Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to T Bennett.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Synergistic internal carotid vasodilator effects of human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide and nimodipine in conscious rats.

1. In a first series of experiments, male Long Evans rats were chronically instrumented for the measurement of internal carotid blood flow and systemic arterial blood pressure; cardiovascular changes were assessed during and after 30 min infusions of human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (0.06 and 0.6 nmol h-1), or nimodipine (60 and 600 nmol h-1) or human alpha-CGRP plus nimodipine. The effects of human alpha-CGRP or nimodipine on internal carotid vasoconstriction induced by endothelin-1 were also measured. 2. Human alpha-CGRP (0.06 nmol h-1) caused a small (+15%), transient increase in internal carotid blood flow and a tachycardia (+33 beats min-1), but no change in mean blood pressure. Nimodipine (60 nmol h-1) caused a brief internal carotid hyperaemia (+16%) but no changes in blood pressure or heart rate. However, concurrent administration of human alpha-CGRP (0.06 nmol h-1) and nimodipine (60 nmol h-1) caused a sustained increase in internal carotid blood flow (+40%) unaccompanied by significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure. 3. Human alpha-CGRP at a dose of 0.6 nmol h-1 or nimodipine at a dose of 600 nmol h-1 caused substantial reductions in internal carotid vascular resistance (-43 and -40%, respectively); concurrent administration of these doses did not have an additive vasodilator effect. 4. Infusion of endothelin-1 (1.2nmolhV1) for 20min caused incremental constriction of the internal carotid vascular bed; human alpha-CGRP infusion (0.6 and 6.0nmolh-1) begun tOmin after the onset of endothelin-1 infusion reversed this effect (dose-dependently); nimodipine (600nmolh-1) also caused a substantial attenuation of the effects of endothelin-1. 5. In a second series of experiments the haemodynamic effects of human alpha-CGRP and/or nimodipine were assessed in rats chronically instrumented for the measurement of renal, superior mesenteric and hindquarters blood flow together with systemic arterial blood pressure. 6. Administration of human alpha-CGRP (0.06 nmol h-') alone or in conjuction with nimodipine (60nmolh-1) had no significant effects on renal or superior mesenteric vascular resistances, although there was a slight hindquarters vasodilatation. Human alpha-CGRP at a dose of 0.6 nmol -1 caused hypotension, tachycardia and reductions in renal and superior mesenteric blood flows, together with a marked (+31% maximum) hindquarters hyperaemia. Nimodipine at a dose of 600 nmol h-1 caused hypotension, tachycardia and a reduction (-34%) in renal blood flow; mesenteric blood flow was unchanged and there was an increase in hindquarters flow (+ 59%). 7. Concurrent administration of human alpha-CGRP (0.6 nmol h 1) and nimodipine (600 nmol h') did not have an additive hypotensive effect or an enhanced hindquarters hyperaemic effect, but was associated with a marked impairment of renal blood flow (-48%). 8. The present results indicate that concurrent administration of low doses of human alpha-CGRP and nimodipine might be particularly helpful in the acute treatment of patients with cerebral vasospasm and impaired renal perfusion, since this intervention improved internal carotid blood flow without compromising blood flow to the kidney.

Animals↗

Regional and cardiac haemodynamic effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in conscious, Long Evans rats.

1. Regional haemodynamic responses to i.v. bolus doses (0.1-10.0 mg kg-1) of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were measured in conscious, Long Evans rats (n = 8) chronically instrumented with renal, mesenteric and hindquarters pulsed Doppler flow probes and intravascular catheters. 2. L-NAME caused dose-dependent pressor effects associated with renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vasoconstrictions. The mesenteric vascular bed showed earlier onset with more rapid, and greater, maximum vasoconstrictions than the renal or hindquarters vascular beds; however, the hindquarters vasoconstriction was more persistent. D-NAME was without significant effects (n = 2). 3. Primed infusion of L-arginine (100 mg kg-1 bolus followed by 100 mg kg-1 h-1 infusion), starting 10 min after an i.v. bolus injection of L-NAME (10 mg kg-1), caused significant reversal of the pressor responses, and renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions, but not of the hindquarters vasoconstriction. Primed infusions of L-arginine (100 mg kg-1, 100 mg kg-1 h-1) starting 5 min after L-NAME (1 mg kg-1) additionally caused some reversal of the hindquarters vasoconstriction, but this effect was transient. 4. Primed infusion of L-arginine (100 mg kg-1, 100 mg kg-1 h-1) starting 30 min before i.v. bolus injection of L-NAME (10 mg kg-1) caused significant attenuation of the pressor effects and the renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions but not of the hindquarters vasoconstriction. 5. In a separate group of rats (n = 8) chronically instrumented with thoracic aortic electromagnetic flow probes for the measurement of cardiac haemodynamics, i.v. bolus injection of L-NAME (10mgkg-1) produced significant reductions in total peripheral conductance, cardiac output, stroke volume, peak thoracic aortic flow and the maximum rate of rise of aortic flow; these were coincident with the maximum pressor and vasoconstrictor effects. 6. These results, collectively, are consistent with L-NAME interfering with L-arginine-nitric oxide pathways that have important influences on regional vascular conductances in vivo. The pressor effect resulting from L-NAME-induced vasoconstrictions is offset by a substantial reduction in cardiac function that may depend on direct and/or indirect effects of L-NAME on the heart.

Animals↗

Regional and cardiac haemodynamic responses to glyceryl trinitrate, acetylcholine, bradykinin and endothelin-1 in conscious rats: effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester.

1. Conscious Long Evans rats, chronically instrumented for cardiovascular measurements, were challenged with i.v. bolus doses of glyceryl trinitrate (40 nmol kg-1), acetylcholine (1.2 nmol kg-1), bradykinin (3.2 nmol kg-1), or endothelin-1 (0.25 nmol kg-1). Under control conditions these doses produced similar falls in mean arterial blood pressure (glyceryl trinitrate, -20 +/- 3 mmHg; acetylcholine, -24 +/- 2 mmHg: bradykinin, -21 +/- 3 mmHg; endothelin-1, -25 +/- 3 mmHg), associated with renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vasodilatations (except for endothelin-1 which caused mesenteric vasoconstriction). 2. In the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mgkg-1), a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide biosynthesis and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in vitro, the hypotensive responses to glyceryl trinitrate, acetylcholine, and endothelin-1 were increased, although that to bradykinin was not. However, comparing the differences between the response to glyceryl trinitrate and that to any other agonist in the absence and presence of L-NAME showed that there were relative attenuations of the hypotensive responses to bradykinin and endothelin-1, but not to acetylcholine, in the presence of L-NAME. 3. This comparative analysis showed that the renal and hindquarters vasodilator responses to bradykinin and endothelin-1 were attenuated in the presence of L-NAME, but the renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vasodilator responses to acetylcholine were not. However, when L-NAME was administered in the presence of pentolinium, captopril and the vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr-(Et)]DAVP, (to abolish baroreflex and neurohumoral mechanisms), there was attenuation of the renal and mesenteric vasodilator effects of acetylcholine relative to those seen with glyceryl trinitrate. Under those conditions only the renal vasodilator effects of bradykinin and endothelin-1 were attenuated. 4. In separate experiments in conscious Long Evans rats, direct measurement of cardiac haemodynamics showed that the hypotensive responses to glyceryl trinitrate, acetylcholine, bradykinin and endothelin-l were entirely attributable to rises in total peripheral conductance since both in the absence and presence of L-NAME there were no reductions in cardiac index in response to these substances. 5. The results indicate that measurement of systemic arterial blood pressure alone in conscious rats does not permit reliable quantitation of the influence of L-NAME on regional vasodilator responses to glyceryl trinitrate, acetylcholine, bradykinin or endothelin-1. Furthermore, these substances exert effects in different vascular beds that may be differentially influenced by baroreflex mechanisms, neurohumoral mechanisms, or both. Moreover, except in the case of the renal vasodilator response to endothelin-1 (which was abolished in the presence of L-NAME), even when L-NAME caused attenuation of the vasodilator effects of acetylcholine or bradykinin (relative to glyceryl trinitrate), substantial responses remained. It is feasible that such responses in vivo are nitric oxide-independent.

Acetylcholine↗

Regional haemodynamic effects of endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in conscious Long Evans and Brattleboro rats.

1. The regional haemodynamic effects of bolus doses (4 and 40 pmol) and infusions (12 and 120 pmol h-1) of endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 were assessed in conscious, Long Evans and Brattleboro (i.e. vasopressin-deficient) rats, chronically-instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes. 2. In both strains of rat the lower bolus dose of endothelin-1 caused only a slight pressor effect, but there were marked renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions and hindquarters vasodilatation. 3. The lower bolus dose of endothelin-3 did not affect blood pressure significantly, although the changes in regional haemodynamics were qualitatively similar to those seen following endothelin-1 in Long Evans and Brattleboro rats. 4. The higher dose of endothelin-1 caused an initial hypotension accompanied by substantial hindquarters vasodilatations in Long Evans and Brattleboro rats. Subsequently, in both strains, there was a rise in blood pressure accompanied by renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vasoconstrictions. 5. The higher bolus dose of endothelin-3 caused initial hypotension and hindquarters vasodilatation similar to those seen with endothelin-1. However, the subsequent pressor effect was less with endothelin-3, as was the renal vasoconstriction, and it did not cause any increase in hindquarters vascular resistance. 6. Infusion of endothelin-1 at the lower rate (12 pmol h-1) caused renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions in both strains of rat, whereas endothelin-3 at this rate caused only mesenteric vasoconstriction. 7. Infusion of endothelin-1 at the higher rate (120 pmol h-1) caused progressive hypertension and vasoconstrictions in all three vascular beds studied; these were similar in both strains of rat. Endothelin-3 had a smaller pressor effect and a lesser constrictor action on the renal and mesenteric vascular beds; it did not constrict the hindquarters vascular bed. 8. These results show, that in conscious Long Evans and Brattleboro rats, the initial depressor effects of the higher bolus doses of endothelin-1 and -3 were similar, and, hence, not influenced by the absence of endogenous vasopressin. Endothelin-1 and -3 appear equipotent in their initial hyperaemic vasodilator effects in the hindquarters vasculature in both strains, making it unlikely that this effect is dependent on the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), since ANP does not cause significant increases in hindquarters blood flow in Brattleboro rats. The greater delayed pressor effect of endothelin-1 is associated with its more marked vasoconstrictor effects on renal and mesenteric vascular beds and is accentuated, relative to endothelin-3, by the lack of a constrictor effect of endothelin-3 in the hindquarters vasculature.

Animals↗

Can pulsed Doppler technique measure changes in aortic blood flow in conscious rats?

To determine whether the pulsed Doppler (PD) system could be used to measure cardiac output we compared estimates of changes in aortic flow obtained from PD or electromagnetic (EM) probes on the ascending aorta in separate groups of conscious Long-Evans and Brattleboro rats under a variety of conditions. EM probes showed significant increases and decreases in aortic blood flow after administration of nitroprusside or methoxamine, respectively, but 20-MHz PD probes connected to a PD mainframe with a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 62.5 kHz showed no systematic changes in Doppler shift, due to "aliasing" of the Doppler signal. Aortic blood flow was significantly increased with intravenous volume expansion or isoprenaline administration, but these changes were not reliably detected by PD probes operating in a system with a PRF of 62.5 kHz. Calculation of expected peak Doppler shift signals from the phasic EM flow signal showed that these exceeded the Nyquist limit (PRF/2, i.e., 31.25 kHz) for the commercially available pulsed Doppler system. However, a modified pulsed Doppler module capable of resolving aliases and operating at a PRF of 125 kHz produced reliable results for changes in thoracic aortic Doppler shift, in good agreement with the EM probe data. In addition, placement of a cuff around the thoracic aorta did not alter cardiac baroreflex sensitivity.

Animals↗

Regional hemodynamic effects of neuromedin U in conscious rats.

In conscious unrestrained Long-Evans rats, chronically instrumented with miniaturized pulsed Doppler flow probes, intravenous administration of porcine neuromedin U-8 by bolus (0.1 and 1.0 nmol) or infusion (1 and 10 nmol/h) exerted potent constrictor effects on the superior mesenteric vascular bed. With the choice of an appropriate dose, the reduction in superior mesenteric blood flow was not accompanied by any changes in systemic arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and renal or hindquarters blood flows. Porcine neuromedin U-25 had similar effects to neuromedin U-8, but was generally more potent. In Brattleboro rats the pattern of response to neuromedin U-25 was similar to that seen in Long-Evans rats, indicating that mesenteric vasoconstriction was not dependent on release of endogenous vasopressin. In Long-Evans rats the regional hemodynamic actions of rat neuromedin U were comparable with those of porcine neuromedin U-25. The latter peptide at a dose of 1.0 nmol caused a rise in total peripheral resistance and a reduction in cardiac output, with an inconsistent change in heart rate. The results raise the possibility that the high concentration of neuromedin U in the rat intestine is associated with the control of local blood flow.

Animals↗

Blood pressure in streptozotocin-treated Brattleboro and Long-Evans rats.

The diabetogenic agent streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally in Long-Evans and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-deficient Brattleboro rats. Twenty-eight days later both strains had a bradycardia and systolic hypotension; STZ-treated Brattleboro rats also had diastolic hypotension. The vasopressin (V1-receptor) antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(Et)]DAVP, had no effect on resting blood pressure (BP) or heart rate (HR) in either strain of rat, indicating the relative maintenance of diastolic BP in STZ-treated Long-Evans rats was not dependent on acute vascular actions of AVP. Captopril caused a modest hypotension in all groups of rats, indicating that BP was not differentially dependent on the renin-angiotensin system in the different groups. In the presence of captopril and the ganglion blocker, pentolinium tartrate, the AVP-mediated recovery in BP was impaired in STZ-treated Long-Evans rats. During administration of d(CH2)5[Tyr(Et)]DAVP and pentolinium, the angiotensin II (ANG II)-mediated BP recovery was smaller in both groups of STZ-treated rats, indicating that this abnormality was not likely to be caused by inhibition of renin release by AVP. The abnormalities in ANG II- and AVP-mediated recovery were prevented by insulin treatment.

Animals↗

Regional hemodynamic effects of endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin-S6b in conscious rats.

Regional hemodynamic responses to bolus doses (4 and 40 pmol) and 60-min infusions (12 and 120 pmol/h) of endothelin-2 (ET-2) and sarafotoxin-S6b (S6b) were measured in conscious Long-Evans and Brattleboro rats chronically instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes. In both strains of rat the two bolus doses of ET-2 and S6b peptides caused an initial fall in mean blood pressure (MBP). At the higher dose S6b caused a greater fall in MBP than ET-2. In Long-Evans rats the fall in MBP after S6b was associated with renal, mesenteric, and hindquarters vasodilatations; in Brattleboro rats there was no renal or mesenteric vasodilatation with S6b. The high dose of ET-2 caused early mesenteric vasoconstriction in both strains. After the initial fall in MBP there were dose-dependent increases in MBP together with renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions. These effects were generally greater after S6b than after ET-2 and no less marked in Brattleboro than in Long-Evans rats, indicating that release of endogenous vasopressin was not an indispensable component of the response. Infusions of the higher dose of ET-2 or S6b caused increases in MBP only, associated with renal, mesenteric, and hindquarters vasoconstrictions. The results indicate that S6b is a more potent stimulus than ET-2 of vasodilator mechanisms in vivo; despite this, S6b also exerts more marked vasoconstrictor effects than ET-2.

Animals↗

Central effects of angiotensins I and II in conscious streptozotocin-treated rats.

Responses to intracerebroventricular (icv) angiotensin II (ANG II) were measured in Long-Evans rats treated with the diabetogenic agent, streptozotocin (STZ), or saline 28 days earlier. STZ-treated Long-Evans rats showed normal pressor responses to ANG II in the absence of drinking water, but bradycardic responses were impaired although there was no reduction in baroreflex sensitivity. When allowed to drink, saline-treated, but not STZ-treated, rats showed an enhanced pressor response to icv ANG II and a tachycardia. Peripheral V1-receptor antagonism attenuated the pressor response to icv ANG II, leaving a residual response that was greater in saline-treated than in STZ-treated rats. STZ-treated rats had attenuated pressor and heart rate responses to icv angiotensin I (ANG I). Although some cardiovascular responses to icv ANG I and ANG II were reduced in STZ-treated rats, these animals showed enhanced sensitivity to the dipsogenic effects of the peptides. Vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats showed little pressor response to icv ANG II unless drinking was allowed, in which case the pressor response was less in STZ-treated than in saline-treated Brattleboro rats, although there was no difference in drinking response.

Angiotensin I↗

Central effects of substance P and somatostatin in conscious, streptozotocin-treated rats.

Cardiovascular responses to intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of substance P and somatostatin were measured in Long-Evans and Brattleboro rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ) or saline. Substance P icv evoked similar pressor responses and tachycardia in STZ-treated and saline-treated Long-Evans rats, together with signs of behavioral activation (i.e., arousal). As a group, Brattleboro rats did not respond significantly to icv substance P, although some individual rats showed clear cardiovascular and behavioral responses. These findings may indicate a reduced sensitivity to icv substance P in Brattleboro rats but show no differences attributable to STZ treatment. Hence, diminished pressor responses to icv angiotensin II (observed previously) may be specific to sympathoadrenal activation associated with drinking. Somatostatin caused a pressor effect in saline-treated, but not in STZ-treated, Long-Evans rats, which was probably due to arginine vasopressin (AVP)-mediated mechanisms because it was not present in either saline-treated or STZ-treated Brattleboro rats. Both control and STZ-treated Long-Evans rats showed a bradycardic response to somatostatin that was not seen in Brattleboro rats. These results indicate that different AVP-mediated mechanisms might be responsible for the pressor and bradycardic effects of icv somatostatin. It is possible that impairment of central somatostatin-mediated AVP release contributes to the diminished role of AVP in blood pressure recovery following ganglion blockade in STZ-treated rats described previously.

Animals↗

Control of regional blood flow by endothelium-derived nitric oxide.

The regional hemodynamic consequences of inhibiting vascular endothelial nitric oxide generation with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) were studied in conscious Long-Evans rats. Experiments were carried out in groups of chronically instrumented rats with intravascular catheters and pulsed Doppler probes to monitor regional blood flow. L-NMMA (0.3-300 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent, long-lasting (5-90 minutes), and enantiomerically specific increase in mean blood pressure and also caused bradycardia. The increase in blood pressure was accompanied by a dose-dependent and long-lasting vasoconstriction in the internal carotid, mesenteric, renal, and hindquarters vascular beds that could be attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. In contrast, L-arginine did not affect the pressor or vasoconstrictor effects of vasopressin. These results indicate that nitric oxide production by vascular endothelial cells contributes to the maintenance of blood pressure and to the control of the resting tone of different vascular beds in the conscious rat.

Animals↗

In vitro caffeine induced aortic smooth muscle reactivity in rat.

The effects of caffeine on aortic smooth muscle contractility during hypertension were studied in SHR and WKY control rats. To compare the effects of Mg++ on vascular reactivity induced by caffeine 1.2 mM MgCl2 was either included or omitted from the Krebs solution bathing the aortic tissue. The role of alpha-adrenergic receptors and verapamil-sensitive Ca++ channels in eliciting caffeine induced contraction in aortic tissues was also examined in Sprague Dawley rats. We report that the aortic smooth muscle from SHR animal was less responsive than WKY aortic smooth muscle to 10 and 20 mM concentrations of caffeine. Caffeine induced a relaxation of aortic smooth muscle contracted with 60 mM KCl or 10(-7) M NE. However, the relaxation response was slower in SHR as compared to WKY rats. To assess the involvement of alpha-adrenergic receptors in caffeine induced aortic contractility alpha 1- and alpha 2-receptors were blocked with 10(-7) M prazosin and 10(-7) M yohimbine respectively. The caffeine induced aortic contractility did not seem to involve alpha-adrenergic receptors. A blockade of verapamil sensitive Ca++ channels with 10(-7) M verapamil failed to inhibit caffeine induced aortic contractility. These results indicate that caffeine involves release of Ca++ in vascular muscle, however, Ca++ is released from a site other than the one controlled by alpha-adrenergic receptors. Also, the Ca++ channels involved are other than the Verapamil sensitive Ca++ channels. Yet it is clear that if the aortic contractility is due to Ca++ release alone, then caffeine is a potent agent for Ca++ release in the aortic smooth muscle of rat. Additionally, the caffeine-sensitive mechanism for aortic smooth muscle contraction is impaired during hypertension.

Animals↗

NG-monomethyl-L-arginine does not inhibit the hindquarters vasodilator action of endothelin-1 in conscious rats.

Regional haemodynamic responses to endothelin-1 were assessed in conscious, unrestrained Long Evans rats, chronically instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes. Bolus injection of endothelin-1 (0.04 nmol) caused an early transient hypotension and increase in hindquarters vascular conductance. In the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), which inhibits endothelial cell nitric oxide production, the hindquarters vasodilator response to endothelin-1 was unchanged and similar to that seen in the presence of vasopressin when the latter was infused to simulate the pressor effects of L-NMMA. These results indicate that the hindquarters vasodilatation in response to endothelin-1 is not dependent upon release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells.

Animals↗

Paraventricular nucleus injections of noradrenaline: cardiovascular effects in conscious Long-Evans and Brattleboro rats.

The cardiovascular effects of noradrenaline injected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were investigated in conscious Long-Evans (control) rats and homozygous vasopressin (AVP)-deficient Brattleboro rats. Unilateral microinjection of noradrenaline (3-30 nmol) into the PVN produced dose-dependent increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of Long-Evans rats, and a concomitant decrease in heart rate. Only the highest dose of noradrenaline tested (30 nmol) caused a significant pressor response in Brattleboro rats (9 +/- 4/9 +/- 4 mm Hg, systolic/diastolic, n = 7) which was significantly smaller than the response produced by the same dose of noradrenaline in Long-Evans rats (32 +/- 8/27 +/- 6 mm Hg, n = 7). Intravenous pretreatment of Long-Evans rats with the V1-receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr[Et]DAVP, almost completely abolished the pressor effect of noradrenaline (10 nmol) without significantly attenuating the bradycardia. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, idazoxan (4 nmol), injected into the PVN abolished the pressor response produced by noradrenaline (10 nmol) in Long-Evans rats but had no significant effect on the bradycardia. Pretreatment with the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (0.7 nmol), significantly attenuated both the pressor and bradycardic effects of noradrenaline in Long-Evans rats. These results suggest that the pressor response produced by microinjection of noradrenaline into the hypothalamic PVN of conscious Long-Evans rats is mediated largely through stimulation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and is dependent, in part, on release of AVP into the circulation. A component of the bradycardia seen with this intervention may be mediated through stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in the PVN.

Animals↗

Diplophonia?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Female↗

The metabolic and cardiovascular effects of intravenous infusion of glucose or intralipid in normal humans.

This study was performed to determine whether the administration of intravenous fluids, isosmolar with plasma, activated the sympathetic nervous system, thereby causing changes in cardiovascular variables. On four separate occasions, six young, healthy men were studied for 30 min before and, for 40 min after a 60 min period of either (a) intravenous infusion of 500 ml of 5% dextrose, (b) intravenous infusion of 500 ml of a mixture of 10% Intralipid and saline (154 mmol NaCl 1(-1)), (c) intravenous infusion of 500 ml of saline (154 mmol NaCl 1(-1)) or (d) no intravenous infusion. Venous plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations did not change significantly during any of these interventions. The venous plasma insulin level rose during infusion of 5% dextrose (p<0.001). The respiratory exchange ratio rose during the dextrose infusion and fell during the infusion of the Intralipid and saline mixture (p<0.01). Hand and calf blood flows and vascular resistances were not significantly affected by any procedure. Similar, small, changes in heart rate, arterial blood pressure, metabolic rate, core temperature and mean skin temperature were observed during the four protocols. The provision of small amounts of metabolic substrate, as either glucose or fat, led to rapid changes in fuel utilisation. However, under the conditions of the present experiments, there was no evidence of activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Journal Article↗

Regional hemodynamic effects of endothelin-1 in conscious, unrestrained, Wistar rats.

Regional hemodynamic measurements were made in conscious, unrestrained, Wistar rats chronically instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes around left renal and superior mesenteric arteries and the distal abdominal aorta, or around left and right common carotid arteries. The cardiovascular changes with i.v. bolus doses (0.004 and 0.04 nmol) or a 20-min infusion (0.04 nmol/20 min of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were assessed. ET-1 at a dose of 0.004 nmol had no effect on mean arterial pressure (MAP), but caused reductions in renal and mesenteric blood flow accompanied by hindquarters hyperemia; there were no changes in carotid hemodynamics. The higher bolus dose (0.04 nmol) of ET-1 caused initial hypotension and tachycardia followed by hypertension and bradycardia; these changes were associated with sustained reductions in renal and mesenteric flows but a transient hindquarters hyperemia. There was an initial carotid hyperemia followed by a marked reduction in blood flow. Infusion of ET-1 caused progressive bradycardia and hypertension accompanied by reductions in renal and mesenteric flows, but no changes in hindquarters or carotid hemodynamics. These observations are consistent with the hyperemia in the latter vascular beds with high bolus doses of ET-1 due to release of an endogenous vasodilator substance(s).

Animals↗