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Biomedical subjects

J F Mann

Publications and source records attributed to J F Mann.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

New classes of antihypertensive drugs and new findings with established agents.

Research on antihypertensive drugs not only provides new information on presently used agents but also leads to the introduction of exciting new compounds. Several important clinical trials involving currently available drugs have been published recently. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors improved survival in patients with milder degrees of congestive heart failure, which indicates that they have become the cornerstone of treatment for this condition. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors delayed or prevented the development of diabetic proteinuria (> 200 micrograms/min) in a placebo-controlled randomized trial. Further, enalapril was more effective than metoprolol in reducing the rate of decline in renal function in patients with type I diabetes. Calcium channel blockers protected against acute renal failure in patients after renal transplantation in two separate studies. Calcium channel blockers were shown to promote natriuresis, with negative sodium balance the same as that associated with thiazide diuretics. The voltage-dependent calcium channel has been cloned, and the binding sites of the three classes of calcium channel blockers are now known. beta-Blockers and thiazide diuretics were the drug treatments in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program trial and in the Swedish Trial in Old Patients with Hypertension study (patients 65 to 85 years). In both investigations, stroke and cardiovascular events were significantly reduced by these conventional inexpensive agents. Clonidine was found to lower blood pressure primarily by its interaction with the imidazole receptor rather than the alpha 2 receptor. Elucidation of the imidazole receptor promises to shed light on physiologic mechanisms as well as lead to the introduction of new agents, such as moxonidine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Increased vascular angiotensin formation in female rats harboring the mouse Ren-2 gene.

Rats harboring the mouse Ren-2 transgene develop hypertension despite low levels of plasma renin activity. We tested the hypothesis that these rats exhibit an increase in vascular angiotensin formation caused by the presence of the transgene. We measured the release of angiotensins I and II from isolated perfused hindquarters by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Female rats heterozygous for the transgene had significantly elevated mean arterial pressure compared with control rats (189.3 +/- 9.5 versus 110.0 +/- 5.4 mm Hg, p less than 0.05). Plasma angiotensin II was significantly decreased in transgenic rats. Transgenic rat hindquarters released more angiotensin I (121 +/- 37 versus 39 +/- 12 fmol/30 min, n = 7 each) and more angiotensin II (210 +/- 21 versus 62 +/- 12 fmol/30 min, p less than 0.05, n = 7 each) than control rat hindquarters. Captopril increased angiotensin I release and decreased angiotensin II values in both transgenic and control rat hindquarters. Bilateral nephrectomy 24 hours before hindquarter perfusion greatly reduced angiotensin release from control rat hindquarters but not from transgenic rat hind limbs. We also tested for the presence of Ren-2 messenger RNA in mesenteric and aortic tissue by RNase protection assay and Northern blot analysis. We found that Ren-2 messenger RNA was present in mesenteric and aortic tissue of transgenic but not of control rats. We conclude that the Ren-2 transgene is expressed in vascular tissue of transgenic rats and may be responsible for substantial increases in vascular angiotensin formation.

Angiotensin II

Effect of antihypertensive therapy on the progression of non-diabetic renal disease.

There is a clear, inverse association between the level of blood pressure and the progression of renal disease. This association appears to extend well within the "normotensive" blood pressure range. Currently, there are no absolutely incontrovertible data from prospective, randomized trials in humans documenting that high blood pressure is the cause of an accelerated loss of GFR, or that the loss in renal function can be prevented by lowering blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg. Nevertheless, an aggressive lowering of blood pressure in patients with hypertension and renal disease seems reasonable and desirable. First, the control of blood pressure lowers the "all causes" risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in all patients with elevated blood pressure. Second, any detrimental effects on GFR are uncommon or transient in these patients. Third, the beneficial effects on GFR are firmly supported in animal studies and in humans with malignant hypertension. Fourth, a growing body of evidence from human trials supports the inverse correlation between blood pressure and decrease in GFR, even below a level of 140/90 mmHg. The evidence for these conclusions is reviewed.

Antihypertensive Agents

Effects of an orally active converting-enzyme inhibitor, SQ 14225, on pressor responses to angiotensin administered into the brain ventricles of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. Two hours after oral feeding of normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats with the converting-enzyme inhibitor SQ 14225 (1 and 10 mg/kg), an increase of angiotensin I plasma concentrations from 892 +/- 113 to 1660 +/- 167 and 2951 +/- 405 pg/ml was observed. 2. Administration of SQ 14225 with the drinking fluid overnight suppressed the pressor responses to intravenous angiotensin I, although the blood pressure increase after intravenous angiotensin II was not altered in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. No change of pressor effects after injections of angiotensin I and II into the brain ventricles was observed after oral SQ 14225. 3. Intracerebroventricular infusions of SQ 14225 in spontaneously hypertensive rats abolished the central pressor responses to angiotensin I. 4. The results show that SQ 14225 effectively blocked the conversion of endogenous and exogenous angiotensin I into angiotensin II in plasma, and the conversion of exogenous angiotensin I in brain. Under the conditions studied, SQ 14225 does not cross the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Administration, Oral

Modulation of sympathetic vascular tone by prostaglandins in corticosterone-induced hypertension in rats.

1. In corticosterone-induced hypertension in rats the activity of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and its modulation by prostaglandins was studied. 2. Plasma concentrations of noradrenaline were reduced if compared with those in normotensive control rats. 3. The sensitivity of the isolated perfused hind-limb preparation to noradrenaline was enhanced before blood pressure rose and increased further with the development of hypertension. 4. Arachidonic acid, prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2), but not 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, reversed the supersensitivity to noradrenaline. 5. These results suggest that corticosterone induces a supersensitivity to noradrenaline by inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Changes in the sensitivity of the vascular smooth muscle may play a role in the development of glucocorticoid hypertension.

Animals

Increased blood pressure responses to central angiotensin II in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The blood pressure responses following infusions of angiotensin II (ANG II) into the brain ventricles (i.v.t.) have been tested in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats and in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WK) rats. The mean arterial blood pressure increases were significantly higher in SH rats than in WK rats. Propranolol treatment reduced blood pressure increases to i.v.t. ANG II in WK, but not in SH rats. The higher sensitivity to i.v.t. ANG II in SH rats supports a role of central ANG II in the maintenance of high blood pressure in SH rats.

Angiotensin II

Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-system in Brattleboro rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus.

Brattleboro rats homozygous for hypothalamic hereditary diabetes insipidus (DI rats) were used to investigate the following questions: a) Do exogenous and endogenous angiotensin II (AII) have an antidiuretic effect in diabetes insipidus? b) Does AII mediate the antidiuresis induced by furosemide? The following results were obtained: 1. AII (5 mg/kg s.c. in oil) and furosemide (50 mg/kg i.p.) decreased urine flow and increased urinary sodium excretion. Furosemide led to a two-fold increase of AII plasma concentrations and a decrease of plasma sodium levels. 2. SQ 14 225 (2 x 2.5 mg/kg p.o.), an angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, led to an increase of urine flow and to a slightly elevated urinary sodium excretion. 3. When the formation of AII was blocked by SQ 14 225 (2 x 2.5 mg/kg p.o.), AII plasma concentrations were 2.5-fold decreased, but furosemide still reduced urine flow. We conclude that plasma AII might have an antidiuretic action in DI rats. However, AII does not mediate the antidiuresis induced by furosemide.

Angiotensin II

Effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents on peripheral vascular resistance.

The effects of the beta-adrenergic blocking agents propranolol, pindolol, atenolol, bunitrolol, and methypranol on the vascular resistance of isolated perfused hindlimbs of rats were investigated. At concentrations of 0.01 microgram/ml in the perfusate dl-propranolol and pindolol significantly increased vascular resistance by blockade of beta2-receptor mediated vasodilatation, whereas atenolol, bunitrolol and methypranol had no effect on peripheral resistance at this concentration. With increasing concentrations up to 10 microgram/ml all drugs, with the exception of atenolol, caused vasodilatation. We conclude that the specificity of beta-blocking agents can be established in the isolated perfused hindlimb vasculature of rats through its effect on vascular resistance. The lack of inhibition of vascular beta2-receptors at low concentrations of atenolol and also bunitrolol and methypranol show relative selectivity for beta1-receptors. The differential effects of beta-adrenergic agents on vascular resistance may have significance for the clinical use of the drugs.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of infusions with [Sar 1, Val5, Ala8] angiotensin II (saralasin).

A modification of the infusion test with saralasin, an angiotensin II antagonist for the detection of renin-dependent high blood pressure was studied in renal hypertensive rats and in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Infusion was started at a rate of 0.01 microgram/kg x min saralasin and the dose was increased ten-fold at 15 min intervals. A significant fall of diastolic blood pressure was observed at the dose of 0.1 microgram/kg x min in renal hypertensive rats, in healthy subjects treated with diuretics, and in patients with renovascular hypertension (saralasin responders). Plasma concentrations of angiotensin I, angiotensin II and of saralasin as well as plasma renin activity were measured. At the lowest infusion rate of 0.01 microgram/kg x min, saralasin plasma levels were 40-fold higher than plasma angiotensin II levels. The decrease in arterial blood pressure occurred at lower doses of saralasin than the increase of plasma renin due to inhibition of feedback on the renin secreting cells. It is concluded that if the saralasin test is performed by a stepwise increase of the infusion rate, potentially dangerous complications such as hypo- or hypertensive reactions can be avoided. The diagnostic reliability is improved by such a procedure since false positive and false negative responses may be prevented. The pressor effect of saralasin in non-renin dependent patients is an advantage since it causes a more marked difference of blood pressure change between saralasin responders and non-responders.

Angiotensin I

Effects of central and peripheral angiotensin blockade in hypertensive rats.

The angiotensin II (AII) antagonist [Sar1-Ala8]AII (Saralasin) was injected into the brain ventricles (IVT) and intravenously (IV) in five different types of hypertensive unanesthetized rats. Renal hypertension was studied 16-22 days after kidney clipping. Intravenous infusions of cumulative doses (0.1-100 microgram/kg per min) and IVT injections (5-40 microgram) of Saralasin did not change mean arterial pressure (MAP) in controls and in one-clip, one-kidney Goldblatt hypertension, whereas MAP decreased in one-clip, two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension following IV and IVT Saralasin. In two-clip, two kidney hypertensive rats, IVT Saralasin decreased MAP but was ineffective when infused IV. Both IV and IVT Saralasin increased MAP in DOC hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats, IV Saralasin increased MAP; IVT injection decreased MAP. The effect of IVT Saralasin in SH rats persisted 15-20 h after nephrectomy. We conclude that plasma AII may contribute to peripheral and central mechanisms of blood pressure regulation. The dissociation of the effects of IV and IVT Saralasin and the persistance of blood pressure decrease in nephrectomized SH rats following IVT Saralasin further support a role for locally formed brain angiotensin.

Angiotensin II