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Biomedical subjects

S Oparil

Publications and source records attributed to S Oparil.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Decreased serum angiotensin converting enzyme in adult respiratory distress syndrome associated with sepsis: a preliminary report.

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were obtained in 24 control patients who were critically ill, in 11 patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema, in 8 patients with status postcardiopulmonary bypass, and in 12 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Mean values in cardiogenic pulmonary edema (24.3 +/- 3.9 SD) in cardiopulmonary bypass (19.5 +/- 3.1) and in patients with ARDS and no sepsis (n = 7, 19.0 +/- 5.5) were not significantly different from controls (20.7 +/- 2.8). In contrast, patients with ARDS and sepsis had markedly decreased serum ACE levels which fell outside of control range (n = 5, 8.6 +/- 2.3). The authors speculate that decreased ACE levels in the combination of sepsis and ARDS are due to the presence of circulating inhibitors of ACE. The finding of decreased serum ACE can be of potential clinical usefulness by raising the possibility of sepsis as the etiology of ARDS before results of blood cultures are available.

Adult↗

Renal function during reflexly activated catecholamine flow through an adrenorenal rete.

Reflex vasoconstriction that occurs in the kidney of the dog can be the result of either of two mechanisms. The first is by activation of the renal sympathetic nerves and the second by reflex activation of catecholamine flow through an adrenorenal rete. Both reflex mechanisms can be activated by transient hypotension caused by experimentally induced atrial fibrillation in the sodium-replete pentobarbital-anesthetized dog. This study was undertaken to measure and compare the magnitude of changes in renal function that occur when these reflex mechanisms are activated and to evaluate the possible role of intrarenal angiotensin II in these two reflex effects. Reflex activation of catecholamine flow through an adrenorenal rete in intact or denervated kidneys produced a 26 +/- 3% decrease in renal plasma flow, a 23 +/- 4% decrease in glomerular filtration rate, a 58 +/- 7% decrease in urinary sodium excretion, and a 4 +/- 1% increase in filtration fraction, but no change in the fractional distribution of intrarenal blood flow. Changes of a similar direction and magnitude were seen in the same animals during reflex activation of the renal sympathetic nerves in the kidneys with intact or ligated adrenorenal rete. The same studies were performed after the intrarenal action of angiotensin II was blocked with [Sar1,Ala8]angiotensin II and similar responses were seen. Both of these reflexes appear to be important mechanisms by which the kidney can maintain vascular volume, and neither depends on intrarenal angiotensin II activity.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Effects of sodium intake and Goldblatt hypertension on renin release in rat kidney slices.

The effects of altering sodium intake and inducing two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertension in the male Sprague-Dawley rat on renin release (RR) from renal cortical slices were examined. The low sodium diet significantly elevated plasma and kidney renin activity (KRA) and base-line renin release (BRR). KRA and BRR in the unclipped kidney of Goldblatt hypertensive rats were suppressed; KRA and BRR in the contralateral clipped kidney were comparable to values in normotensive animals fed a basal diet. Regression analysis of BRR vs. KRA for all kidneys studied yielded an r value of 0.728 for a linear model (y = a + bx) and 0.831 for a power model (y = axb), indicating that BRR is dependent on renal renin stores over a wide range of KRA, and suggesting that BRR may reach a maximal value. Percent inhibition of RR by angiotensin II (AII) and percent stimulation of RR by isoproterenol were the same in high, low, and basal salt states, while absolute changes in RR and changes in RR expressed as percent of renin stores released per hour were less in the high salt state, suggesting that isoproterenol-induced stimulation and AII-induced inhibition of RR are dependent on renal renin stores.

Angiotensin II↗

Angiotensin II metabolism by tissues from developing rats.

Asp1-125I-Tyr4-angiotensin II (125I-AII) was degraded during incubation with rat plasma or homogenates of liver or kidney. The electrophoretic profile of peptide fragments revealed that the disappearance of 125I-AII was first order and was accompanied by an accumulation of 125I-tyrosine in the incubation medium. The only other metabolites of angiotensin AII detectable by peptide mapping were the amino-terminus tetrapeptide and the carboxy-terminus hexapeptide. The appearance of these fragments was highly variable, suggesting that endopeptidases did not constitute the ultimate cleavage of angiotensin II hydrolysis. The half-life of 125-AII in plasma or liver homogenates did not change with age (approximately 8 to 12 and 6 to 9 min, respectively). In contrast, the rate of disappearance of 125I-AII in homogenates of rat kidney depended upon the age of the rat from which the tissue was obtained. The half-life of 125AII decreased three-fold (from approximately 8.3 to 2.8 min) between 2 wk after birth and adult (approximately 8 wk). This increase in the rate of metabolism of 125I-AII was accompanied by a concomitant two-fold, age-related increase in the rate of appearance of 125I-tyrosine in the reaction mixture containing renal tissue.

Aging↗

Pathogenesis of paroxysmal hypertension developing during and after coronary bypass surgery: a study of hemodynamic and humoral factors.

A prospective study of hypertension first appearing during and after saphenous vein bypass coronary surgery was performed in 28 patients to examine the incidence, hemodynamics and mechanism of this problem. In 15 patients (54 percent) new hypertension developed (mean arterial pressure greater than 107 mm Hg), characterized by increased peripheral vascular resistance and unchanged cardiac output within 1 hour after surgery. These 15 patients had a longer history of angina of greater severity, but also had relatively well preserved ventricular myocardium. Because plasma renin activity was depressed in patients in the hypertensive group, activation of the renin-angiotensin system was not important in the pathogenesis of this postoperative hypertension. The expected decrease in total peripheral resistance at the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass was observed in all patients, but later during bypass the peripheral resistance increased in all patients in association with a rise in plasma epinephrine levels. Patients who had hypertension postoperatively had a greater increase in arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance during cardiopulmonary bypass than did those with normal postoperative blood pressure. An elevation in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentration, suggesting enhanced sympathoadrenal responsiveness to the challenge of cardiopulmonary bypass, was characteristic of the hypertensive group. This evidence of enhanced sympathetic activity during surgery may be a useful predictor of the development of postoperative hypertension.

Blood Pressure↗

Effect of acute hypoxia on the pulmonary conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in dogs.

We studied the effect of acute hypoxia on pulmonary conversion of angiotensin I to II in anesthetized dogs. When arterial PO2 was decreased from 86 +/- 14 (SD) to 33 +/- 8 mm Hg without changing pH or PCO2, the single passage conversion of intravenous boluses of radiolabeled angiotensin I in tracer doses fell significantly (P less than 0.005) from 72 +/- 4 to 67 +/- 6%. The effect of comparable levels of hypoxemia on the conversion of continuous intravenous infusions of pharmacological doses (1000 times physiological) of angiotensin I was greater: from 55 +/- 14 to 33 +/- 13% (P less than 0.025). There was prompt return of percent conversion ratios to control levels when hypoxemia was reversed. We conclude that acute hypoxia is associated with a reversible decrease in pulmonary angiotensin converting enzyme availability.

Acute Disease↗

Role of the renal sympathetic nerves in the development and maintenance of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Neurogenic factors and, in particular, enhanced renal sympathetic tone, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat of the Okamoto strain. To examine the hypothesis that the renal sympathetic nerves contribute to the development and maintenance of hypertension by causing urinary sodium retention, 7-wk-old (early hypertensive) and 18-wk-old (established hypertensive) male spontaneously hypertensive rats were subjected to bilateral renal denervation and compared with sham-operated controls. In 7-wk-old animals renal denervation delayed the onset and slowed the rate of development of hypertension. These alterations were associated with a significantly greater fractional excretion of sodium (percentage of sodium intake excreted) during the first 3 wk after denervation. Blood pressure 2 wk after surgery was 169+/-3.5 (sham) vs. 150+/-2.4 mm Hg (denervated) (P < 0.001), corresponding to fractional sodium excretions of 65+/-1.3% (sham) vs. 80+/-2.3% (denervated) (P < 0.001). By the 5th wk after surgery, at which time an increase in renal norepinephrine content of denervated animals suggested reinnervation, blood pressures in the two groups converged (sham, 199+/-6.5 mm Hg vs. denervated 180+/-3.5 mm Hg, NS) and there was no difference in sodium excretion (sham, 77+/-2.5% vs. denervated 79+/-2.3%). Plasma and kidney renin activity of denervated animals did not differ significantly from that of sham-operated controls. In 18-wk-old rats renal denervation did not alter blood pressure or urinary sodium excretion. These data indicate that the renal sympathetic nerves contribute to the development of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat in part by causing enhanced sodium retention. Once hypertension is established the renal nerves do not play a significant role in the maintenance of increased blood pressure.

Animals↗

Desoxycorticosterone in normal pregnancy. II. Cortisol-dependent fluctuations in free plasma desoxycorticosterone.

Desoxycorticosterone (DOC) secretion increases during pregnancy. Administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to women during the third trimester of pregnancy was noted previously to result in marked sodium retention, while aldosterone excretion declined. Since urinary tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone increased substantially, sodium retention resulting from ACTH was ascribed to enhanced DOC secretion. Surprisingly, the elevated plasma DOC in late pregnancy failed to respond consistently to ACTH. Effects of ACTH upon total plasma concentrations and free indexes of DOC and cortisol were studied in pregnant women in the third trimester. As a result of ACTH, plasma cortisol and the free cortisol index increased strikingly; the plasma free DOC index rose markedly in those subjects in whom the total plasma DOC level was not altered appreciably and was unchanged or even increased slightly in the few subjects in whom the total DOC level decreased. The results support the proposition that the plasma free DOC fraction is increased because of displacement from corticosteroid-binding globulin by the ACTH-induced increment in cortisol. Resultant elevations of free DOC would not be evident from customary measurements of the total DOC concentration but, nonetheless, could contribute to sodium retention and also would be available for hepatic metabolism.

Adolescent↗

Renal tubular transport and catabolism of proteins and peptides.

The kidney plays an important role in the metabolism of proteins and peptides. Current evidence indicates that only the proximal tubule possesses the mechanism for degradation or transport of these substances and reabsorption of metabolic products. Proteins and large polypeptides filtered at the glomerulus are absorbed from proximal tubular fluid by luminal endocytosis into apical vacuoles. These fuse with primary lysosomes, where hydrolysis occurs followed by diffusion of metabolites out of the cells and into the blood. Recent evidence indicates that small linear peptides are handled by a different mechanism. It is likely that small peptides are degraded at the luminal surface of the brush border of proximal tubules, which contains many hydrolytic enzymes, by the process of membrane or contact digestion with reabsorption of the breakdown products. The probable biological significance of proximal tubular mechanisms for handling of proteins and peptides are conservation of amino acids, inactivation of toxic substances, and participation in the regulation of the circulating level of protein and peptide hormones.

Animals↗

Mechanism of postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction in the anesthetized dog.

The mechanism of postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction was studied in 28 dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg i.v.). Rapid atrial or ventricular pacing or induction of atrial fibrilation were used to produce at least 20% prompt decrease in cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure. Return to control cardiac output and blood pressure occurred within 3 minutes after cessation of the arrhythmia, but renal blood flow remained significantly decreased (26%) with gradual recovery by 17.7 +/- 6.6 min. Infusion of phentolamine (0.25 mg/min) into the renal artery, intravenous hexamethonium (l mg/kg), adrenal demedullation, or cooling the cervical vagi prevented postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction. In contrast, renal denervation, intravenous bretylium (10 mg/kg), intravenous atropine (0.5 mg/kg) or intrarenal SQ 20881 (0.20 mg/min) has no effect on postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction. Intravenous propranolol (0.5 mg/kg) intensified postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction. These data suggested that the postarrhythmic renal vasoconstrictive response required intact vagi and was due to alpha adrenergic stimulation by adrenal catecholamines. However, femoral arterial catecholamine levels were not elevated above control during postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction. We therefore sought local vascular pathways by which catecholamines might reach the kidneys. An adrenorenal vascular network was found in each dog. Collection of catecholamines from these vessels during postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction in six dogs revealed catecholamine concentrations threefold higher than simultaneously collected femoral arterial catecholamines levels. Because ligation of these vessels abolished postarrhythmic renal vasoconstriction in each dog, we conclude that postarrhythmic renal vasconstriction is due to adrenal catecholamines reaching the kidneys through an adreno-renal vascular network and that the response requires intact vagi.

Adrenal Glands↗

Clinical significance of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels in sarcoidosis.

Determinations of SACE activity were performed in 80 patients with sarcoidosis, 55 normal controls, and 29 patients with asthma, by the spectrophotometric method of Cushman and Cheung. SACE levels were significantly higher in both untreated and steroid-treated patients with sarcoidosis than in normal controls: 46.2 +/- 20.6 (S.D.), nm/min/ml, 38.1 +/- 23.1, and 26.8 +/- 1.8, respectively. There were no significant differences between steroid-treated and untreated patient groups. However, an inverse correlation was observed between SACE levels and steroid dose, suggesting the possibility of a dose dependency for steroid-induced depression of SACE. Elevated SACE levels (2 S.D. above mean controls) were present in 67% of untreated sarcoidosis patients. The prevalence of elevated SACE levels was not significantly higher when the patient population was examined with respect to duration of disease, radiological stage, and the presence of abnormality in pulmonary function tests. When patients were divided according to the frequency of clinical criteria of disease activity, the presence of two or more criteria was associated with elevated SACE levels in 88% of patients. But SACE levels were elevated in 32% of patients judged to have dormant disease by clinical criteria. SACE levels had an 81% accuracy in prediction of disease activity and a 79% accruacy for prediction of inactivity. It was concluded that SACE elevations have definite diagnostic value in sarcoidosis and are helpful in establishing the presence of disease activity but are not sufficient to fully separate active from inactive disease groups.

Adolescent↗

Desoxycorticosterone in normal pregnancy. I. Sequential studies of the secretory patterns of desoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, and cortisol.

Plasma concentrations of desoxycorticosterone (DOC) and aldosterone are markedly elevated in pregnancy. Although DOC secretion in nongravid women has been assumed to be dependent mainly on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), in a previous study of women in the third trimester of pregnancy it was found to be unresponsive to ACTH, dexamethasone, and variations in salt intake. In this study plasma DOC, aldosterone, and cortisol levels, as well as their responses to ACTH stimulation and overnight dexamethasone suppression, were observed sequentially in seven normal women during the course of pregnancy and at three months post partum. Plasma DOC, aldosterone, and cortisol levels rose substantially during gestation, but increments in DOC did not necessarily coincide with those of the other two. Responses of all three corticosteroids to ACTH were enhanced during the first two trimesters compared to the nongravid state; DOC became unresponsive in the third trimester, while aldosterone and cortisol rose to an even greater extent. Elevated maternal DOC was not decreased significantly by dexamethasone at any stage of pregnancy, while plasma cortisol was suppressed. Nonsuppressibility of DOC with dexamethasone and also the lack of correlation of the rise in DOC with the increase in cortisol during the course of pregnancy suggest that increased DOC secretion in pregnancy does not arise from ACTH-dependent pathways of the maternal adrenal. The loss of responsiveness of DOC to ACTH in the third trimester suggests that the maternal adrenals have undergone an alteration in their steroidogenic response to ACTH, but also may indicate that their output of DOC has reached a maximal rate.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗