[Graphic evaluation of the significance band for hypercapnia in pulmonary disorders]

Alveolar hypoventilation due to the chronic obstruction of the airway such as pulmonary emphysema, or severe restrictive dysfunction due to sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis causes chronic hypercapnia (chronic respiratory acidosis). Ninety-five percentile of significance band of chronic and acute hypercapnia of both experimental and clinical setting is introduced in the graphic display of the acid-base balance. On acute exacerbation of these disorders, examination of arterial blood gas in series are usually plotted along the significance band of hypercapnia. With clinical improvement, the plot will gradually drop down to the chronic stable area of the band. Although cases with metabolic disorders complicate the interpretation, evaluation of the acid-base status using the graphic display will be of help at bedside assessment.

Effects of K+ channel blockers on vascular tone in the perfused rat lung

To learn more of the role of K+ channel activity in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone, we compared the pressor effects of the differential blockers of numerous K+ channels, tetraethylammonium chloride and 4-aminopyridine, and the inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels glibenclamide in meclofenamate-treated salt solution-perfused rat lungs. Tetraethylammonium (1 to 20 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (1 to 10 mM), but not glibenclamide (1 to 20 microM) caused vasoconstriction in the normoxic lung. The Ca++ channel blocker nifedipine (0.1 microM) and the alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (10 microM) inhibited the 4-aminopyridine response by about 50% and reduced slightly the smaller tetraethylammonium response. 4-Aminopyridine and, to a lesser extent, tetraethylammonium, but not glibenclamide, also potentiated peak vasoconstriction to angiotensin II and airway hypoxia. Nifedipine, but not phentolamine, inhibited hypoxic vasoconstriction and prevented the potentiation by 4-aminopyridine. These results suggest that Ca(++)- and/or voltage-activated (not ATP-sensitive) K+ channels may be important in maintaining low pulmonary vascular tone.

Cardiovascular and renin responses to desmopressin in humans: role of prostacyclin and beta-adrenergic systems

To investigate the involvement of prostacyclin and the sympathetic nervous system in cardiovascular responses to 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), a selective V2-receptor agonist, in normal subjects, DDAVP (0.4 micrograms/kg) was infused with or without indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. A decrease in blood pressure and increases in pulse rate and plasma renin activity (PRA) were observed by DDAVP infusion. Indomethacin did not influence the DDAVP-induced changes in blood pressure and pulse rate but suppressed the increases in PRA and urinary 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha excretion after DDAVP infusion. Even with propranolol administration, DDAVP produced a similar decrease in blood pressure with a reduction of the increased pulse rate. The DDAVP-induced increase in PRA was not affected either. Indomethacin or propranolol alone did not affect the basal levels of the parameters. DDAVP stimulated the in vitro renin release from rabbit renal cortical slices. The stimulation was inhibited by indomethacin or d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ile4]AVP, a selective V2-receptor antagonist. These findings suggest that DDAVP primarily elicits vasodilation, probably through the prostacyclin-independent endothelium-derived relaxation and DDAVP also causes an increase in renin release, which would be partly attributed to the increased synthesis of prostacyclin due to vasculoendothelial V2-like receptor activation but not mainly due to an increase in sympathetic nerve activity.

Formation of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids from arachidonic acid by cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cell microsomes

The vasodilatory effect of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EpETrE), especially 5(6)-EpETrE, has been reported recently and a role of P-450-dependent arachidonic acid monooxygenase metabolites was suggested in vasoregulation. Accordingly, the presence of P-450-dependent arachidonic acid monooxygenase was investigated in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Incubation of the microsomes of rat cultured aortic smooth muscle cells with 14C-arachidonic acid in the presence of 1 mM NADPH resulted in the formation of oxygenated metabolites. The metabolites were separated and purified by reverse phase and straight phase high performance liquid chromatography and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Identified metabolites were 5(6)-EpETrE, 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DiHETrE), and 14,15-DiHETrE. The formation of these metabolites was totally dependent on the presence of NADPH, and inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes, SKF-525A and metyrapone, reduced the formation of these metabolites. This is the first report that cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolites, especially 5(6)-EpETrE and 14(15)-EpETrE, can be produced in the microsomes of vascular smooth muscle cells of rats.

Effects of inhibitors of EDRF and EDHF on vasoreactivity of perfused rat lungs

Recent studies indicate that the endothelium of isolated rat pulmonary arteries releases two different factors, endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), which participate in histamine- and acetylcholine-induced relaxation. There is evidence for EDRF vasoreactivity in perfused lungs, but a role for EDHF, which hyperpolarizes vascular smooth muscle by activating membrane K+ channels, has not been reported. We used the inhibitors of EDRF, 20 microM hemoglobin, 200 microM NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine, and 2 mM L-canavanine, the nonselective blocker of K+ channels, 10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA), and the inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, 20 microM glibenclamide, to compare the roles of EDRF and EDHF in the vasoregulation of meclofenamate-treated, salt solution-perfused rat lungs. The three EDRF inhibitors had little or no effect on baseline perfusion pressure, but each potentiated the peak pressor response to airway hypoxia. Neither of them inhibited the pulmonary vasodilation to 5 microM histamine. TEA, but not glibenclamide, increased baseline pressure and potentiated the peak hypoxic response. Both K+ channel blockers, but not the EDRF inhibitors, also prolonged the hypoxic response by reducing the rate of spontaneous vasodilation. TEA, but not glibenclamide, inhibited histamine vasodilation. These results suggest roles for both EDRF and EDHF in the control of rat pulmonary vascular reactivity. EDRF is apparently not responsible for the low vascular tone of the normoxic lung and does not mediate the vasodilation to histamine, but it does modulate the hypoxic pressor response. The exact role of EDHF is uncertain, but it may also modulate hypoxic vasoconstriction and mediate at least part of the histamine vasodilation.

Endothelin 1 causes pulmonary vasodilation in rats

Endothelin 1 (ET-1), a peptide produced by endothelial cells, causes transient dilation of some systemic vascular beds. To test whether low concentrations of ET-1 could also dilate the pulmonary vascular bed, we examined its effects in isolated blood- and salt solution-perfused rat lungs and in conscious catheterized rats. In blood-perfused lungs undergoing hypoxic (3% O2) vasoconstriction, repeated additions of 0.5 nM ET-1 to the perfusate elicited transient partial vasodilations. The higher concentration of 5 nM caused a larger transient vasodilation followed by vasoconstriction. In nine conscious rats exposed to 8% O2, intravenous ET-1 (0.2 nmol/kg) reversed the hypoxic pressor response by 63 +/- 8% without affecting cardiac output. In eight salt solution-perfused lungs vasoconstricted with 25 mM KCl, 0.5 nM ET-1 caused a maximum vasodilation of 35 +/- 3% with a half-life of 10.7 +/- 1.1 min. The vasodilation was not inhibited by blockers of cyclooxygenase (3.1 microM meclofenamate), platelet-activating factor receptors (10 microM Web 2086), histamine H1 receptors (50 microM chlorpheniramine), or endothelium-derived relaxing factor activity (10 microM hemoglobin and 50 microM methylene blue). However, it was reduced by approximately 50% with the K+ channel blockers, tetraethylammonium chloride (10 mM) and glybenclamide (10 microM), and the inhibitor of Na(+)-K+ pumping, ouabain (0.1 mM). These results indicate that ET-1 is a potent dilator of the pulmonary vascular bed of the rat and that the mechanism of dilation may involve activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels and membrane hyperpolarization.

Effects of hypoxia on endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat pulmonary artery

We have previously reported that the isolated rat branch pulmonary artery (PA) contracts when made hypoxic and that the contraction is dependent in large part on the presence of a functioning endothelium. This study tested if the hypoxic contraction was caused by reduced endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activity. To do so we tested if chemical inhibitors of EDRF mimicked the effect of hypoxia, if PA guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) fell during hypoxic contraction, and if stimulation of smooth muscle cGMP attenuated hypoxic contraction. We found that the EDRF inhibitors hemoglobin and methylene blue caused a concentration-dependent increase in PA force that equaled that produced by hypoxia. PA cGMP decreased in endothelium-intact rings from 105 +/- 14 pM/g (wet wt) during normoxia to 41 +/- 9 pM/g during hypoxia. In endothelium-denuded rings normoxic cGMP was reduced to 32 +/- 10 pM/g with no further decrease during hypoxia. The endothelium-independent stimulators of cGMP, nitric oxide, and 8-bromo-cGMP, reduced maximum hypoxic contraction by 80 +/- 11 and 93 +/- 3%, respectively, whereas the endothelium-dependent stimulator acetylcholine did not. PA adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) fell only slightly during hypoxia and cAMP inhibitors failed to mimic the hypoxic contraction. We conclude that the hypoxic contraction of isolated rat PA is caused largely by decreased EDRF activity.

Inter-relationship between urinary kallikrein-kinins and arginine vasopressin in man

1. Physiological saline solution was infused in nine normal subjects and six patients with central diabetes insipidus (DI). At 120 min after the start of infusion, arginine vasopressin (AVP) was injected intramuscularly. Urine was collected in 30 min fractions before and after AVP administration. 2. The urinary excretions of kallikrein-like activity (KAL-A) (S-2266 hydrolysis activity) and immunoreactive kinins (i-kinins) were significantly lower in patients with DI than in normal subjects before AVP administration, while there were no differences in plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration, creatinine clearance and blood pressure between the two groups, except for a marked water diuresis in patients with DI. The urinary excretion of KAL-A and i-kinins correlated positively with the urinary excretion of AVP. 3. AVP administration increased both plasma AVP and urinary excretion of AVP to similar levels in both groups. As a result, urine volume decreased to a greater degree in patients with DI than in normal subjects. In contrast, the urinary excretions of KAL-A and i-kinins were increased by AVP administration, with a greater response in normal subjects than in the patients with DI. 4. After overnight fasting, acute water loading was carried out orally for 15 min in six normal subjects. At 30 min plasma AVP was suppressed by water loading to almost the basal level found in patients with DI. Urinary excretions of KAL-A and i-kinins in the first 30 min fraction after loading were also suppressed to the basal level in patients with DI. Later, the urinary excretion of KAL-A increased together with the increase in urine flow. Urine volume and free water clearance markedly increased except in the first 30 min fraction, compared with the control period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interrelationship between urinary kallikrein and arginine-vasopressin in man

Physiological saline solution was infused in 9 normal subjects and 6 patients with central diabetes insipidus (DI). At 120 min after the start of infusion, arginine vasopressin (AVP) was injected (i.m.). Urine was collected every 30 min fraction. The urinary excretion of kallikrein-like activity (KAL-A) (S-2266 hydrolysis activity) was significantly lower in patients with DI than in normal subjects, without showing the differences of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and blood pressure between the two groups, except a marked water-diuresis in DI. The urinary excretion of KAL-A correlated positively with the urinary excretion of AVP. AVP administration significantly increased the urinary excretion of KAL-A. After overnight fasting, an acute oral water-loading was carried out for 15 min in 6 normal subjects. Concomitant with a significant suppression of the level of plasma AVP from the first 30 min, a slight, but significant, decrease in urinary excretion of KAL-A was observed in the first 30 min fraction after loading, compared with the control period. Afterwards, the urinary excretion of KAL-A increased prominently with an increase in urine flow. KAL-A in the urine decreased promptly from the first 30 min fraction and then gradually until 120 min after loading. Urine volume and free-water markedly increased except the first 30 min fraction, compared with the control period. Thus it is suggested that AVP is one of factors which actually regulate the secretion of renal kallikrein in man.

GTP-binding proteins in a cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica

GTP-binding proteins were detected in a crude extract containing membrane components of Anabaena cylindrica. The crude extract was treated with 1% Lubrol PX and was fractionated by gel filtration. The binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to GTP-binding proteins was prevented in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP and in the presence of 0.1 mM ATP. Six fractions of these GTP-binding proteins, tentatively designated GA1 to GA6, were ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. GA3, GA4 and GA5 had Km values of 10, 60 and 7 nM, respectively. The molecular weights of some of these GTP-binding proteins were reduced after being labelled with [35S]GTP gamma S.

GTP-binding proteins in etiolated epicotyls of Pisum sativum (Alaska) seedlings

Seven fractions of GTP-binding proteins separated by gel filtration of an extract of epicotyls of Pisum sativum seedlings were partially characterized. Seven fractions of GTP-binding proteins tentatively designated GP1 to GP7 had the capacity to be ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. Pooled fractions of GP2 to GP7 showed Km values 2, 20, 50, 10, 3 and 1 nM, respectively. The binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to GTP-binding proteins was prevented competitively in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP and also prevented in the presence of 0.1 mM ATP. Binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to the proteins produced a decrease in their molecular weights.

Characterization of Pi-repressible enzymes secreted in culture media by Neurospora crassa wild-type cells and null-type mutants

In wild-type mycelial cultures of Neurospora crassa under Pi-limited conditions, alkaline phosphatase, cyclic phosphodiesterases I, II, III, and IV, 5'-nucleotidase, acid and alkaline nucleases, RNase N1, and a newly detected endonuclease were secreted into the culture media. These enzymes were either not produced or were produced in very reduced levels in mutants nuc-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, and -7 and cpd-4. The proteins were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a manner which allowed the identification of each of them.

Partial characterization of GTP-binding proteins in Neurospora

Six fractions of GTP-binding proteins separated by gel filtration of a mycelial extract containing membrane components of Neurospora crassa were partially characterized. [35S]GTP gamma S bound to GTP-binding protein was assayed by repeated treatments with a Norit solution and centrifugation. The binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to GTP-binding proteins was competitively prevented in the presence of 0.1 to 1 mM GTP but not in the presence of ATP. These GTP-binding proteins fractionated by the gel column had Km values of 20, 7, 4, 4, 80 and 2 nM. All six fractions of these GTP-binding proteins showed the capacity to be ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin.

GTP-binding protein(s) in green plant, Lemna paucicostata

GTP-binding protein(s) assayed by [35S]GTP gamma S was detected in the extract of Lemna paucicostata containing membrane components. About 15% of [35S]GTP gamma S activated GTP-binding protein, separated from unbound [35S]GTP gamma S by gel filtration, was retained on Millipore HAWP membrane filter. 80% of [35S]GTP gamma S activated protein, mixed with charcoal solution, remained in the supernatant after centrifugation of the mixture. Successive treatments of the assay mixture by charcoal solution established the assay system for the activation of GTP-binding protein. The Km value for the activation of GTP-binding protein was 8 nM.

Mutations affecting cyclic phosphodiesterases and adenylate cyclase in Neurospora

Two regulatory mutants in orthophosphate-regulated cyclic phosphodiesterase (cPDase), cpd-3 and cpd-4, were isolated and mapped proximal to arg-1 on L.G. IC and distal to arg-12 on L.G. IIR, respectively. cpd-3 showed short aerial hyphae with dense formation of conidia. The morphology was very similar to that of cr-1, cpd-3 and cr-1 had reduced levels of cyclic 3',5'-AMP, adenylate cyclase and cPDases (CPDase I, II and III in low phosphate condition) but had elevated levels of cyclic 3',5'-GMP. Although cr-1 showed an enhanced level and enhanced activation of heat activated cyclic phosphodiesterase (ha-PDE), this enzyme was not activated in cpd-3. cpd-4, nuc-1 and nuc-2 produced neither cPDase I, II, III, alkaline phosphatase nor ribonuclease N1 in low phosphate media. These mutants did not produce aerial hyphae or conidia when grown in low phosphate liquid medium. Activation of ha-PDE occurred in cpd-4, but not in nuc-1 and nuc-2.

Endogenous kallikrein inhibitor in rat kidney cortex-effect of glucocorticoid administration

Kallikrein inhibiting proteins with two different molecular weight (6-8 X 10(4), 8-9 X 10(4) respectively) were observed in adrenalectomized rat kidney cortical soluble fraction. The larger one was observed in the kidneys of the adrenalectomized rats only when they had received chronic administration of excess amount of dexamethasone, and its kallikrein inhibitory activity was not lost with treatment with trypsin. This protein appears to be induced by chronic administration of glucocorticoid and might participate in the process of glucocorticoid regulating renal kallikrein kinin system.