Citations

Abstract—Adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells do not contain nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS). We conferred endothelial NOS activity onto adrenal ZG cells through transduction with a recombinant adenovirus encoding the endothelial NOS gene (AdeNOS) to determine the effect of endogenous NO on aldosterone synthesis. A 135-kDa protein band immunoreactive to anti–endothelial NOS antibody was observed in Western blots of AdeNOS-transduced ZG cells but not in control cells or cells transduced with adenovirus encoding the β-galactosidase gene (AdβGal). Nitrate/nitrite production in AdeNOS-transduced ZG cells increased from 0.15±0.01 to 0.27±0.01 μmol/L after stimulation with 1 nmol/L angiotensin II. The treatment of AdeNOS-transduced cells with 30 μmol/Ll-nitro-arginine decreased angiotensin II–stimulated nitrite production from 0.27±0.01 to 0.17±0.01 μmol/L. Basal and angiotensin II–stimulated nitrite production was not increased in AdβGal-transduced or control cells. AdeNOS-transduced cells demonstrated diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate fluorescence, which was blocked by pretreatment withl-nitro-arginine. Angiotensin II–stimulated aldosterone synthesis decreased from 5123±177 pg/mL in AdβGal-transduced ZG cells to 72±27 pg/mL in AdeNOS-transduced cells. Treatment with the NOS inhibitor thiocitrulline (30 μmol/L) increased angiotensin II–stimulated aldosterone synthesis to 2158±45 pg/mL after AdeNOS transduction. These data demonstrate that adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of eNOS in ZG cells results in the expression of active endothelial NOS enzyme and that this endogenous NO production by ZG cells decreases aldosterone synthesis.

The present study determined circulating concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and also investigated the vasorelaxing action of ANP and CNP on isolated contracted aorta. We also defined the vasorelaxing action of a novel and newly synthesized 27-amino acid chimera of ANP and CNP termed vasonatrin peptide (VNP), which we compared with ANP and CNP in WKY rats and SHR. Plasma and urinary cyclic GMP and sodium excretion were also investigated. Plasma ANP was increased in SHR in contrast to no change in circulating CNP. Plasma and urinary cyclic GMP and sodium excretion were no different between WKY rats and SHR. In WKY rats maximal relaxations to VNP in aortic rings without endothelium were greater than those to ANP and CNP. In SHR aortic rings the potency of VNP relaxation was preserved, the actions of ANP were enhanced, and the actions of CNP were markedly impaired. In association with these vasorelaxing actions, these data suggest that (1) circulating CNP is not different in SHR and WKY rats, but the aortic relaxing action of CNP is markedly impaired in SHR; (2) endogenous plasma ANP is significantly increased in SHR without associated increases in plasma or urinary cyclic GMP; (3) there is an increase in aortic relaxation to exogenous ANP in SHR; and (4) VNP has a potent endothelium-independent aortic relaxing action in both WKY rats and SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atrial natriuretic peptide is an important peptide hormone of cardiac origin that functions to regulate cardiac preload via the regulation of sodium excretion. This natriuretic action occurs through activation of the particulate guanylyl cyclase-linked natriuretic peptide-A receptor. HS-142-1 is a newly discovered antagonist of the natriuretic peptide-A receptor that permits insight into the functional role of atrial natriuretic peptide in cardiorenal homeostasis. The first objective of this study was to define for the first time the intrarenal action of HS-142-1 on exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide-mediated natriuresis in anesthetized normal dogs. In group 1 (n = 6), which received intravenous atrial natriuretic peptide at 100 ng/kg per minute, intrarenal HS-142-1 (0.5 mg/kg bolus) attenuated atrial natriuretic peptide-induced increases in glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, sodium excretion, and renal cyclic GMP generation and decreases in distal tubular sodium reabsorption. The second objective was to determine whether endogenous atrial natriuretic peptide participates in the regulation of basal sodium excretion. In group 2 (n = 6), intrarenal HS-142-1 alone decreased both absolute and fractional sodium excretion and renal cyclic GMP generation and increased distal tubular sodium reabsorption. These studies demonstrate that HS-142-1 markedly attenuates exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide-mediated natriuresis via enhancement of distal tubular reabsorption and blunting of increases in glomerular filtration rate. Second, the current studies support a functional role for endogenous atrial natriuretic peptide in the regulation of basal sodium excretion.

To determine whether chronic high-fructose feeding causes insulin resistance and hypertension in normal dogs, we fed 10 male dogs a normosodic diet containing 60% of the calories as fructose for 20 to 28 days; a control group of 8 dogs was fed a similar diet containing dextrose instead of fructose. In the fructose-fed group, (1) fasting triglyceridemia increased from 35.3 +/- 0.63 to 91.9 +/- 11.55 mg/dL after 25 days (P < .001); (2) fasting insulinemia increased from 19.0 +/- 1.9 to 58.9 +/- 7.22 microU/mL after 25 days (P < .001); (3) insulin resistance, which was estimated by steady-state glycemia during an insulin suppression test, increased from 105.8 +/- 21.5 to 187.8 +/- 32.6 mg/dL after 15 days (P < .001), whereas steady-state insulinemia did not change; (4) mean arterial pressure increased from 100.4 +/- 1.6 to 122.6 +/- 2.3 mm Hg after 28 days (P < .01); and (5) cumulative sodium balance was increased on days 7 through 11 (111.60 +/- 4.44 mEq on day 8, P < .01), returning to normal for the rest of the experiment. All these parameters were similar between the fructose-fed and dextrose-fed groups before the diets were started and remained constant in the dextrose-fed group. Neither group showed any change in body weight, fasting plasma glucose, atrial natriuretic factor, or endothelin-1 levels. We conclude that chronic high-fructose feeding elicits hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, and a transient sodium retention in dogs without fostering fasting hyperglycemia or weight gain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We designed experiments to characterize the role of superoxide anions in the mediation of endothelium-dependent contractions in isolated canine basilar arteries. Rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution bubbled with 94% O2-6% CO2 (37 degrees C, pH 7.4). Radioimmunoassay was used to determine the levels of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP. Calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-9) to 10(-6) mol/L) caused concentration-dependent contractions. The removal of endothelium abolished the effect of A23187. Contractions to A23187 were reversed into relaxations in the presence of superoxide dismutase (150 U/mL) or the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548 (10(-6) mol/L). NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (3 x 10(-4) mol/L) augmented contractions to A23187. In rings with endothelium, A23187 (3 x 10(-7) mol/L) significantly increased levels of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Indomethacin (10(-5) mol/L) inhibited stimulatory effects of A23187 on cyclic AMP production. In contrast, indomethacin augmented A23187-induced production of cyclic GMP. Selective augmentation of cyclic GMP production by indomethacin appears to be due to protection of nitric oxide or a closely related molecule released following translocation of calcium into endothelial cells. Our findings suggest that (1) an increased concentration of calcium in endothelial cells may activate both cyclooxygenase and the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway, (2) arachidonic acid metabolism via cyclooxygenase is a source of superoxide anions, and (3) superoxide anions may be responsible for impairment of balance between relaxing and contracting factors leading to contraction of underlying smooth muscle cells.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether renal excretion of sodium is impaired and whether tubular reabsorption of sodium is increased in normotensive white men with a familial predisposition to develop essential hypertension. We compared 11 normotensive sons of two hypertensive parents (SOHT) with 11 normotensive sons of two normotensive parents (SONT); renal sodium handling was assessed after 1 week of low-sodium diet (10 mmol/d) and after 1 week of high-sodium diet (200 mmol/d). The SOHT were on average 5.5 years older than the SONT (46.9 +/- 5.2 [SD] vs 41.4 +/- 4.1, P = .012). On the sixth day of each diet, mean urinary sodium excretion did not differ between the two groups (12.9 +/- 6.3 vs 12.7 +/- 6.7 mmol/d on low-sodium diet, P = .930; 197 +/- 25 vs 200 +/- 27 mmol/d on high-sodium diet, P = .817). On the seventh day of each diet, baseline means for filtered load of sodium, absolute excretion of sodium, fractional excretion of sodium (an index of total tubular sodium reabsorption), and fractional excretion of lithium (an inverse index of proximal tubular sodium reabsorption) also did not differ between the groups. To assess renal sodium handling under non-steady-state conditions, we infused 2 L normal saline intravenously over a 2-hour period. The means for absolute excretion of sodium, fractional excretion of sodium, and fractional excretion of lithium increased from baseline, but the increases did not differ in magnitude between the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypertension develops in most patients after transplantation when immunosuppression is based on cyclosporine and prednisone. The pathogenesis appears to be multifactorial but involves rapidly rising vasoconstrictor tone in renal and systemic vascular beds. Much of this tone reflects abnormal vascular function, characterized by impaired prostacyclin and EDRF effects, in conjunction with increased vasoconstriction due to endothelin and possibly other factors. Effective management of the transplant recipient depends on preventing excessive vasoconstriction, usually with calcium channel blocking agents.

The current study was undertaken to define a biological role for the endothelin-A receptor in a clinically relevant model of altered systemic and renal function produced by suprarenal aortic cross-clamping. This model is associated with profound systemic and renal vasoconstriction, acute renal failure, and a significant increase in circulating endothelin. Studies were performed in three groups of anesthetized mongrel dogs. Group 1 (n = 5) underwent aortic cross-clamping for 1 hour; group 2 (n = 5) underwent aortic cross-clamping for 1 hour in the presence of BQ-123, a specific antagonist of the endothelin-A receptor; group 3 (n = 4) received BQ-123 alone. The marked systemic and renal vasoconstriction associated with aortic cross-clamping in group 1 was markedly attenuated in group 2 in the presence of BQ-123. Unlike the vasoconstrictor response, BQ-123 did not attenuate the decrease in glomerular filtration rate associated with this model. Under unstimulated conditions in group 3, BQ-123 had no actions on systemic or renal hemodynamics. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that the systemic and renal vasoconstriction associated with aortic cross-clamping are in part mediated through the interaction of endothelin and the endothelin-A receptor. This study demonstrates the functional importance of increased endogenous endothelin in the regulation of vascular tone in this pathophysiological state.

The objective of this study was to determine in conscious dogs the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in mediating the arterial pressure and renal response to a prolonged increment of sodium intake. After a control period of 3 days, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester, was infused intravenously during 5 consecutive days (0.1 micrograms/kg per minute). Sodium intake (80 mmol/d) did not change throughout the experiment in one group (n = 4). In another group (n = 6), 1 day after infusion of this inhibitor was started, sodium intake increased from 80 to 300 mmol/d during 4 consecutive days. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in dogs with normal sodium intake induced a significant decrease in natriuresis and diuresis (P < .05) without changes in arterial pressure. However, in dogs treated with the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, mean arterial pressure increased from 95.2 +/- 3.3 to 106.2 +/- 4.0 mm Hg (P < .01) the first day that sodium intake was elevated and remained increased the following 3 days. In a different group of dogs (n = 5), the increment of sodium intake during 4 days did not induce changes in arterial pressure when nitric oxide synthesis was not inhibited. Cumulative sodium balance was higher (P < .01) in dogs treated simultaneously with the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor and high sodium intake (158 +/- 21 mmol sodium) than in those treated only with the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (82 +/- 19 mmol sodium) or with high sodium intake (36 +/- 13 mmol sodium).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endothelin-1 contracts vascular smooth muscle and inhibits release of neurotransmitter from adrenergic and cholinergic neurons. Experiments were designed to investigate the interaction of these mechanisms in a blood vessel that receives both adrenergic and cholinergic innervation. Rings cut from canine left anterior descending coronary arteries were suspended in organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. In some rings, the endothelium was removed. Endothelin-1 caused concentration-dependent increases in tension in all rings. During electrical stimulation (1 Hz, 9 V, 2 msec), the contractions to endothelin-1 were reduced significantly. In rings without endothelium, this decrease was greater in the presence of atropine (10(-6) M) and was eliminated by a combination of phentolamine (10(-5) M) and propranolol (5 x 10(-6) M). Contractions to endothelin-1 during electrical stimulation in rings with endothelium were significantly less than those without endothelium. This difference was eliminated by atropine and NG-monomethyl L-arginine (10(-4) M). The presynaptic effects of endothelin-1 were studied by measurement of tritium-labeled norepinephrine. Phasic electrical stimulation induced release of norepinephrine; this was inhibited by endothelin-1 at high concentrations (4 x 10(-7) M) in the presence of atropine. These results suggest that the major effect of endothelin-1 is postsynaptic in canine coronary arteries. However, contractions to endothelin-1 may be modulated by the level of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone. In situations in which innervation to the coronary arteries is altered, for example, in hearts used for transplantation, the contractile effects of endothelin-1 would prevail.