Effect of bicarbonate-free balanced salt solutions on fluid pump and endothelial morphology of rabbit corneas in-vitro

Corneas from young adult albino rabbits were exposed, in-vitro, to various bicarbonate-free balanced salt solutions under an applied hydrostatic pressure of 20 cmH2O at 35 degrees C for up to 4.5 h. The solutions were buffered with a HEPES-MOPS mixture, phosphate salts or acetate-citrate salts (pH 7.1-7.4). All of these solutions support a net fluid pump activity attributed to the corneal endothelium although the net fluid pump rates were less than those measurable with a bicarbonate-buffered, CO2-equilibrated Ringer solution. Evaluation of the endothelia by scanning electron microscopy revealed no evidence of any acute toxic effect of the balanced salt solutions. Morphometric analyses of cell size and shape revealed a normal mosaic for endothelia exposed to commercial balanced salt solution for 5 h. The results further indicate that exogenous bicarbonate is not required for the net fluid pump function of the mammalian corneal endothelium.

Prostaglandins stimulate fluid secretion in human fetal lung

Fluid secretion by the fetal pulmonary epithelium is thought to be important for normal lung development yet little is known about factors regulating its production. As prostaglandins are synthesized in human fetal lung and stimulate secretion in a variety of epithelia, we investigated the effect of prostaglandins E2 and F2a (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) on ion transport and fluid secretion in cultured first trimester human fetal lung tissue explants. We used conventional microelectrodes to continuously record the transepithelial potential difference (psi t). The addition of either PGE2 or PGF2 alpha to the bathing solution significantly hyperpolarized the lumen negative psi t and the subsequent addition of bumetanide, an inhibitor of chloride secretion in other systems, depolarized psi t by approximately 60% suggesting chloride transport contributed to the voltage. To assess whether this acute change in psi t represented stimulation of fluid secretion, we measured the change in luminal area of the explants after a 24-h exposure to prostaglandins. Both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha caused significant increases in the mean % luminal area of the explants compared with control tissues consistent with a stimulation of lung fluid secretion. Cultured lung tissue explants produced prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha as assessed by radioimmunoassay of cell culture media samples and both prostaglandins stimulated cAMP accumulation in the explants. These findings show that lung fluid secretion in the human fetal pulmonary epithelium can be stimulated by prostaglandins. This effect may be mediated through cAMP dependent pathways. Prostaglandins may play a physiologic role in regulation of fetal lung fluid transport in vivo.

Effects of endothelins on fluid and NaCl absorption across the jejunum anesthetized dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of endothelins on fluid the NaCl absorption across the jejunum, the jejunal fluid and NaCl absorption and mesenteric hemodynamics in jejunal loops in anesthetized dogs during infusion of saline, endothelin-1 or endothelin-3 into the superior mesenteric artery. Infusion of endothelin-3 decreased the net fluid, Na+, and Cl- absorption; however, saline and endothelin-1 had no effect. To investigate the role of nitric oxide and soluble guanylate cyclase activation in the mechanisms underlying endothelin-3-induced decrease in fluid and electrolyte absorption, measurements were obtained in the presence of the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue. The endothelin-3-induced decrease in absorption was not influenced by the pretreatment with inhibitors. These results suggest that the endothelin-3 response was not mediated by nitric oxide or soluble guanylate cyclase.

Protective action of zinc against cobalt-induced testicular damage in the mouse

The purpose of this study was to determine if toxic effects of cobalt on the murine testis could be prevented by zinc, an essential metal for spermatogenesis. CD-1 male mice were administered one of the following in their drinking water: 1) 400 ppm CoCl2, 2) 800 ppm ZnCl2, 3) 400 ppm CoCl2 + 800 ppm ZnCl2, or 4) distilled water. After 13 weeks, animals were sacrificed and testes were excised, weighed, and processed for histologic study. Comparison of testicular weights revealed no difference between the control and zinc-treated groups, while there was a small but significant reduction in the zinc/cobalt-treated group, and a large reduction in the cobalt-treated group. Histologic evaluation of testes confirmed the degenerative effects of cobalt, as well as the normal morphology in the zinc-treated group. Furthermore, 90% of the animals in the zinc/cobalt-treated group exhibited complete or partial protection as demonstrated by tubular morphology. This study indicates that zinc prevents cobalt-induced testicular damage.

Topical retinoic acid treatment of photoaged skin: its effects on hyaluronan distribution in epidermis and on hyaluronan and retinoic acid in suction blister fluid

Topical treatment with retinoic acid (tretinoin, vitamin A acid) has been reported to partly reverse signs of photodamage. To determine whether the histochemical distribution of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HYA) in the epidermis and dermis and the amounts of HYA and retinoic acid in suction blister fluid were influenced by such topical treatment, 14 subjects healthy apart from moderate photodamage were instructed to treat the lateral forearm with 0.01-0.05% retinoic acid cream for 6 months. In a study of the short-term effects, another six subjects applied 0.05% retinoic acid cream for 2 weeks. After 6 months the thickness of the vital epidermis had increased by 23%. The HYA staining was based on a specific immunohistochemical method in which hyaluronan-binding protein is used. Before treatment HYA was seen as a meshwork around the cells in the upper half of the stratum spinosum. After 6 months of treatment this meshwork had increased in thickness by 31% compared with pretreatment specimens. The HYA staining was already intense in the papillary dermis before treatment and no difference was observed after 6 months' treatment. The mean concentration of HYA in blister fluid had increased significantly (43%) after 2 weeks of treatment whereas after 6 months there was no significant difference in this respect between the treated and untreated arm. The increase in the thickness of the epidermal HYA meshwork after 6 months and the blister fluid HYA after 2 weeks may indicate that HYA is involved in the epidermal change induced by topical retinoic acid therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estrogen replacement in middle-aged women: thermoregulatory responses to exercise in the heat

Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and body fluid responses during exercise in the heat were tested in five middle-aged (48 +/- 2 yr) women before and after 14-23 days of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). The heat and exercise challenge consisted of a 40-min rest period followed by semirecumbent cycle exercise (approximately 40% maximal O2 uptake) for 60 min. At rest, the ambient temperature was elevated from a thermoneutral (dry bulb temperature 25 degrees C; wet bulb temperature 17.5 degrees C) to a warm humid (dry bulb temperature 36 degrees C; wet bulb temperature 27.5 degrees C) environment. Esophageal (Tes) and rectal (Tre) temperatures were measured to estimate body core temperature while arm blood flow and sweating rate were measured to assess the heat loss response. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured to evaluate the cardiovascular response. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin ([Hb]), plasma 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), protein, and electrolyte concentrations. Plasma [E2] was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated by ERT without affecting the plasma [P4] levels. After ERT, Tes and Tre were significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by approximately 0.5 degrees C, and the Tes threshold for the onset of arm blood flow and sweating rate was significantly (P < 0.05) lower during exercise. After ERT, heart rate during exercise was significantly lower (P < 0.05) without notable variation in mean arterial pressure. Isotonic hemodilution occurred with ERT evident by significant (P < 0.05) reductions in Hct and [Hb], whereas plasma tonicity remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The protective activity of tea catechins against experimental infection by Vibrio cholerae O1

Tea catechins inhibited the fluid accumulation induced by cholera toxin in sealed adult mice. The catechins also reduced fluid accumulation by Vibrio cholerae O1 in ligated intestinal loops of rabbits. These findings suggest that tea catechins may possess protective activity against V. cholerae O1.

Effects of carvedilol on atrial natriuretic peptide, catecholamines, and hemodynamics in hypertension at rest and during exercise

Possible counterregulatory neurohumoral and hemodynamic responses to carvedilol (a new vasodilating nonselective beta-receptor blocker) were studied in 19 men with essential hypertension (age range, 34-59 years; mean age, 44 years). Intra-arterial pressure, cardiac output (Cardio-green), heart rate, and the vasoactive peptides norepinephrine, epinephrine, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured at rest supine and sitting and during 100-W bicycle exercise before and 2 h after administration of 25 mg carvedilol. The same protocol was followed after 9 months of chronic carvedilol treatment (mean dose, 52 mg/day). Carvedilol induced both acute and chronic reductions (at rest supine, 11%) in mean arterial pressure, due in part to reduction in cardiac output (5%) and in part to reduction in total peripheral resistance (5%). At rest supine, carvedilol induced a reduction in ANP (27%) that could be viewed as a counterregulatory response to decrease in cardiac output, preventing excessive blood pressure reduction. ANP decreased (18%) when the patient sat up from the supine position and increased (67%) during exercise, but no further change was seen after acute or chronic carvedilol treatment. With the patient in the sitting position, norepinephrine was 110% higher than at rest supine; during 100-W exercise, norepinephrine increased 368%. A further increase (38-86% in the three situations, respectively) was seen after the first dose of carvedilol. Epinephrine showed similar but less marked changes. Neither extracellular fluid volume nor plasma volume (isotope dilution techniques) changed significantly during the study, but the acute blood pressure response to carvedilol was directly related to changes in extracellular fluid volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural and functional changes in rabbit ileum by purified extracellular phospholipase A of Salmonella newport

As phospholipases of Salmonella species may play a role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal tract diseases. Salmonella newport, the causative agent of infantile diarrhoea was examined for the production of phospholipase. The enzyme was purified by gel filtration chromatography and was found to be a protein of molar mass ranging from 43 to 67 kDa. The purified enzyme alone or in combination with organisms, produced both structural and functional changes in rabbit ileum, contributing towards pathogenesis of diarrhoea due to this organism.

Furosemide inhibits the centrally-mediated pressor response to clonidine in conscious, normotensive rats

1. The effect of furosemide on the pressor response induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of clonidine was investigated in freely moving, normotensive rats with chronically implanted arterial catheters. 2. When injected i.c.v., clonidine at doses of 5 and 10 micrograms produced a dose-dependent pressor response and a decrease in heart rate. No depressor response was induced by clonidine. 3. Systemic (i.v.) pretreatment with furosemide (2-10 mg kg-1) increased urine volume and dose-dependently inhibited the pressor response to i.c.v. clonidine (10 micrograms), and a long-lasting depressor response to clonidine was observed. However, furosemide treatment did not alter the bradycardia produced in response to clonidine. 4. The systemic treatment with furosemide (10 mg kg-1, i.v.) had no effect on the pressor response to i.v. noradrenaline. 5. These results suggest that reduction of body fluid volume inhibits the centrally-mediated pressor response to clonidine and leads to the hypotensive effect. We also suggest that combined treatment with a diuretic increases the hypotensive efficacy of clonidine.

The effect of isoproterenol on fluid and electrolyte transport in the inner medullary collecting duct

In the late distal and cortical collecting tubule, which is the principal regulatory site for potassium (K) excretion, vasopressin stimulates, and epinephrine via beta-adrenergic action, inhibits K secretion. In the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) we have shown that vasopressin also stimulates K secretion. The present experiments were designed to determine whether the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, would induce K reabsorption in the IMCD, and (or) prevent a secretory response to acute KCl infusion. Two groups of rats, with or without isoproterenol administration (3 micrograms/h), were subjected to retrograde microcatheterization of the IMCD before and during infusion of 0.83 mol/h KCl. Isoproterenol reduced plasma K concentration and urinary K excretion, but the response to acute KCl infusion was qualitatively similar to control. Isoproterenol decreased delivery of potassium, chloride, and fluid to the IMCD, there was no net transport of K along the duct in either group, and KCl infusion did not result in K secretion in either group. The results indicate that isoproterenol may inhibit K secretion in the late distal or cortical collecting tubule. However, there was no statistically significant difference in K transport along the IMCD between isoproterenol and control groups. Reduced sodium excretion, which was found during isoproterenol administration both before and after KCl infusion, was associated with no change in sodium delivery but with increased sodium reabsorption in the IMCD. This increased sodium reabsorption may be a direct effect of isoproterenol, or may be due to reflex cardiovascular adjustments associated with systemic actions of the drug.

Effect of exogenous cAMP and aminophylline on alveolar and lung liquid clearance in anesthetized sheep

A substantial body of evidence indicates that active transport of ions is important in modulating the resolution process of pulmonary edema. The biochemical regulation of this ion transport mechanism is still under investigation. In this study we evaluated the effect of an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analogue [dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP)] and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (aminophylline) given alone or together on lung liquid and protein clearance. To study lung liquid and protein clearance, we measured the removal of 100 ml of autologous serum from the air spaces of anesthetized and ventilated adult sheep. Either serum alone or serum mixed with 10(-3) M DBcAMP, 10(-3) M or 10(-5) M aminophylline, or 10(-3) M aminophylline plus 10(-3) M DBcAMP was instilled. After 4 h, the residual lung water was 73.5 +/- 8.7 ml when serum alone was instilled and 56.8 +/- 13.6 ml when aminophylline and DBcAMP were given together. Neither aminophylline nor DBcAMP alone increased lung liquid clearance. However, the increase in clearance cannot be explained by an increase in protein clearance or changes in the pulmonary hemodynamics. These data suggest that the cAMP second messenger system can stimulate lung liquid clearance in vivo.

MICs of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim for Escherichia coli: influence of pH, inoculum size and various body fluids

The influence of pH, inoculum size, human urine and prostatic extract on the MICs of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim for Escherichia coli was investigated. There was no influence by the bacterial inoculum size within wide ranges on either drug. An increase in pH had a variable influence on the MICs of trimethoprim for E. coli but lowered those of ciprofloxacin considerably. Human prostatic extract increased the trimethoprim MIC for E. coli but lowered those of ciprofloxacin as compared to Mueller Hinton broth. Human urine increased the MICs of both drugs for E. coli.

Evaluation of changes in the secretion of immunoactive inhibin by adult rat seminiferous tubules in vitro as an indicator of early toxicant action on spermatogenesis

A method for culturing isolated seminiferous tubules (ST) from adult rats for 1-3 days has been developed and optimized rigorously on the basis of the secretion of immunoactive inhibin under basal conditions and after maximal stimulation with rat FSH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The effect on these cultures of three known testicular toxicants was assessed. Of these, two are thought to act on the Sertoli cell, meta-dinitrobenzene (mDNB) and nitrobenzene (NB), while the third, methoxy acetic acid (MAA), is thought to act on pachytene spermatocytes. In addition, the effect of a possible testicular toxicant, 3-mononitrotoluene (3-MNT), was investigated. These data were compared with those obtained using cultures of immature rat Sertoli cells (SC) or SC + germ cells and with data on the effect of equivalent doses of the compounds on the secretion of immunoactive inhibin in vivo. In studies designed to optimize conditions for the secretion of immunoactive inhibin by ST in culture, significant effects were found of the type of culture medium used, the duration of culture, the total and individual length of tubules used, etc. All subsequent studies with toxicants utilized optimal conditions. Addition of either mDNB or NB to ST cultures at 10(-5) or 10(-3) M, or MAA at 10(-4) M, stimulated basal secretion of immunoactive inhibin by two- to fourfold on Days 1, 2, or 3 of culture while FSH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulated secretion of immunoactive inhibin was either unaffected or was enhanced to a small extent. At the same doses, mDNB or NB also enhanced secretion of immunoactive inhibin by SC cultures. although these effects were more variable and of smaller magnitude than the effects on ST cultures. In contrast, addition of up to 10(-3) MAA to cocultures of SC + germ cells had no effect on the secretion of immunoactive inhibin. Exposure of rats in vivo to levels of mDNB, NB, or MAA similar to those which stimulated secretion of immunoactive inhibin in vitro resulted in a two- to fourfold increase in the levels of immunoactive inhibin in testicular interstitial fluid (IF) at 1 and 3 days post-treatment, and this was associated with early impairment of spermatogenesis (as judged by testis weight). In contrast to these effects, addition of 3-MNT to ST or SC cultures had no effect except at 10(-3) M, when the secretion of immunoactive inhibin was increased marginally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intrapulmonary terbutaline and aminophylline decrease lung liquid in fetal lambs

To see if phosphodiesterase inhibition might enhance the effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation on fetal lung liquid secretion, we studied the independent and combined effects of intrapulmonary terbutaline and aminophylline on net production of lung luminal liquid over time (Jv) in fetal lambs with chronically placed tracheal loop catheters. We calculated Jv during baseline and experimental periods (90-120 min each) by measuring serial concentrations of 125I-albumin, an impermeant tracer that was well mixed in the luminal liquid. In 21 experiments, tracheal instillation of terbutaline (10(-5) M) decreased Jv from 11 +/- 1 (mean +/- SEM) to -3 +/- 2 mL/h. In six other studies, aminophylline (10(-3) M) alone had no significant effect on Jv. In 12 experiments, we gave the two drugs sequentially: terbutaline decreased Jv from 11 +/- 2 to -3 +/- 2 mL/h and aminophylline further decreased Jv to -8 +/- 2 mL/h. Amiloride (10(-4) M), an inhibitor of epithelial Na+ transport, reversed the combined effect of terbutaline and aminophylline, increasing Jv to 8 +/- 1 mL/h. Thus, phosphodiesterase inhibition enhances the beta-adrenergic effect of terbutaline on Na(+)-dependent absorption of liquid from the lung lumen of fetal lambs.

Effects of QA 208-199 and its metabolite 209-668 on embryonic development in vitro after microinjection into the exocoelomic space or into the amniotic cavity of cultured rat conceptuses

The objective of this study was to determine the direct embryotoxic effects in vitro of N-hydroxy-N-methyl-7-propoxy-2-naphthalene-ethanamine (QA 208-199, QAB) and of one of its metabolites, 7-propoxy-naphthalene-2-ylacetic acid (209-668, QAA), after circumventing the bioconverting conceptual membranes. The compounds were, therefore, microinjected either into the exocoelomic space or into the amniotic cavity of rat conceptuses of 10 d at prenatal age at doses of up to 84.9 ng (QAA) and 180 ng (QAB) per conceptus respectively. The conceptuses were subsequently cultured for 28 h after which their development was assessed. QAB produced marginal effects on embryonic differentiation only after microinjection of the compound into the amniotic cavity. Dysmorphogenic effects, however, occurred in a dose-dependent fashion after either exocoelomic or intraamniotic microinjections of the compound. The frequencies and types of anomalies were similar after either exposure route and consisted predominantly of anomalies associated with axial rotation. QAA also impaired embryonic differentiation at only the high dose level of 84.9 ng per embryo and after intraamniotic injections only. Dysmorphogenic effects were observed in all experimental groups, although the differences were not statistically significant when compared with the concomitant controls. An increased proportion of anomalies observed were in the cephalic region as compared to the defects produced by QAB. These data suggest that QAA most probably is not the QAB metabolite responsible for the embryotoxic action of QAB in vitro. Furthermore, the results tend to confirm the suggested involvement of the visceral yolk sac membrane in mediating QAB embryotoxicity.

Normalization of increased sodium sensitivity by maintenance hemodialysis

Blood pressure (BP) becomes more sodium and body fluid sensitive as renal function deteriorates. Thus, hypertension in chronic renal failure is mostly of the sodium sensitive type. We studied whether the increased sodium sensitivity (SS) can be restored to normal on the maintenance phase of hemodialysis (HD) therapy. Body weight (BW) and BP (specifically, mean arterial pressure [MAP]) were measured after HD and before the next HD, and the body fluid sensitivity (BFS) was calculated as the ratio of changes in these factors on both introduction and maintenance phases in HD patients (n = 56) who were not taking any antihypertensive drugs (BFS = delta MAP/delta BW). In a preliminary study, the amount of interdialytic sodium intake (QNa+) was measured (n = 30), and SS was calculated as the ratio of the change in MAP to QNa+ (SS = delta MAP/QNa+). Interdialytic BW gain (3.1 +/- 0.1 kg) was correlated with the amount of sodium intake (136 +/- 17 mEq), resulting in a positive relationship between BFS and SS (r = 0.79, P less than .0001). Therefore, BFS was used as an index of SS. As a whole, BFS decreased from the introduction to the maintenance phase (6.5 +/- 1.0 to 3.5 +/- 0.6 mm Hg/L, P less than .01). This decrease was marked (6.2 +/- 1.1 to 2.9 +/- 0.6 mm Hg/L, P less than .01) in patients (n = 46) whose BP was normalized in the maintenance phase, while not significant (7.9 +/- 1.9 to 6.3 +/- 1.3 mm Hg/L) in patients (n = 10) whose BP was still high.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of furosemide and bumetanide on lung liquid production by in vitro lungs from fetal guinea pigs

Lungs from fetal guinea pigs of 61 +/- 3 days of gestation were supported in vitro for 3 h, and lung liquid secretion rates were measured by a dye dilution technique based on Blue Dextran 2000. Ten preparations that had received no treatment showed an average secretion rate of 1.12 +/- 0.28 mL.kg-1 body weight.h-1 during the first hour, and there were no significant changes over the following 2 h. In studies of 54 fetal lungs, furosemide, bumetanide, control ethanol carrier, or saline alone were placed in the supporting medium during the middle hour of the 3-h incubations (ABA design). Furosemide at 10(-3) M reduced secretion 83.4 +/- 16.8%; at 10(-4) and 10(-5) M it produced smaller reductions. Bumetanide at 10(-3) M usually produced reabsorption (129.9 +/- 23.0% reduction), at 10(-4) M it reduced secretion 30.9 +/- 11.8%, but at 10(-5) M it was ineffective. Control carrier and saline were without effect. The ability of the loop diuretics to produce reabsorption of fluid in some preparations suggests the unmasking of an active reabsorptive process. The results also suggest that lung liquid secretion in the fetal guinea pig, as in the sheep, is dependent on a Na+ and Cl- cotransport system.

Enumeration of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in municipal sewage

Of 237 isolates of Bacteroides fragilis from sewage influent at the Bozeman, Mont., wastewater treatment plant, 22 (9.3%) were enterotoxigenic, as indicated by the ability to elicit fluid accumulation in the lamb ileal loop test. It appears that enterotoxigenic B. fragilis is endemic in the human population at a moderately high level.

Synergistic action of triiodothyronine and hydrocortisone on epinephrine-induced reabsorption of fetal lung liquid

The influence of triiodothyronine and hydrocortisone on maturation of the response to epinephrine that leads to reabsorption of lung liquid was investigated in nine chronically catheterized fetal sheep. Experiments were performed on thyroidectomized fetal sheep at 116-120 d gestation, well before the reabsorptive response to epinephrine is normally seen. After i.v. administration of either triiodothyronine (60 micrograms/d) or hydrocortisone (10 mg/d) for 3 d (three fetuses in each case), all fetuses continued to secrete lung liquid during exposure to epinephrine (secretion rate = 5.9 +/- 3.2 mL/h in triiodothyronine-treated and 4.4 +/- 1.9 mL/h in hydrocortisone-treated fetuses). However, when the two hormones were administered together in the same doses to three fetuses, a striking reabsorptive response to epinephrine was seen (absorption rate = -12.3 +/- 3.6 mL/h), similar to that observed in the mature fetus. Induction of this capacity to reabsorb lung liquid may be of importance in the management of respiratory problems of the newborn infant.

Dibutyryl cAMP induces a gestation-dependent absorption of fetal lung liquid

The maturation of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-(cAMP) dependent pathway controlling fetal lung liquid secretion was examined in experiments in which the lungs of chronically catheterized fetal lambs (123-141 days gestational age) were exposed to dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP, 10(-4) M). The effect of DBcAMP was markedly gestation dependent, with the greatest effect observed in the most mature fetuses. In immature fetuses (less than 130 days, mean age 125 days) DBcAMP caused slowing of secretion, with maximal effect at 5 h. With increasing maturity the effect of DBcAMP was more pronounced and occurred earlier so that in mature fetuses (mean age 140 days) lung liquid absorption took place, with maximal effect at 2 h. Changes in lung liquid volume flow induced by DBcAMP could be blocked by addition of 10(-4) M amiloride to lung liquid. It is concluded that 1) DBcAMP induces a change in lung liquid secretion that, like epinephrine, is mediated via an increase in Na+ permeability of the apical membrane of the lung epithelium and 2) the rate-limiting step in the maturation of this process must lie beyond the generation of intracellular cAMP.

Effect of intravenous epinephrine on serum magnesium and free intracellular red blood cell magnesium concentrations measured by nuclear magnetic resonance

Hypomagnesemia is a common clinical finding in hospitalized patients and can cause hypocalcemia, cardiac arrhythmias, muscular weakness, and hypokalemia. Hypomagnesemia usually implies cellular magnesium (Mg) depletion, but stress and some clinical conditions which raise serum catecholamine concentrations may lower serum Mg (sMg) concentrations. To help investigate the mechanism and degree of the effect of catecholamines on sMg concentration, we gave intravenous epinephrine (0.1 microgram/kg/min) to 12 normal volunteers for 2 hours. The sMg concentration fell from 1.86 +/- 0.04 mg/dl to 1.63 +/- 0.05 mg/dl (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.01). Pre-infusion intracellular free Mg (Mg++) in red blood cells (RBC) as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrophotometry (NMR) was 171 +/- 7.6 microM and did not differ significantly from post-infusion RBC Mg++, 186 +/- 12.6 microM. Total blood mononuclear cell Mg content and urine Mg excretion also did not change. These data suggest that epinephrine has a small but significant effect on the lowering of sMg concentrations. Endogenous catecholamine release during stress or acute illness may therefore contribute to the hypomagnesemia seen in acutely ill patients. Our data also suggest that hypomagnesemia seen under conditions of acute stress may not always imply depleted tissue Mg stores. As no absolute change in cellular Mg or in urinary Mg excretion was demonstrated, acute intracellular shifts of Mg into blood cells and/or urinary Mg losses may not account for the hypomagnesemia. The prevalence and clinical consequences of stress hypomagnesemia require further investigation.