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Biomedical subjects

J C Frölich

Publications and source records attributed to J C Frölich.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Selective attenuation of endothelium-mediated vasodilation in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries.

This study was undertaken to determine whether atherosclerosis impairs relaxations mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in human coronary arteries. Epicardial coronary arteries were obtained from the hearts of cardiac transplantation patients with or without histologically documented coronary atherosclerosis (atherosclerotic arteries were from patients aged 42-55 years, nonatherosclerotic arteries were from patients aged 14-24 years). Transverse strip preparations were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording. Tension was induced with prostaglandins F2 alpha. Indomethacin (10(-5) M) was present to prevent possible interference from endogenously formed prostaglandins. The EDRF-mediated relaxations in response to substance P (10(-10) to 10(-8) M), bradykinin (10(-9) to 10(-7) M), and Ca2+-ionophore A23187 (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) were significantly attenuated in atherosclerotic arteries. In deendothelialized tissues these compounds had no effect. In contrast, endothelium-independent relaxations induced by isoprenaline (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) were not affected by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic arteries showed also normal relaxations with high concentrations of glyceryl trinitrate (10(-8) to 10(-7) M), but reduced relaxations with a lower concentration of the compound (10(-9) M). Acetylcholine (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) only produced endothelium-dependent relaxations in 8 of 60 arterial preparations (with or without atherosclerosis). In most of the arteries, it was a direct vasoconstrictor (which may have masked EDRF release in many cases). Omission of indomethacin from the bath solution increased the incidence of moderate acetylcholine-induced relaxations (9 of 16 preparations). It is concluded that atherosclerosis attenuates EDRF-mediated vasospasm and myocardial ischemia.

Acetylcholine↗

Response of human coronary arteries to aggregating platelets: importance of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostanoids.

Epicardial human coronary arteries (HCA) were obtained during heart transplantation. Strip preparations were mounted for isometric tension recording. Tension was induced with prostaglandin F2 alpha (0.3-3 microM). Aggregating human platelets (10(7)/ml and 10(8)/ml) caused marked relaxation if the endothelium of the HCA was intact, but produced modest additional constriction if the endothelium was removed. The endothelium-dependent relaxations to platelets were slightly enhanced in the presence of methysergide (1 microM) or after treatment of the platelets with the thromboxane synthase inhibitor dazmegrel (1 mM, 30 minutes). Relaxations to platelets were markedly inhibited or abolished in the presence of apyrase (1 unit/ml), after selective pretreatment of HCA with gossypol or methylene blue (both 30 microM, 30 minutes), or after addition of hemoglobin (20 microM) to the organ bath. Pretreatment of HCA (not the platelets) with aspirin (30 microM, 30 minutes) had no significant effect on platelet-induced relaxations. Adenosine 5'-diphosphate (0.1-100 microM) induced marked relaxations in endothelium-intact and much smaller relaxations in endothelium-denuded HCA. A low concentration (10 nM) of serotonin (5-HT) produced modest endothelium-dependent relaxations, higher concentrations (0.1-1 microM) led to increases in tension (also in the presence of endothelium). The thromboxane A2 mimetic U44069 (1-100 nM) was the most potent constrictor of HCA irrespective of the presence or absence of endothelium. After inhibition of thromboxane synthase, platelets produced large amounts of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha. Both prostaglandins constricted HCA, which can explain the limited effects of dazmegrel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor from cultured human endothelial cells inhibits aggregation of human platelets.

The present study was designed to investigate whether endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) produced by cultured human endothelial cells (HEC) inhibits the aggregation of human platelets. Microcarrier beads covered with HEC from umbilical veins (approximately 2 X 10(6)) or empty beads (as controls) were co-incubated in an aggregometer with washed human platelets (approximately 5 X 10(7)). Indomethacin was present throughout and no prostacyclin production (measured as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha by radioimmunoassay) could be detected. The presence of HEC markedly inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and this inhibition was further enhanced by bradykinin, a stimulator of EDRF production. The anti-platelet aggregatory effect was blocked by treating the HEC with the inhibitor of EDRF production gossypol, by treating the platelets with the inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase methylene blue, or by adding the EDRF scavenger oxyhemoglobin to the aggregation mixture. The antiaggregatory material was labile, since the supernatant of indomethacin-treated cultured HEC did not inhibit aggregation. In the absence of indomethacin, the prostacyclin-mediated antiaggregatory effect of HEC was not inhibited by gossypol, methylene blue or hemoglobin. These data strongly suggest that the EDRF formed by HEC is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation and may constitute an important defense mechanism against vasospasm and platelet aggregation.

Biological Products↗

Cardiac and microcirculatory effects of different doses of prostaglandin E1 in man.

A cumulative dose response to intravenous PGE1 was established in 12 healthy volunteers. Systolic time intervals, including pre-ejection period (PEP), the ventricular ejection time (VET) and the RR-interval, were continuously determined, and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcpO2) was recorded. RR-intervals fell in a dose dependent manner, reaching a significantly lower level at 128 ng.kg-1.min-1 of PGE1 (basal value 842 ms falling to 756 ms). PEP decreased from 89 ms to 74 ms and the ratio PEP/VET decreased from 35% to 30%, indicating increased myocardial contractility. The maximal increase in tcpO2 was 125% on the calf and 60% on the foot. The peak tcpO2 was observed at an infusion rate of 16 ng.kg-1.min-1 PGE1. A decline in tcpO2 was seen at infusion rates greater than 64 ng.kg-1.min-1 PGE1 indicating a decrease in skin perfusion. The results indicate that the effects of intravenous PGE1 on skin perfusion occur at a lower threshold than the increase in myocardial contractility. A maximal increase in skin perfusion can be achieved with doses of PGE1 devoid of systemic haemodynamic effects.

Adult↗

Effects of nonsteroidal phospholipase inhibitors and glucocorticoids on endothelium-dependent relaxations of rabbit aorta induced by different agents.

The present study investigates the effect of described nonsteroidal phospholipase inhibitors [mepacrine, papaverine, trifluoperazine (TFP), p-bromophenacyl bromide (pBPB), compound CB 874] and of glucocorticoids on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations of rabbit aorta. Endothelium-dependent relaxations were elicited by acetylcholine, Ca2+ ionophore A23187, melittin, and thimerosal. These four agents also stimulated vascular prostacyclin formation. Prostacyclin does not relax rabbit aorta; it was measured as an indicator of phospholipid hydrolysis. All putative nonsteroidal phospholipase inhibitors blocked acetylcholine-induced relaxations. Since papaverine did not inhibit prostacyclin production, it cannot be considered a phospholipase inhibitor in this tissue. Relaxations in response to A23187 were blocked only by pBPB and CB 874, which can interact with phospholipases directly. Melittin-induced relaxations were suppressed by mepacrine, TFP, pBPB, and CB 874. Relaxations elicited by thimerosal were not affected by mepacrine, but were abolished by the other three inhibitors. All inhibitors were ineffective against endothelium-independent relaxations induced by glyceryl trinitrate. Effective blockade of endothelial relaxations correlated with inhibition of prostacyclin formation. In the presence of glucocorticoids, no inhibition of endothelium-mediated relaxations and no inhibition of prostacyclin formation occurred, indicating unimpaired phospholipase activity. These findings suggest that cleavage of phospholipids may be important in the triggering of the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Acetophenones↗

Vascular responses to leukotriene B4, C4 and D4 following FPL 55712, indomethacin, saralasin, phentolamine and verapamil in the conscious rat.

The pressor and vascular permeability effects of leukotrienes B4 (LTB4), C4 and D4 were investigated in conscious unrestrained rats. Leukotrienes C4 and D4 (3.2-51 nmol kg-1 i.v.) caused an acute dose-dependent elevation of the mean arterial pressure, which was maximal after 2 min and returned to control levels within 14 min. Heart rate was significantly reduced by the higher doses of LTC4 and LTD4. LTB4 (up to a dose of 51 nmol kg-1) was essentially inactive. These effects of LTC4 and LTD4 were abolished by FPL 55712, a putative antagonist of sulphidopeptide leukotrienes and by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. Indomethacin, phentolamine or saralasin pretreatment failed to modify the pressor response to LTC4 and LTD4. LTC4 and LTD4 furthermore caused an increase in haematocrit values, which was significantly attenuated by FPL 55712, indomethacin and verapamil. The present findings show that the pressor effect of LTC4 and LTD4 is not related to prostanoid release and can be reversed by calcium channel blockade; whereas the effect on vascular permeability seems to require the presence of both cyclo-oxygenase product(s) and calcium.

Animals↗

Renal vascular effects of leukotriene C4 in the isolated perfused kidney of the rat.

1 The vascular effects of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) were investigated in the isolated perfused kidney of the rat. 2 LTC4 (6.4 X 10(-10) to 3.2 X 10(-8) mol kg-1 min-1 given over 5 min) resulted in a prompt, dose-dependent increase in renal vascular resistance in a recirculating system, which lasted for more than 60 min. 3 LTC4 was 10 to 20 fold and 1000 to 2000 fold, respectively, less active on a molar basis than noradrenaline and angiotensin II in eliciting renal vasoconstriction. 4 The vascular response to LTC4 was blocked dose-dependently by FPL 55712, an antagonist of slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis. OKY 1581, a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, and indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, did not influence the LTC4 response. 5 LTC4 given in a single-pass perfusion system resulted in a short lasting response with baseline values for renal vascular resistance reached after 4 min. 6 These results show that LTC4 is a short acting renal vasoconstrictor with less potency than noradrenaline and angiotensin II. Its pressor effects seem to be mediated by specific leukotriene receptors and independent of cyclo-oxygenase products. The long-lasting effect in the recirculating arrangement, in contrast to the single pass system, is compatible with formation of active metabolite(s).

Angiotensin II↗

Role of AVP in malignant DOC-salt hypertension: studies using vascular and antidiuretic antagonists.

To investigate the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the maintenance of blood pressure in deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-salt hypertension, the effects of specific pressor and antidiuretic antagonists of AVP were studied in conscious, freely moving rats with established malignant DOC-salt hypertension. Plasma AVP level was significantly higher in hypertensive than in normotensive animals (4.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.3 fmol/ml, n = 5, P less than 0.02). Administration of d(CH2)5-d-Leu-VAVP, 10 micrograms/kg, an AVP antagonist that blocked the antidiuretic, but not the pressor effect of exogenous AVP, induced diuresis, and caused a transient fall in blood pressure from 173 +/- 3 to 167 +/- 4 mmHg (n = 8, P less than 0.01) with a concomitant slight increase in heart rate. Similar changes were observed after administration of d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP, 10 micrograms/kg, an antidiuretic plus pressor antagonist of AVP. Intravenous injection of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, 10 micrograms/kg, a specific AVP pressor antagonist had no effect on blood pressure or heart rate, although it completely abolished the pressor response to exogenous AVP. Plasma renin activity remained suppressed following administration of all AVP antagonists. These findings suggest that if AVP should contribute to maintaining high blood pressure in malignant DOC-salt hypertension it would have to be the results of its antidiuretic and not its vasoconstrictor property.

Animals↗

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor is likely to modulate the tone of resistance arteries in rabbit hindlimb in vivo.

Vasodilation mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) has been demonstrated in large conduit arteries in vitro. In the present study we investigated whether the EDRF mechanism is also present in resistance arteries of a peripheral vascular bed, namely the hindlimb of the rabbit. The right femoral artery of anesthetized rabbits was cannulated and blood was supplied through a shunt from the carotid artery. Femoral arterial blood flow and pressure were measured in the shunt. Systemic pressure was measured in the abdominal aorta. The hemodynamic effects of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators (infused into the shunt) were measured before and after treatment of the vascular bed with gossypol or p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB). Gossypol, a polyphenolic antioxidant, is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of the EDRF-mediated vasodilation in isolated arteries; p-BPB is an alkylating agent and also produces irreversible inhibition of endothelium-mediated relaxations in vitro. During inhibitor treatment the hindlimb was temporarily isolated from the blood circulation and perfused with a cell-free medium; the venous effluent was drained off so that only minimal amounts of inhibitor reached the systemic circulation. The endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine (ACh) and substance P, and the endothelium-independent vasodilators prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) induced concentration-dependent increases in femoral arterial flow (and decreases in vascular resistance). Gossypol treatment had no direct effect on systemic blood pressure or femoral arterial flow. However, after gossypol, the effects of ACh and substance P on vascular resistance were almost abolished, but there was no significant effect on the responses to PGE1 and GTN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetophenones↗

Thimerosal, an inhibitor of endothelial acyl-coenzyme A: lysolecithin acyltransferase, stimulates the production of a nonprostanoid endothelium-derived vascular relaxing factor.

Thimerosal stimulates the production of a labile, smooth-muscle-relaxing substance in native and cultured endothelial cells. This substance is not prostacyclin (or any other prostaglandin) but has properties similar to the EDRF released by ACh or bradykinin. The production of EDRF in response to thimerosal is slower in onset, and may involve biochemical mechanisms different from those stimulated by other endothelium-dependent relaxants. The above results suggest that inhibition of acyl-CoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase (by interaction with thiol groups of the enzyme) is the mechanism underlying the thimerosal-induced EDRF production.

1-Acylglycerophosphocholine O-Acyltransferase↗

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of human epicardial coronary arteries: frequent lack of effect of acetylcholine.

Strip preparations of human epicardial coronary arteries (free of atherosclerosis) relaxed in an endothelium-dependent fashion to substance P and Ca2+-ionophore A23187. Acetylcholine generally caused contraction in the same strips. Glyceryl trinitrate and isoproterenol induced relaxation irrespective of the presence or absence of endothelium. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid abolished the relaxation produced by substance P and A23187. Mepacrine only blocked substance P relaxation. Haemoglobin and methylene blue inhibited substance P and A23187 relaxations but also reduced the response to glyceryl trinitrate. These inhibitor experiments indicate that human coronary arteries are relaxed by the endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Acetylcholine↗

Mechanism of PAF-induced platelet aggregation in man.

The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms involved in aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) in human platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PAF induced dose-dependent aggregation over the range of 50 nM to 14 microM, with a threshold dose of about 100 nM. BN 52021, a recently described PAF antagonist, completely abolished the effect of PAF at a ten-fold higher concentration. None of the concentrations of PAF used significantly increased TXB2 release. In plasma obtained from volunteers who had taken 500 mg acetylsalicylic acid over five days, no change of PAF-induced aggregation could be observed in comparison to the control state. The lipoxygenase inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid and BW 755 C also failed to significantly modify the PAF-induced platelet response. Pretreatment of PRP with the calcium channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine and the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine inhibited platelet aggregation by PAF over the entire range tested. These data indicate that PAF may utilize a specific membrane receptor, which can be blocked by BN 52021. Its aggregatory effect is probably mediated via the calcium-calmodulin system. Moreover, derivatives of arachidonic acid do not appear to be primarily involved in PAF-induced aggregation.

Adult↗

Thimerosal induces endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxations by interacting with thiol groups. Relaxations are likely to be mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF).

The sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal, as well as acetylcholine and Ca2+-ionophore A23187, produced concentration-dependent relaxations of intact rabbit aortic strips. The ability of strips to relax in response to these agents was dependent on the presence of vascular endothelium. Purposely removing the endothelium led to a complete loss of the relaxation responses. Thimerosal was at least as efficacious as A23187 in inducing endothelium-dependent relaxations, but its relaxations developed much slower than those induced by A23187 or acetylcholine. A small concentration of thimerosal that had no appreciable effect by itself, potentiated the relaxing response to acetylcholine in endothelium-intact preparations. Endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by larger concentrations of thimerosal, as well as relaxations produced by acetylcholine, were inhibited by the antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid, by haemoglobin, and by the inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase methylene blue. Indomethacin had no effect on these relaxations. The thiol compounds glutathione, 2-mercaptoethanol and a low concentration of dithiothreitol prevented (and reversed) relaxations induced by thimerosal, but had little or no effect on ACh relaxations. A high concentration of dithiothreitol also markedly inhibited the ACh relaxation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that thimerosal stimulates endothelial cells to produce a relaxing substance whose properties are similar or the same as those of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) released in response to acetylcholine or A23187. The biochemical mechanism by which thimerosal induces the formation and/or release of this relaxing substance is likely to be different from ACh.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

Platelet aggregation and thromboxane release induced by arachidonic acid, collagen, ADP and platelet-activating factor following low dose acetylsalicylic acid in man.

The present study was undertaken in order to characterize the dose-dependent nature of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on platelet aggregation and plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) release in healthy volunteers. Volunteers received either 25, 50, 100 or 500 mg daily for five consecutive days. At the end of the five day period, all dosages of ASA were capable of completely suppressing TXB2 production and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. At that time, the second phase of ADP-induced aggregation was also blocked. However, while the inhibition following 500 mg ASA was complete after 24 hours, total inhibition with 100, 50 and 25 mg was attained only after two, three and four days, respectively, indicating the cumulative effect of ASA on platelets. Aggregation induced by collagen was also inhibited dose-dependently- yet slower and at no time complete. ASA had no inhibitory effect on aggregation by platelet-activating factor (PAF). It is concluded that a daily dose of 50 mg ASA would suffice in blocking platelet TXA2 production and aggregation induced by most physiological agents.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Effects of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acid alone and in combination on platelet aggregation and prostanoid synthesis in man.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of salicylate on the antiplatelet action of acetylsalicylic acid as well as on in vivo prostanoid formation and platelet function in healthy volunteers. In the first study six female volunteers received 350 mg acetylsalicylic acid intravenously, with and without previous oral administration of sodium salicylate (1200 mg daily for 3 days). Urinary prostanoid excretion as well as platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation were measured before and during salicylate and after acetylsalicylic acid. In the second study seven female volunteers received sodium salicylate (52.6 mg kg-1) or acetylsalicylic acid (60.7 mg kg-1) for 8 days in a randomized cross-over protocol. Urinary prostanoid excretion, platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation as well as salicylate plasma concentrations were determined before, during and after administration of each drug. Sodium salicylate did not impair the complete suppression of arachidonic acid-induced platelet thromboxane formation and aggregation obtained by the single intravenous dose of acetylsalicylic acid in the first study. Sodium salicylate in the second study did not affect urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2, its major urinary metabolite (7 alpha-hydroxy-5,11-diketo-tetranor-prostane-1,16-dioic acid), and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the main urinary metabolite of epoprostenol (prostacyclin, PGI2). In contrast, acetylsalicylic acid significantly decreased excretion rates of these prostanoids by 64, 59 and 61%, respectively. In both studies platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation induced by collagen, thrombin or arachidonic acid were not significantly affected by salicylate administration, whereas acetylsalicylic acid inhibited platelet aggregation induced by all three agents as well as thrombin- and arachidonic acid induced thromboxane formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Effects of intravenous aspirin on prostaglandin synthesis and kidney function in intensive care patients.

The effects of intravenous acetylsalicylic acid (1.0 g bolus) on renal function and prostaglandin synthesis were evaluated in a prospective, controlled study in eight patients in an intensive care unit. Four of these patients had congestive heart failure. Administration of acetylsalicylic acid caused significant antidiuresis (-56%), antinatriuresis (-82%), renin suppression (-26%) and decreased GFR (-41%). All of these changes were completely reversible within 1-2 hours and tended to be more pronounced in the patients with congestive heart failure. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 was depressed profoundly (-93%) and did not return to more than 45% of control 6 h after the administration of acetylsalicylic acid. We conclude that intravenous acetylsalicylic acid affects kidney function in a manner similar to other prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. Its effects are, however, short-lived. The inhibition of urinary PGE2 excretion outlasts GFR depression, antidiuresis, antinatriuresis and renin suppression by several hours.

Aged↗