Fundamental studies on physiological and pharmacological actions of L-ascorbate 2-sulfate. I. On the hypolipidemic effects

The effects of L-ascorbate 2-sulfate (AAS) on the lipid metabolism were examined in Triton-induced hyperlipemic mice, hypercholesterolemic and normal rats, the following results being obtained. 1) In Triton-induced hyperlipemic mice, AAS (300 mg/kg) significantly decreased the serum cholesterol level, while L-ascorbate (AA, 175 mg/kg) was found ineffective. 2)In hypercholesterolemic rats fed 0.5% cholesterol diet, the consecutive administration of AAS decreased the level of serum cholesterol and liver triacylglycerols. AA only slightly affected these levels. However, both AAS and AA prevented the unordinal increase in the liver weight caused by cholesterol feeding. 3)In normal rats, the administration of AAS over a 4-week period decreased the levels of serum cholesterol and liver triacylglycerols.

Divided renal and peripheral venous renin as a means of predicting operative curability of renal hypertension

1. Eighteen patients with unilateral arterial stenosis or renal parenchymal lesion underwent corrective surgery for hypertension. Operative curability of hypertension was compared with pre-operative plasma renin activity (PRA) determined in three different veins; affected side renal (A), contralateral renal (C), and peripheral veins (P).

2. Those with renal arterial stenosis in whom the PRA in the affected side renal vein was significantly higher (more than 14 ng/ml) than that in both the contra-lateral side and peripheral veins, i.e. those with PRA values showing a pattern of A > C=P were found surgically curable without exception.

3. Patients with unilateral renoparenchymal lesions showed either A, C > P or A = C=P pattern and these were all found not curable. A similar pattern was found in four controls.