastructural radioautography. 125I-ANF binding sites are localized predominantly on the podocytes of the visceral epithelium (63%) followed by the endothelium of capillaries (14%), the parietal epithelium (13%), and finally mesangial cells (10%). In a comparative study, it was confirmed that 125I-ANG II uptake is localized predominantly on mesangial cells (60%) followed by epithelial visceral cells (23%) and the endothelium of capillaries (16%). Using isolated rat glomeruli, it was confirmed that ANG II decreases glomerular size (maximum effect of 15%) with an apparent half maximum effective concentration (EC50) between 10(-9) and 10(-8) M. Although ANF alone has no apparent effect on glomerular size, it inhibits the contractile effect of ANG II with a half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) between 10(-11) and 10(-10) M. These results suggest that an intraglomerular mechanism other than glomerular arteriolar resistance may be involved in the modulation of glomerular filtration rate by ANF. The presence of 125I-ANF uptake mainly in foot processes of visceral epithelial cells of glomeruli in vivo and the inhibition of ANG II decrease in glomerular size by ANF in vitro raise the possibility that ANF may regulate the ultrafiltration coefficient by two mechanisms: modulation of glomerular permeability, and surface area.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1986

Radioautographic localization of 125I-atrial natriuretic factor binding sites in the brain.

Rats were injected through the carotid artery (cephalad direction) with 18.9 mu Ci of either 125I-Arg 101-Tyr 126 atrial natriuretic factor alone or together with an excess of unlabeled hormone. At 2 min after injection, all rats were fixed in vivo by perfusion and serial sections of the whole brain were processed for light microscope radioautography. The radioautographic reaction produced by 125I-atrial natriuretic factor alone was localized in all circumventricular organs (except the subcommissural organ), the smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, the endothelial cells of intraparenchymal capillaries and the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus. In rats which received 125I-atrial natriuretic factor plus an excess of unlabeled hormone, the radioautographic reaction was reduced by 70-90%. Binding sites are thus localized in regions of the brain, some of them involved in the central monitoring of blood pressure and osmolarity. In addition, the presence of binding sites in the cerebral vasculature and in the epithelium of the choroid plexus suggests that circulating ANF may play a role in the control of cerebral blood flow and in the production of vertebrospinal fluid.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Avidin-biotin-immunoglucose oxidase: use in single and double labeling procedures.

We have investigated the use of an avidin-biotin-immunoglucose oxidase (AB-GO) technique for single and double antigen localization in conjunction with the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase (AB-P) technique in fixed, embedded specimens, using sequential monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies of the same species. The optimal technique for double labeling requires the first antibody to be applied and localized with the AB-P technique using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) as the chromogen, followed by an optional elution step and/or incubation with mild detergent (0.01% Triton). The second antigen is localized with the AB-GO technique with nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) as a chromogen. Effects of antigen concentration, intermediate elution steps, and the relative efficiency of the two methodologies are described.

Avidin↗
PubMed1986

Effect of chronic infusion of atrial natriuretic factor on plasma and urinary aldosterone, plasma renin activity, blood pressure and sodium excretion in 2-K, 1-C hypertensive rats.

Conscious two-kidney, one-clip (2-K, 1-C) hypertensive rats and their normotensive sham-operated controls were infused during 13 days with synthetic ANF (Arg 101 - Tyr 126) at 35 pmol/hr/rat by means of osmotic minipumps connected to the jugular vein. The initial blood pressure of 186 +/- 6 mmHg maximally decreased to 118 +/- 7 mmHg at day 5 and slowly rose afterwards without reaching basal values. A concomitant drop in pressure natriuresis and diuresis was observed. No changes were observed in ANF-infused sham-operated rats. Urinary aldosterone excretion declined in ANF-treated rats from a basal value of 63.38 +/- 21.04 micrograms/24 hr to 13.36 +/- 3.78 micrograms/24 hr the last infusion day. No change in urinary aldosterone was observed in either non-infused 2-K, 1-C or ANF-infused sham-operated rats. Plasma aldosterone was significantly higher only in non-treated 2-K, 1-C rats. Renal aldosterone clearance was significantly lower in ANF-infused 2-K, 1-C rats than in the other experimental groups. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was lower in treated (3.92 +/- 2.26 AI ng/ml/hr) than in non-treated (9.08 +/- 2.32 AI ng/ml/hr) hypertensive rats, and not different from ANF-infused or non-infused sham-operated rats. No differences in body weight between infused and non-infused rats, or hematocrit between any group were observed. Atrial immunoreactive ANF was not different in any group. These results demonstrate that chronic administration of ANF not only reduces blood pressure and PRA in 2-K, 1-C hypertensive rats but also plasma and urinary aldosterone. Whether the latter is a direct inhibitory effect or secondary to the normalization of PRA is not known. The hypotensive response may be due to a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle but a role of renin cannot be excluded. Because blood pressure returned toward basal values during the last days of the observation period, the possibility of a tachyphylactic effect of ANF on vascular smooth muscle cannot be excluded.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1986

Involvement of the adrenal glands in the action of the atrial natriuretic factor.

Adrenalectomized, medullectomized and sham operated rats were treated with either a chronic infusion or a bolus injection of the synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). ANF did not enhance natriuresis and diuresis in sham operated conscious animals during chronic infusion, but it had a potent action when injected as a bolus into anesthetized rats. The absence of the whole adrenal glands, but not adrenal medulla profoundly modified the renal response to ANF: a) following chronic administration of ANF, the baseline natriuresis paradoxically decreased in adrenalectomized rats, and b) in response to a bolus injection of ANF the natriuretic and diuretic actions of the peptide were attenuated in these animals. The medullectomy-induced decreased natriuresis and dopamine excretion were corrected by ANF infusion. Furthermore, ANF suppressed the compensatory increase of norepinephrine excretion secondary to adrenalectomy. The data suggest that the presence of the adrenal cortex is necessary for the natriuretic and diuretic actions of ANF. The decrease in urinary DA excretion may reflect diminished dopaminergic activity and contribute to the post-medullectomy antinatriuresis, a phenomenon which can be corrected by ANF infusion. ANF may also have a depressing activity on the increased sympathetic tone.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1986

Atrial natriuretic factor inhibits the sympathetic nervous activity in one-kidney, one-clip hypertension in the rat.

The one-kidney, one-clip model of rat hypertension was found to have an increased natriuresis following chronic infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). We have now found that this natriuretic effect of ANF is associated with a suppression of the initially elevated urinary excretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine and increase of the excretion of the main dopamine metabolite-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid as well as of the urinary dopamine to norepinephrine ratio. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that ANF suppresses the increased sympathetic activity in this model of hypertension and this action combined with opposite changes of dopamine may contribute to the natriuretic effect of ANF.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Identification of the released form of atrial natriuretic factor by the perfused rat heart.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), released by the isolated perfused rat heart, was extracted from the perfusates by C18 Sep-Pak cartridges and then isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and by reverse phase HPLC. About 500 ng of immunoreactive material were so obtained and submitted to amino acid sequencing. The C-terminal Tyr was detected by radiolabelling. Identification of these residues indicated that the primary structure corresponds to ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126) which is identical to the circulating form in the rat. These results indicate that the ANF released by the atria corresponds to a short peptide. Therefore, its maturation process may therefore take place either intracellularly or during secretion and implicates a tryptic-like cleavage after a single Arg residue in position 98.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

The blood pressure decrease-induced sympathetic discharge following atrial natriuretic factor administration may offset its natriuretic action.

Conscious SHR and WKY rats were infused during 7 days with ANF (Arg 101-Tyr 126), 100 ng/hr/rat, by means of miniosmotic pumps and their basal blood pressure (BP), changes in sodium excretion and urinary catecholamines compared with those at the last day of the infusion. The SHR initial BP of 181 +/- 3 mmHg gradually declined to 137 +/- 5 mmHg. No significant change in blood pressure was observed in the ANF-infused WKY group. However, WKY rats exhibited an increased sodium excretion and urinary dopamine/norepinephrine ratio when compared to sham-infused rats. No such differences were observed in SHR. It is suggested that an ANF-induced withdrawal of the renal sympathetic tone permits the manifestation of its natriuretic action in WKY rats. When, however, a BP decrease predominates, as in SHR, this decrease results in a reflex sympathetic discharge with a renal sympathetic activity over-riding the ANF induced natriuresis seen in WKY rats. Secondary sympathetic responses to the ANF-induced BP decrease have to be thus taken into account when a dissociation between the hypotensive and natriuretic action of ANF is observed in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Atrial natriuretic factor: radioimmunoassay and effects on adrenal and pituitary glands.

A simple and sensitive radioimmunoassay was developed for measurement of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (IR-ANF) in rat and human plasma and in rat atria. The two atria contain about 20 micrograms ANF per rat. The right atrium contained 2.5 times more ANF than did the left. Ether anesthesia and morphine markedly increased IR-ANF in rat plasma. The concentration of IR-ANF in plasma of clinically normal human subjects was 65.3 +/- 2.5 pg/ml. Paroxysmal tachycardia and rapid atrial pacing significantly increased IR-ANF in human plasma. Two- to seven-fold higher concentrations were found in coronary sinus blood than in the peripheral circulation. In the plasma of rats and humans, circulating ANF is probably a small-molecular-weight peptide. ANF acts on the adrenal and the pituitary. ANF inhibits aldosterone secretion from rat zona glomerulosa and steroid secretion by bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa and fasciculata. ANF stimulated the basal secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in vitro and inhibited KCl-stimulated release of AVP.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1986

Cyclic GMP as mediator and biological marker of atrial natriuretic factor.

Both our previous and the present studies established that increases in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) reflect the activity of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). The ANF message is transmitted by particulate guanylate cyclase, which appears to be in intimate contact with the ANF receptor since stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase is observed even after dispersion of the membranes. The stimulation of smooth muscle and endothelial cells in culture leads to egression of cGMP to extracellular medium where it accumulates for over 2 h. The signal of the extracellular cGMP is magnified and prolonged compared to the intracellular signal. The stimulation of cGMP production by ANF in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells appears to be relatively irreversible and the responsiveness is down-regulated by prior exposure to low doses of ANF. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate can also serve as a marker for ANF action. Atrial natriuretic factor fragments of different potencies exert a biological activity that correlates with ANF-induced cGMP increases. In hypertensive rats and monkeys, where acute infusion of ANF leads to an exaggerated diuresis and natriuresis, urinary cGMP does not appear to be different. Overall, cGMP appears to be a mediator and a marker of ANF biological activity and may serve as a useful tool in the study of pathogenesis of hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Some physiopathological aspects of atrial natriuretic factor.

Chronic infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) decreased blood pressure in two-kidney, one clip (2-K, 1C), spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and one-kidney, one clip (1-K, 1C) models of experimental hypertension in the rat, but produced increased sodium excretion only in the 1-K, 1C model. In ANF-infused 2-K, 1C animals plasma renin activity did not differ from normotensive controls. Atrial content of immunoreactive (ir) ANF was significantly lower in SHR and 1-K, 1C animals. At 40-50 days old, cardiomyopathic hamsters had a higher concentration of plasma irANF and a lower ANF content in the left but not in the right atrium, although the difference in plasma ANF was more obvious once heart failure was well established. At 110-130 and 200-300 days old, the hamster atrial ANF content was not only lower in the left but also in the right atrium. No differences were observed in plasma irANF between normal subjects and either untreated or treated essential hypertensive patients. However, a significantly higher plasma ANF was observed in two groups with secondary hypertension, primary hyperaldosteronism and renovascular hypertension. Bolus injection of ANF into healthy subjects produced a dose-related decrease in blood pressure and an increase in the heart rate and natriuresis.

Adult↗