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Biomedical subjects

R Gerzer

Publications and source records attributed to R Gerzer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Discrepancy between effects of cholera toxin on net fluid movement and cAMP levels in rat jejunum, ileum, and colon.

Regional differences in the response to cholera toxin were evaluated in rat jejunum, ileum, and colon in vivo. Ligated intestinal loops were exposed to a supramaximal concentration of cholera toxin for 5 hr, and net fluid transport, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations, and adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities of mucosal homogenates were determined. The fluid transport response and the specific activities of adenylate cyclase (with and without cholera toxin) and phosphodiesterase declined progressively from the jejunum to the colon. In contrast, cAMP concentrations (with and without cholera toxin) were lowest in the jejunum and highest in the colon. These results demonstrate that cAMP concentrations of the total mucosal homogenate do not parallel cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion in the three intestinal segments. Rather, the activities of adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase suggest a relation between fluid secretion and the turnover of cAMP.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Verapamil impairs secretion of stimulated atrial natriuretic factor in humans.

The adaptation of the secretory rate of atrial natriuretic factor to repeated adequate stimuli and the influence of the calcium antagonist verapamil on the release of atrial natriuretic factor were investigated in 16 patients. In eight patients (Group 1) right atrial pressure was abruptly increased by rapid right ventricular pacing for 4 min (stimulation I). After a 15 min interval, the identical stimulation was repeated (stimulation II). Eight patients (Group 2) underwent the same protocol but received 5 mg of verapamil intravenously after stimulation I. Pacing increased right atrial pressure in both groups identically by 70%. In Group 1, release of atrial natriuretic factor caused by the second stimulation (median 290 pg/ml over basal) was significantly (2.5-fold) larger than atrial natriuretic factor release induced by the first stimulation (median 116 pg/ml over basal). In the verapamil-treated patients (Group 2), the effect of right atrial pressure increase on release of atrial natriuretic factor was abolished after stimulation II. In both groups, changes in plasma concentrations of cyclic guanosine monophosphate corresponded to changes in atrial natriuretic factor concentrations. Thus, the myoendocrine cells are apparently capable of a fast upward regulation of their response to repeated secretory stimuli. Verapamil appears to block the stimulatory effect of a sudden increase in right atrial pressure upon release of atrial natriuretic factor.

Adult

Role of atrial natriuretic factor, cyclic GMP and the renin-aldosterone system in acute volume regulation of healthy human subjects.

The role of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), its second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and the counteracting renin-aldosterone system in acute volume regulation was investigated in 25 healthy human subjects. Central volume stimulation by 1-h head-out water immersion (WI) into a thermoneutral water-bath increased plasma levels of ANF (mean +/- SEM) from 6.0 +/- 0.6 to 13.6 +/- 2.6 fmol ml-1. This was paralleled by a rise of plasma cGMP levels from 1.9 +/- 0.2 to 2.8 +/- 0.4 pmol ml-1, and an increase of urinary cGMP excretion from 340 +/- 64 to 692 +/- 103 pmol min-1. Water immersion reduced plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) from 13.0 +/- 1.7 to 6.5 +/- 0.8 ng 100 ml-1 and plasma renin activity (PRA) from 5.3 +/- 0.9 to 2.4 +/- 0.3 ng AI ml-1 h-1. Volume stimulation markedly increased diuresis and natriuresis. Whereas the plasma cGMP increase correlated with plasma ANF stimulation, neither ANF nor PRA or PAC correlated with basal or stimulated renal parameters. Water immersion-induced changes in natriuresis and urinary cGMP excretion were correlated. These data suggest a role of ANF and cGMP in acute volume regulation of healthy human subjects.

Adult

Binding sites for atrial natriuretic peptide on platelets in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate a possible down-regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) binding sites on platelets in patients with chronically elevated ANP plasma levels. The assay procedure was proved to be able to measure the total number of binding sites even in the presence of high ANP plasma levels. We studied 15 adult patients with congestive cardiomyopathy in comparison to 18 healthy volunteers. In the patients the median ANP plasma level (median = 375, range: 155-900 pg ml-1) was about six-fold higher than in the healthy volunteers (median: 55.5, range: 20-90 pg ml-1). The median cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) plasma level (median: 6.2, range: 2.5-21.4 pmol ml-1) was about three-fold higher than in the healthy volunteers (median: 1.8 range: 1-2.8 pmol ml-1). Despite these markedly elevated ANP and cGMP plasma levels we did not find significantly less receptors per platelet in the patients (median: 19, range: 7.2-60.2) than in the healthy volunteers (median: 24.5, range: 14.8-41.1). Furthermore, there was no difference in the dissociation constants between the patients (median: 10.5, range: 7.9-27.4 pmol l-1) and the control subjects (median: 8.9, range: 5.4-17 pmol l-1).

Aged

Influence of AV synchrony on the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in patients with total AV block.

ANP was determined in 13 patients with DDD pacemakers due to total AV block, at rest and during bicycle ergometry under both pacing modes, DDD and VVI (7O/min). Under DDD pacing, the mean ANP level (normal range 5-95 pg/mL) at rest was 36 +/- 18 pg/mL (mean +/- SD) and increased significantly by the factor of 3.5 to 1 27 pg/mL during exercise (p less than 0.01). By just changing the pacing mode to VVI, the ANP levels rose to 73 +/- 28 pg/mL (p less than O.0 1) at rest (= 203% of DDD resting level) and to 216 +/- 184 pg/mL (= 170% of DDD peak level) during exercise P less than 0.01). These results show that under AV synchronous pacing, the ANP levels we generally lower. A possible explanation for this increased release of ANP during asynchronous VVI pacing is the acute increase of the atrial wall tension which occurs when the atria contacts during the systole against closed AV valves.

Aged

Influence of diurnal rhythm, posture and right atrial size on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels.

A diurnal rhythm of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and cyclic 3'5'guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was found in nine healthy adult volunteers. Significantly higher levels of both parameters were found in the morning (8 a.m.) than later during the day and night (p less than 0.05). Different postures had only a little influence on plasma ANP and cGMP levels in seven healthy adult volunteers using a tilt table. Tilted from supine into upright, head-down (-20 degrees) and then again into supine posture, significant differences of both parameters were only found between levels shortly after the end of the upright posture and those at the end of the head-down posture (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, in infants with various congenital heart diseases (n = 19) and control infants (n = 35) the right atrial area was determined by two-dimensional echocardiography and related to plasma ANP levels. Out of 19 infants with cardiac disease, 11 showed an enlarged right atrial area (i.e. above the 95th percentile in the range of control infants). All these 11 infants also had higher plasma ANP levels (range 115-670 pg/ml) than the healthy infants (range 5-98 pg/ml). These data support the assumption that atrial wall distension seems to be a stimulus for ANP release.

Adult

Is cyclic GMP a clinically useful marker for ANF action?

The action of ANF is, at least in part, mediated by the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase. Increases in plasma ANF levels induce a marked increase in the plasma levels and urinary excretion of cyclic GMP. In contrast to agents that stimulate particulate guanylate cyclase, activators of soluble guanylate cyclase, such as the bioactive molsidomine metabolite, SIN 1, induce only a modest, not significant, increase in plasma cyclic GMP levels. Thus, increases in plasma cyclic GMP levels appear to be specific for the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase. Cyclic GMP is stable in whole blood in the presence of EDTA and can easily be measured in plasma and urine. It may therefore be a valuable alternative for ANF measurement in the clinical routine. In contrast to urinary ANF excretion, the urinary excretion of cyclic GMP sensitively reflects increases in plasma ANF levels. Measurement of cyclic GMP excretion may therefore be an alternative for plasma ANF and plasma cyclic GMP measurement especially in situations where blood drawing is difficult, e.g. in newborns. Measurement of basal cyclic GMP followed by determination of increases in cyclic GMP levels after injection of a small ANF bolus dose tests the cellular sensitivity to ANF. This may give further insight in the mechanism of the regulation of ANF effects. Therefore, cyclic GMP in many cases appears to be a sensitive marker for the action of ANF in man.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor

Acute increase in right atrial pressure by intracardiac stimulation releases atrial natriuretic peptide.

We studied the effect of an increase in heart rate and/or in right atrial pressure (RAP) on the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in 18 patients. In group 1 (n = 6), right ventricular stimulation (100, 120, 140 and 150 bpm) was used to increase RAP by asynchronous contraction of the right atrium and ventricle. Mean RAP increased from 3.9 +/- 0.2 to 8.3 +/- 0.6 mmHg (mean +/- SEM). Median ANP levels increased from 120 to 440 pg ml-1 (P less than 0.05). In group 2 (n = 6), right atrial stimulation below 140 bpm did not have any effect on ANP or RAP, but at a rate above 140 bpm RAP increased from 5.8 +/- 0.5 to 7.5 +/- 0.5 mmHg and ANP from 226 to 396 pg ml-1 (P less than 0.05). In group 3 (n = 6), RAP or ANP were not influenced by continuous right atrial stimulation at 110 bpm. Plasma cyclic GMP levels paralleled the changes in plasma ANP. Thus, an acute increment of RAP results in a release of ANP, but acceleration of heart rate alone has no effect on ANP secretion.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels in children with cardiac diseases: correlation with cGMP levels and haemodynamic parameters.

In children with various forms of cardiac diseases (aged 2 months to 16 years) significantly higher plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP; range 36-680, median 247 pg/ml) and cyclic 3'5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP; range 0.2-46, median 8.2 pmol/ml) levels were found than in control children (p less than 0.0001). In control children (aged 4 months to 17 years) plasma ANP and cGMP levels were measured in the range of 2.4-98 pg/ml and of 0.2-2.8 pmol/ml, respectively. There was a linear correlation between the two parameters in children with cardiac diseases (r = 0.62, p less than 0.01). Children with elevated mean right atrial pressure (i.e., greater than 6 mm Hg) showed significantly higher plasma ANP levels than children with normal atrial pressure (p less than 0.01). However, there was only a weak linear correlation between mean right atrial pressure and plasma ANP levels (r = 0.48, p less than 0.01). Plasma ANP levels from right atrium, pulmonary artery, left atrium and left ventricle were significantly higher than those from vena cava (p less than 0.05). Analysis of ANP-like immunoreactive material by high performance liquid chromatography suggested that alpha-ANP is the major form of circulating ANP in blood of children with cardiac diseases.

Adolescent

Effects of clonidine and dihydralazine on plasma ANF and cyclic GMP levels in humans during volume loading.

Acute volume loading increases plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) levels in man and animals. In the present work we have compared the effects of a 1-week oral application of clonidine (2 x 0.075 mg/day) to dihydralazine (2 x 25 mg/day) in eight healthy volunteers on changes in plasma ANF and plasma and urine cyclic GMP levels after acute volume loading with 2 I physiological saline i.v. Basal plasma ANF levels before infusion were decreased by clonidine to 65% of the untreated controls and remained unaltered with dihydralazine. Volume loading increased plasma ANF levels by about 40% in the control and 30% in the dihydralazine treated group, whereas plasma ANF remained unchanged by volume loading in the clonidine-treated group. Dihydralazine increased basal cyclic GMP levels and urinary cyclic GMP excretion by 30 and 90%, respectively. Basal cyclic GMP levels were identical without treatment and after clonidine treatment. Saline infusion increased cyclic GMP levels by 40% in the control and clonidine-treated groups, and by 25% in the dihydralazine-treated group. Urinary cyclic GMP excretion increased by 2.1-, 1.6-, and 1.2-fold, respectively, in the controls, after clonidine, or after dihydralazine. The results of this study suggest that ANF is involved in the hormonal and hemodynamic effects that are induced by clonidine, but not in those induced by dihydralazine.

Adult

Increased plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations in children with high levels of circulating atrial natriuretic peptide.

Simultaneous measurements of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) concentrations were performed in children with various forms of cardiac diseases (n = 22) and in control children (n = 29). In healthy children, plasma ANP and cyclic GMP levels ranged between 2.4 and 98.0 (mean 45.8) pg/mL and 0.2 to 2.8 (mean 1.40) pmol/mL, respectively. In children with cardiac diseases, plasma ANP (26.0 to 499.7 [mean 188.7] pg/mL) and cyclic GMP (0.2 to 6.0 [mean 2.9] pmol/mL) levels were significantly higher than in control children (both P less than .0001). There was a linear correlation between the two values in children with cardiac diseases (P less than .01). Because the effects of ANP to target tissues are mediated by cyclic GMP, cyclic GMP appears to be a marker for the cellular responses to ANP. The increased cyclic GMP levels in children with cardiac diseases indicate that ANP exerts its effects on target organs also in states of chronically enhanced ANP levels.

Adolescent

[Comparison of the effects of SIN-1, sodium nitroprusside and nitrate derivatives on the inhibition of blood platelet aggregation and activation of soluble platelet guanylate-cyclase].

We compared the effects of various nitrates, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), molsidomine, and its bioactive metabolite SIN-1, on platelet aggregation and on the activity of soluble guanylate-cyclase from human platelets. SIN-1 and SNP proved to be potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation and activated soluble guanylate-cyclase in contrast to nitrates and molsidomine which produced weak inhibition of aggregation and failed to activate soluble guanylate-cyclase. These results suggest a correlation between these products' inhibitory effect on aggregation and activation of guanylate-cyclase.

Blood Platelets

Cellular mechanisms of action of atrial natriuretic factor.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) interacts with its target cells through specific receptors. This interaction induces, in most cell types, the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase and decreased Calcium mobilisation. In addition, ANF also decreases adenylate cyclase activity in some tissues. Activation of particulate guanylate cyclase, and additionally inhibition of adenylate cyclase, appear to initiate the cellular responses to circulating ANF. The activation of particulate guanylate cyclase is tissue-specific, immediate and can be demonstrated also on the solubilized enzyme. The ANF receptor appears to be tightly coupled to particulate guanylate cyclase. The increased formation of cyclic GMP induces cGMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in target cells. In addition, cyclic GMP inhibits Calcium mobilisation in several tissues. This may explain observations of inhibition of Calcium mobilisation after ANF. Cyclic GMP is not only degraded by phosphodiesterase, but is also extruded from target cells. As a consequence of cGMP extrusion, ANF increases the levels of cyclic GMP in plasma and urine in animals and man. Cyclic GMP is also increased in various disease states, in which ANF is increased. In contrast, cyclic AMP plasma levels are unaltered after ANF elevations. At present, the exact mechanisms, by which cellular functions are altered by ANF are still incompletely understood. It is anticipated, that the close correlation between the cyclic GMP system and effects of ANF in various target tissues is a key finding that will help elucidate the exact mechanisms of ANF action.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors

Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by arachidonic acid and 15-lipoxygenase products.

The activity of soluble guanylate cyclase can be increased by exposure of the enzyme to arachidonic acid or to some oxidized metabolites of the fatty acid. We have tried to determine whether activation of the enzyme by arachidonate requires that the fatty acid be converted to an oxidized metabolite, either by a possible trace contaminant of a lipoxygenase or by guanylate cyclase itself, which contains a heme moiety. Soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung was activated 4-6-fold by arachidonic acid. This activation was not dependent on the presence of oxygen in the incubation medium. No detectable metabolites of arachidonic acid were formed during incubation with soluble guanylate cyclase. Addition of soybean lipoxygenase to the incubation did not increase activation by arachidonic acid. The inhibitors of lipoxygenase activity, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and eicosatetraynoic acid, had direct effects on soluble guanylate cyclase and interfered with its activation by arachidonate, whereas another lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW 755 C, did not. The data suggest that arachidonic acid increases the activity of guanylate cyclase by direct interaction with the enzyme rather than by being converted to an active metabolite.

Animals

ANF stimulation of detergent-dispersed particulate guanylate cyclase from bovine adrenal cortex.

Particulate guanylate cyclase from bovine adrenal cortex can be stimulated by ANF. A 2-fold stimulation of the enzyme was obtained with 100 nM ANF and a half-maximal stimulation, with a 5 nM dose. The stimulation by ANF persisted for at least 30 min. Various detergents, such as Triton X-100, Lubrol PX, cholate, CHAPS, digitonin and zwittergent, stimulated several-fold the activity of particulate guanylate cyclase. However, only Triton X-100 dispersed particulate guanylate cyclase without affecting its response to ANF. The dose-response curve of ANF stimulation of the particulate and the Triton X-100 dispersed enzyme was similar. The dispersion of a fully responsive guanylate cyclase to ANF will help us to uncover the type of interactions between guanylate cyclase and ANF. It will also be used as a first step for the purification of an ANF-sensitive particulate guanylate cyclase.

Adrenal Cortex

Mechanisms of action of atrial natriuretic factor: clinical consequences.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) acts through specific receptors at its target tissues. Receptor-occupancy by ANF induces activation of particulate guanylate cyclase, increased cyclic GMP formation and also inhibition of adenylate cyclase which results in a decrease of cyclic AMP formation. These second messenger systems appear to mediate the effects of ANF in target tissues. Following receptor-mediated activation of particulate guanylate cyclase, cyclic GMP is extruded from the cells, which leads to elevated cyclic GMP levels in plasma and urine in man, whereas cyclic AMP levels remain unchanged. Since cyclic GMP has a much longer half-life than ANF, it is more sensitive as a marker for ANF release than ANF itself, which has a half-life of just a few minutes. Since cyclic GMP is excreted into urine, determinations of urine cyclic GMP can also allow conclusions about the ANF system when blood sampling is impractical. Thus, cyclic GMP and not cyclic AMP is a sensitive biological marker for ANF.

Adenylyl Cyclases