Serum uric acid and the renin-angiotensin system in hypertension

To study whether the renin-angiotensin system is related to hyperuricemia in hypertension, the serum concentration of uric acid was determined in 96 patients with various types of hypertension and various degrees of plasma renin activity (PRA). In malignant hypertension, both PRA and the serum uric acid level were higher than in essential hypertension; but in primary aldosteronism or desoxycorticosterone-excess hypertension, they were lower than in the essential type. In renovascular hypertension, PRA was higher than in essential hypertension, but the serum uric acid levels were similar. There were no differences in PRA and serum uric acid concentration between Cushing's syndrome and essential hypertension. The serum uric acid level in high-renin essential hypertension was higher than in either the normal-renin or the low-renin type. There was a significant correlation between serum uric acid concentration and PRA in the basal state, and between the change in PRA and the change in serum uric acid induced by administration of furosemide. Apparently the close correlation between the renin-angiotensin system and the concentration of serum uric acid is related to changes in extracellular fluid volume, although an intrarenal effect of angiotensin II cannot be excluded.

Hypertension induced by adrenocortical dysfunction--hypertension in 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency and metopirone-induced hypertension

Hypertension in 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency was studied by comparing it with hypertension in Cushing syndrome or that in primary aldosteronism. Furthermore, the role of endogenous increases of ACTH, deoxycorticosterone, and 18 alpha-hydroxy-deoxycorticosterone upon blood pressure was studied in rats by administerating metopirone. Hypertension in 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency was considered to be more similar to that in primary aldosteronism from the studies on renin components, pressor responses to angiotensin II and norepinephrine, and renin responses to stimulations. Plasma catecholamines were slightly decreased in 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency. The hypertension was alleviated by the administeration of dexamethasone in 2 of 3 patients with 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency. However, in the remaining one who had an accelerated hypertension and normal renin, the hypertension was not alleviated by dexamethasone. In the animal studies, hypertension induced by metopirone was accelerated by salt loading of uni-lateral nephrectomy plus salt loading. In those rats, plasma ACTH, and deoxycorticosterone were markedly increased.

Renin and the juxtaglomerular apparatus in diabetic nephropathy

In order to study the role of the renin-angiotensin system in patients with diabetic nephropathy, renin release and the juxtaglomerular apparatus were studied in 17 diabetic patients with proteinuria and in 23 without proteinuria; 8 normal subjects were used for conctrls. Despite hypertension and marked arteriosclerosis, plasma renin activity (supine posture) was normal; however, the renin response to salt restriction and upright posture was less in the diabetic patients with proteinuria than in the controls. Renal renin content, determined at autopsy, was also normal. Examination of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the diabetic patients with proteinuria revealed hyalinization of the afferent and efferent arterioles in most of the glomeruli and various degrees of destruction of the juxtaglomerular cells. The findings suggest that renin production is not increased in diabetic patients with proteinuria plus marked vascular damage, and that the renin-angiotensin system in patients with diabetic nephropathy apparently does not play an important role in the exacerbation of hypertension or the degree of vascular damage.

Relationship between two kinds of hatching enzymes in the hatching liquid of the medaka, Oryzias latipes

The relationship between the hatching enzymes I and II of the medaka, Oryzias latipes, was studied by examining their behavior on gel filtration column chromatography and their responsiveness to added reagents including certain inhibitors. Enzyme I, of higher molecular weight, could be converted to the lower molecular weight enzyme II during purification. The results support the conclusion that enzyme I is a complex form of enzyme II combined with another substance.

Ontogenetic expression of larval and adult hemoglobin phenotypes in the intergeneric salmonid hybrids

Ontogeny of the hemoglobins of Honmasu (Oncorhynchus rhodurus, HXH),brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, BXB) and their reciprocal hybrids (HXB and BXH) was examined electrophoretically as well as spectrophotometrically. All of these fish have electrophoretically distinct larval and adult type hemoglobins and the transition from one type to the other occurred early during post-hatching development. In the case of larval hemoglobins, the electrophoretic pattern of a hybrid, BXH, resembled that of the maternal parent, brook trout (BXB), while the hemoglobin of the reciprocal hybrid, HXB, differed markedly from that of the maternal parent, Honmasu (HXH), in that it possesses a diffuse pattern. Spectrophotometric examinations indicated that this was mostly methemoglobin. Adult type hemoglobins at more advanced stages of both hybrids were electrophoretically resolved into the parental hemoglobins. However, no "hybrid" hemoglobins were detected. Because there was abnormal hemoglobin formation in the larval erythrocytes (erythrocytes L) of the HXB hybrid, and then normal hemoglobin synthesis in the adult erythrocytes (erythrocytes A) of the same fish at later developmental stages, it appears that the paternal effects upon the hemoglobin differed in these two erythroid cell lines of the developing trout.