Plasma vasopressin, renin activity, and aldosterone: effect of exercise and training

The influence of endurance-training on hematocrit, plasma vasopressin, renin activity, and aldosterone changes at rest and at the end of an exercise performed until exhaustion at a given and constant relative work-load (87% of maximal oxygen uptake) has been studied in four untrained subjects submitted to a 5-month training. At the end of this period, maximal oxygen uptake increased of 15.2% (p less than 0.01). Hematocrit at rest slightly rose after training, and if exercise constantly induced increases in hematocrit before (p less than 0.001) and after training (p less than 0.005), the per cent increase after training was lower than before (p less than 0.05). Comparison between the importance of weight loss and hematocrit variation showed that when untrained subjects become trained the variation of hematocrit after exercise becomes smaller while weight loss is more important (p less than 0.01). Plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (Aldo) and vasopressin (AVP) levels, compared to control values, displayed a significant increase after exercise before as well as after training. Control values remained unchanged after training for aldosterone and AVP, but were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) for PRA. This latter observation could be explained by the change in blood volume induced by exercise.

Computed tomographic angiography

Computed tomographic angiography performed by the intravenous administration of contrast medium was evaluated in 86 vascular patients. This experience demonstrates a new approach to the evaluation of patients with symptomatic aortic aneurysms, in whom computed tomographic angiography will aid in evaluating the need for emergency surgery. Nonoperative patients are serially evaluated by computed tomographic angiography to detect significant changes in the geometric configuration of their aneurysms. Computed tomographic angiography was beneficial in the evaluation of the patency of vascular reconstructive procedures such as femoropopliteal bypass, aortoiliac bypass and application of a vena caval device. More clinical experience and possibly a rapid sequence technique are needed to evaluate patients with portasystemic shunts.

Radioimmunoassay for urinary prostaglandins E and F alpha: normal values in different age groups

A new radioimmunoassay for urinary prostaglandins E and F alpha is described which allows the extraction and chromatographic separation of urinary prostaglandins with an overall recovery of 80.5% and 89.3% for prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha respectively. The antibodies raised in the rabbit could not distinguish prostaglandins of series 1 and 2 but were found highly specific towards their metabolites and other primary prostaglandins. The sensitivity of the assay developed was at 2.2 pg for prostaglandin E and 2pg for prostaglandin F alpha. This assay was applied to normal adults of both sexes; it was shown that the daily urinary excretion of prostaglandins F alpha and E was greater in men than in women. In children aged from 1 to 114 months, the urinary excretion of prostaglandins increased with age. This increase was more marked during the first two years of life and was significantly related to age.

[Electrophoresis of the membrane proteins of erythrocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats]

The red blood cell membrane proteins of normal and spontaneous hypertensive Rats were studied by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns of membrane proteins of hypertensive rats show three new bands of 58,000, 24,000 and 22,000 dalton. The existence of these new bands is not correlated with the age and the blood pressure values of the animals.

[Induction of sister chromatide exchange by trichloroethylene and its metabolites (author's transl)]

The mutagenecity of trichloroethylene and its metabolites (trichloroethanol and chloral hydrate) have been tested by using the method of sister chromatide exchanges (SCE). We have found the increasing SCE in workers chronically exposed to trichloroethylene. The increasing of SCE was also observed when the human lymphocytes were exposed to trichloroethanol and chloral hydrate in vitro in certain concentrations. The all results of tests groups are compared with those of the control groups and the difference is statistically significant.

[Plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (PA) during submaximal exercise. Effect of training (author's transl)]

The effect of training on PRA, PA, hematocrit and weight loss was studied at rest and following an exercise performed until exhaustion. Two groups of subjects were used, the first, a group of 4 young well trained men (88.6% +/- 7.7 V02 max) and the second a group of 4 young untrained men (77.5% +/- 7 V02 max). PRA and PA displayed highly significant increases after exercise in both groups, but PRA resting values were lower in the well trained subjects (p less than 0.05). PRA values were also lower in the latter group after exercise, but the difference in this case was not significant. Further, the variation of hematocrit was less (p less than 0.05) and the weight loss greater in the well trained subjects. In an additional experiment, the same parameters were studied in four subjects submitted to a five month training programme (87% V02 max). Though resting values for PA remained unchanged after training, PRA resting values and PRA post exercise values were significantly lower. A comparison between the magnitude of weight loss and hematocrit variation showed that when untrained subjects became trained, the variation of hematocrit was smaller (p less than 0.05) while weight loss was larger (p less than 0.01). These observations could be explained in terms of the change in blood volume, and/or a decrease in sympathetic nervous activity induced by training.

Relationships between blood pressure and plasma renin, aldosterone and dopamine-beta--hydroxylase in the elderly. Studies in patients over 70 years of age

Plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (PA) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity (DBH) were measured in 49 subjects over 70 years of age, selected for normal or high blood pressure level. By comparison with younger controls, elderly subjects exhibited lower supine or upright PRA, but similar PA and DBH. No relationship could be found between individual blood pressure, and PRA, PA or DBH. The data favor the view that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system does not play an important causative role in elderly hypertension. They also point to the necessity of age-matched controls when this system is being studied in elderly patients.

Biosynthesis and characterization of heat shock proteins in Chironomus tentans salivary glands

The protein synthesis response of Chironomus tentans salivary glands to a heat shock was analyzed by means of [3H]leucine pulse labeling, sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide slab gels, and fluorography. Seven new cytoplasmic polypeptides with relative masses (Mr) of 90 000, 76 000, 73 000, 68 000, 28 000, 25 000, and 22 000 are synthesized in response to a 39 degrees C heat shock (HS) while the synthesis of most of the normal proteins is reduced. The major HS-induced protein is the 68 000 species. The length of the heat treatment does not modify markedly the pattern of induced proteins but the temperature has an effect: while the responses at 37 and 39 degrees C are similar, two HS-induced polypeptides (Mr 90 000 and 76 000) are not seen after a treatment at 41 degrees C. Kinetic studies of the response show an asynchrony in the appearance of the various HS proteins indicating that their individual rates of synthesis differ or that their induction is not fully coordinated. No significant differences were found between the protein patterns of a mitochondria-rich cytoplasmic zone obtained by microdissection and the whole cytoplasm, but two heat-induced proteins are present in the microdissected nuclei: a 68 000 polypeptide, comigrating with the major cytoplasmic one, and a 34 000 protein, almost exclusively seen in the nucleus.

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in a new strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats

The serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity is higher in 5-week-old rats of the Lyon Hypertensive strain than in rats of the Lyon Normotensive strain. This difference disappears in older animals when the hypertension is developed, while the DBH activity decreases in the both strains.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units. VI. Anesthesia of lower abdomen and lower limbs: peridural anesthesia (author's transl)]

Peridural anesthesia consists in impregnating by an anesthesic solution, through a lumbal puncture, the nervous radices at their emergence out of the dura mater. The authors detail the technique and its mishaps and accidents, the indications and counter-indications.

Plasma renin activity, aldosterone and dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity as a function of age in normal children

In 149 children between 6 days and 15 years of age, plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (PA) were measured by radioimmunoassay and plasma dopamine beta hydroxylase activity (DBH) by the method of Nagatsu. PRA and PA decreased with age from 496 +/- 119 ng/1/min for PRA and 643 +/- 158 pg/ml for PA in 6 to 30 day-old newborns to 37.8 +/- 4.7 ng/1/min for PRA and 43. 1+/- 8.3 ph/ml for PA in 9 to 15 year-old children. DBH increased with age from less than detection limit values (< 2 IU) in 6 day to 3 month-old newborns to 17.2 +/- 5.1 IU in 9 to 15 year-old children. In addition a significant relationship was found between PRA and PA (log PA = 0.99 log PRA -0.058, r = 0.732, n = 104, p < 0.001) and PRA and DBH (log DBH = -0.41 log PRA +1.62, r = 0.404, n = 80, p < 0.001). These results demonstrate the opposite evolution of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and of the sympathoadrenal system during development.

[Primary postural hypotension. Physiopathological study of 8 cases (author's transl)]

Physiological tests showed that both branches of the baroreflex arc-vagal cardiomoderator and, predominantly, sympathetic vasoconstrictor--were affected. There was no rise in serum and urinary noradrenaline levels in standing position, and adrenaline concentrations were rarely increased under induced hypoglycaemia. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity and reactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system remained normal in most cases. Physiopathologically, the two clinical forms described (i.e. with and without central nervous symptoms) cannot be differentiated.

[Effects of labetalol, a new alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptor blocking drug, on arterial pressure, renal function and renin activity (author's transl)]

Labetalol, a blocker of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors, was tried on 45 patients with severe (29 cases) or mild to moderate (16 cases) hypertension. After an initial period of dosage adjustment and a 2 months treatment in effective doses, there was a significant fall in supine blood pressure from mean values of 207/132 to 170/106 mmHg. In 23 patients hypertension was controlled by labetalol alone in doses of 400 and 1800 mg per day. True failures were rare (16%). Digestive disorders and postural hypotension were the most frequently encountered side-effects; they obliged to discontinue treatment in 4 cases, but were compatible with it in 11 cases. In 22 patients the fall in BP was accompanied by a significant (p less than 0,001) decrease in plasma renin activity from 123 to 44 ng/l/min supine and from 144 to 83 ng/l/min standing. Studies of the renal function showed no changes during oral therapy. Following intravenous injection of 50 mg labetalol to 20 subjects, inulin and PAH clearances remained unaltered, and there was a significant, though transient (1 hour), decrease in chloride, sodium and phosphorus excretion. Effective in lowering blood pressure be used and well tolerated by the kidneys, labetalol can safely be used for the treatment of severe hypertension with organic renal involvement.

[Regulation of genetic expression during the transfer of information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm]

In eukaryotes, the transfer of genetic information from the genome to its final site of phenotypic expression is a multistep process. These steps are described and the mechanisms of regulation operating at these various levels are reviewed. The heat shock response in two diptera, Drosophila and Chironomus, is described as a model system to illustrate the existence of regulation mechanisms at different levels of genetic information transfer. In Chironomus tentans like in Drosophila, a short heat shock (10 min, 39 degrees C) treatment induces the synthesis of at least 8 new proteins. This is accompanied by a drastic reduction in the synthesis of the normal proteins that in those synthesized prior to the shock. The localisation of these induced proteins has been studied by microdissection of the various intranuclear and intracellular compartments of salivary glands. While most of these have a ubiquitous distribution, one induced protein (34 000 Daltons) is exclusively localized in the nucleus. Another one (25 000 Daltons) is mainly concentrated in a particulate form which cosediments with ribosomes. Arsenite and anaerobiosis do not induce a heat shock mimicking response in Chironomus. The induction mechanisms as well as the transcriptional and translational controls operating during the heat shock response are discussed.

Urinary excretion of catecholamines and metabolites in the Lyon strain of genetic hypertensive rats

Urinary catecholamines (Norepinephrine : NE, Epinephrine : E) methoxylated amines (Metanephrine : MN, Normetanephrine : NMN) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) have been studied in the Lyon hypertensive strain of rats (LHS) and their normotensive controls (LNS) at three ages (5, 9 and 21 weeks) characteristic of the development of hypertension. In 5-week-old rats, increased excretion of E, MN, NMN and early elevation of the ratio E/E+NE were observed, thus suggesting a sympatho-adrenal hyperactivity, with accelerated maturation of E secretion. At adult age, the excretion of most adrenergic metabolites was similar in the two strains of rats. However, the data from adult LHS are difficult to interpret because of a potential renal impairment at this age. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between systolic blood pressure and urinary catecholamines at 5 weeks and 9 weeks of age but not at 21 weeks. It is suggested that the early sympathoadrenal hyperactivity, which disappears with age, may be related to the onset of hypertension in the Lyon strain of hypertensive rats.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units: V. Anesthesia of lower abdomen and lower limbs: rachianesthesia (author's transl)]

Rachianesthesia is still an useful technique in remote medical units. The authors have reviewed the equipment required, the technique, the possible difficulties or mishaps and the indications and contra-indications.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units. IV. Intercostal block (author's transl)]

The anesthesic fluid is injected close to the intercostal nerve at the starting point of its course in the corresponding space. Its gives an easy analgesia for thoracic or upper abdominal areas.

Vagal bradycardia produced by microinjections of morphine-like drugs into the nucleus ambiguus in anaesthetized dogs

The site in the dog medulla oblongata where fentanyl or met-enkephalinamide produced vagal bradycardia was determined using microinjections. The nucleus ambiguus was found to be a selective and highly sensitive area for the vagal bradycardia.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units. III. Anesthesia of upper-limb: the intravenous loco-regional anesthesia (author's transl)]

The loco-regional intravenous anesthesia has the great advantage of its simplicity. It is a good complement of the plexic blocks for anesthesia of the upper limb, but it must be discarded in case of lasting interventions because of the tourniquet, or in case of large damages through which the anesthesic fluid leak out, or if a long hemostatic checking may be foreseen.

Heat-shock induced proteins present in the cell nucleus of Chironomus tentans salivary gland

The heat shock (HS) system has been largely studied in Drosophila but the molecular mechanisms responsible for the induction of the heat shock genes as well as the function(s) and the intracellular localisation of the induced proteins is still unknown. It has previously been shown that the HS puff induction is accompanied by a local increase of nuclear nonhistone proteins (NHP) but the nature of most of the proteins accumulating is unknown. We have investigated the effects of a heat shock on Chironomus tentans salivary glands, a system where it is possible to study constituents in various subcellular or intranuclear regions including individual puffs, by microdissection. We report here evidence that at least two of the polypeptides synthesised in response to the heat shock migrate to the nucleus. Furthermore, these two proteins appear to have a broad intranuclear distribution, as shown by their presence in the various microdissected nuclear fractions.

Dihydralazine and catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in spontaneous hypertension

Dihydralazine treatment which lowered blood pressure in young rats from the Lyon Hypertensive Strain (LHS), did not change phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) activity, but decreased tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities in the C2 medullary region. These data suggest that the increase in PNMT activity, previously described for this strain, is not a consequence of the developing hypertension and that hypotensive treatment could inactivate some catecholaminergic neurons of the medulla oblongata.

Ouabain-sensitive and -insensitive ATPase activities in the kidney and the liver of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Ouabain-sensitive and-insensitive ATPase activities were measured in the kidneys and the kidneys and the liver of male and female rats of the Lyon hypertensive (LHS) and Lyon normotensive strain (LNS). At the age of 48 +/- 2 weeks, hypertensive rats exhibited a significantly higher blood pressure and body weight than age-matched normotensive rats. Ouabian-insensitive ATPase activity was decreased in the kidney, but not in the liver of hypertensive rats compared to normotensive rats. Ouabian-sensitive ATPase activity was non significantly decreased in the kidney of hypertensive rats.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units: II.--Anesthesia of the upper limb: plexic blocks (author's transl)]

The anesthetic block of the upper limb plexus may be realized by either sus-cladications and possible complications.

[Shock during necrotic amoebic colitis (author's transl)]

Two varieties of conditions of shock may be isolated during necrotic amoebic colitis (13 cases). Eight patients present a simple hypovolemic shock secondary to wastage by diarrhea and perilesional oedema with globular, protein, alcaline and potassic deficiency. Its prognosis is relatively good, after vascular infilling and corrections of metabolic disorders. Five other patients present real toxi-infectious shock resulting from widespread tissue necrosis with auto-intoxication associated with septicemic complications. Its prognosis is frankly bad. The treatment is far more difficult. The use of cardiovascular analeptics, such as dopamine, after an infilling failure, is not always sufficient to re-establish the situation. The exeresis of necrotic tissues is an indispensable condition to remove the cause of the shock before septicaemic generalisation.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in remote medical units. I. - Basis (author's transl)]

This paper is a foreword to a series of articles about anesthesia in small medical units in tropical areas. When general anesthesia must be discarded in regard to the patient's condition or the poor level of facilities, loco-regional anesthesia proves to be of great value. The authors review the main drugs available, their dosages, accidents, counter-indications and pre-anesthetic cares.

Early increase in phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase activity in a new strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats

By repeated inbreeding, 2 strains of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats have been simultaneously selected. The activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase were determined in various central catecholaminergic nuclei (C1, C2, A6 and A9) and in two peripheral tissues (adrenal glands and superior cervical ganglion). These assays were performed on rats belonging to the normotensive or the hypertensive strain at 3 ages which characterize the development of hypertension (5, 9 and 21 weeks). Except for a decrease in the C1 region of 9-week-old rats, no significant change in tyrosine hydroxylase activity occurred in central or peripheral structures of the spontaneously hypertensive rats when compared to the normotensive rats. In contrast, the activity of the phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), was increased in the C2 adrenergic group of the medulla oblongata in young spontaneously hypertensive rats: +43% (P less than 0.001) at 5 weeks of age and +32% (P less than 0.001) in 9-week-old rats. However, there was no significant difference between the 21-week-old rats. No modification of the PNMT activity was found in the C1 adrenergic group of the medulla oblongata. PNMT activity was increased significantly in the adrenal glands of 5-week-old hypertensive rats (+22%, P less than 0.001). By 9 weeks, the difference in PNMT activity in the adrenals was no longer significant. Thus, in young rats of the hypertensive strain, there was an increase in the capacity to synthetize adrenaline in the C2 area of the medulla oblongata and in the adrenal glands. While the enzymatic change present in the adrenals seems to be specific to this new strain of hypertensive rats, the elevation of PNMT activity in a specific region of the medulla oblongata (C2 group) is a characteristic common to at least two independently derived strains of genetically hypertensive rats.

Maternal and fetal plasma renin and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities in toxemic pregnancy

Toxemic and normotensive pregnant women were compared for plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (PA), and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). At term, hypertensive patients exhibited higher levels of PRA and PA, but similar levels of DBH, progesterone, and estradiol. Their elevated blood pressure was significantly correlated to their levels of PRA. During the delivery levels of PRA increased significantly in toxemic patients in spontaneous labor. Venous and arterial cord PRA levels were higher in babies born to hypertensive mothers than in babies born to normotensive mothers. Three days postpartum, maternal PRA level was lower than at term. Seven days postpartum, PRA levels remained higher in toxemic than in normal women. Maternal DBH levels did not change during and after delivery. Levels of DBH were undetectable in cord blood. We conclude that the renin-angiotensin system is involved in the pathogenesis of toxemia.

Solubilization and separation of delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 3-oxosteroid-delta4-delta5-isomerase from bovine adrenal cortex microsomes

A physical separation of delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 3-oxosteroid delta4-delta5-isomerase solubilized from bovine adrenocortical microsomes is described for the first time. The solubilization as well as the separation was carried out with a mixture of a detergent: a substituted betaine (Empigen BB/P) and sodium cholate. This latter detergent protects isomerase from complete inactivation by Empigen and is necessary for the recovery of a significant amount of soluble isomerase. Separation of dehydrogenase and isomerase was successfully accomplished by the use of a DEAE-Biogel A anion-exchanger. Dehydrogenase activity was eluted, while the isomerase was retained. Measurements of dehydrogenase activity with androst-5-en-3beta-ol-17-one, pregnen-3beta-ol-20-one and pregn-5-en-(3beta,17alpha)-diol-20-one and of isomerase activity with androst-5-en-(3,17)-dione and pregn-5-en-(3,20)-dione suggested that more than one isomerase and more than one dehydrogenase form were present.

Thyroid function and blood pressure in two new strains of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats

1. The influence of thryoid function on the development of hypertension was studied in strains of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive rats. 2. Surgical thyroidectomy decreased systolic blood pressure more markedly in SH rats than in normotensive rats. The effects of oral administration of 5 and 100 micrograms of thyroxine 24 h-1 100 g-1 were studied in the thyroidectomized animals. In the two strains the blood pressure returned to control levels only after administration of the larger dose. 3. The evolution of body weight, total plasma tri-iodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) concentrations were followed as a function of age in SH rats and normotensive rats from 5 to 21 weeks. At each age, SH rats showed significantly larger body weight and decreased T4 concentrations. Plasma T3 in SH rats was lower than in normotensive rats until 15 weeks of age, after which the difference was not significant. At 11 weeks, plasms free T3 and T4 concentrations were slightly lower in SH rats than in normotensive rats. 4. The more marked hypotensive effects of surgical thyroidectomy in SH rats cannot be related to increased thyroid function.

Influence of renal nerves on renin secretion in the conscious dog

In order to evaluate the influence of renal nerves on renin secretion during changes in blood volume, we studied the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and the renal venous plasma renin activity (PRA) in 6 conscious dogs having one intact and one denervated kidney. After a passive head-up tilt PRA increased significantly in the vein of the intact kidney while it remained stable in the denervated one. The intravenous injection of Furosemide (3 mg/kg) induced a rapid elevation of PRA in both renal veins. The kinetics of the variations of renin secretion were similar in the two kidneys, but its magnitude was significantly lower in the denervated side. After a slow hemorrhage of 2, 4 and 6 ml/kg, MAP was unchanged and PRA increased in both renal veins but in a significantly lower degree in the denervated side. When blood loss reached 8 ml/kg, MAP decreased and PRA increased identically in the two renal veins. It was concluded that, in conscious dogs, the renal nerves could participate in the rapid adaptations of renin secretion during small changes in the circulating blood volume.

Kinetics of plasma coagulation and lysis I: Basic kinetic model for time course of coagulation-lysis systems and its potential application to clinical studies

The time courses of coagulation and coagulation-lysis were spectrophotometrically monitored after the addition of thrombin or thrombin-streptokinase to plasma, diluted 1:5 with normal saline, obtained from normal and presumably abnormal subjects. The kinetics of clotting, after an initial lag period of 0.5-1.5 min, demonstrated essentially first-order dependence on the amount of fibrinogen available to form the clot, and the asymptotic absorbance was independent of thrombin concentration. The rate of clotting was a function of added thrombin, and the ratios of the rate constants at 2.5 and 1.25 units of thrombin/ml of undiluted plasma were 1.65 +/- 0.03 SEM. At early times, the coagulation-lysis curve with thrombin-streptokinase could be superimposed on the clotting curve with thrombin alone for a given plasma with minor compensation for variable lag times. Subsequently, the curves diverged; lysis was monitored by the decrease in absorbance of the coagulation-lysis system. The rate of fibrinolysis increased with streptokinase concentration and was a function of the extent of lysis, and it permitted the description of the kinetics of lysis by a pseudoautocatalytic mechanism where the bimolecular rate constant appears proportional to streptokinase concentration. Ranges of clotting and lytic parameters for the plasma of normal subjects are given, and their potential use in diagnosing abnormalities is described.

Central cardiovascular effects of morphinomimetic peptides in dogs

Morphinomimetic peptides were injected into the cisterna magna of chloralosed dogs. Methionine enkepalin (500 microgram/kg i.c.) was found ineffective but beta-endorphin (50 microgram/kg i.c.) induced an initial and transient increase in blood pressure and heart rate followed by a delayed hypotension and bradycardia. The synthetic pentapeptides, [d-ala2]met-enkephalin (500 microgram/kg i.c.), [d-ala2]met-enkephalinamide 500 microgram/kg i.c.) also induced a marked hypotensive, bradycardic and sympatho-inhibitory effect. High doses of naloxone (100 microgram/kg i.v.) were required to antagonize these effects transiently.

Implantable artificial lung. Preliminary report

The ultimate treatment of chronic respiratory insufficiency is pulmonary replacement by an artificial organ, homologous lung transplantation, or chronic paracorporeal respiratory supplementation. The woven capillary membrane oxygenator appears to be a major development toward implantable artificial organs. The four units tested are made up of screens 3.5 by 4.0 cm. of capillary tubing 0.3 mm. I.D. by 0.64 mm. O.D. assembled into rectangular blocks. Units made up by five, ten, twenty, and forty screens have been assembled and tested according to the protocol suggested by Galletti. The maximum oxygen transfer rate with blood was 48 ml. per minute per square meter. Water carbon dioxide transfer rate was 23.1 ml. per minute per square meter. The pressure drops in the liquid phase were 8.5, 15.3, 13.8, 17.6 mm. Hg at 1 L. per minute flow. These results indicate that the woven capillary membrane lung is an acceptably efficient oxygenator. The characteristics of design and performance suggest that this oxygenator can be made to be implanted into the chest or used as a paracorporeal respiratory assistance device.

Effects of right atrial stretch on plasma renin activity

In anaesthetized dog, right atrial stretch leads in the first five minutes to a decrease in plasma renin activity, when measured in inferior vena cava just above the renal veins. Bilateral cervical vagotomy increases plasma renin activity. After vagotomy, atrial stretch no longer has any effect on plasma renin activity. The results support the hypothesis of a control of renin secretion originating from atrial volume receptors.