PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K F Hilgers

Publications and source records attributed to K F Hilgers.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Nerve-mediated antidiuresis and antinatriuresis after air-jet stress is modulated by angiotensin II.

A putative interaction between angiotensin II (Ang II) and the sympathetic nervous system within the kidney has been reported. We tested the hypothesis in conscious rats that endogenous Ang II modulates the renal effects of a stress-induced increase in sympathetic nerve activity. We recorded mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, renal sympathetic nerve activity, renal hemodynamics, urine volume, and urinary sodium content in conscious rats. We used the Ang II type 1 receptor blocker ZD 7155 to inhibit the effects of endogenous Ang II. Ten minutes of air-jet stress increased renal sympathetic nerve activity by 98 +/- 4% (n = 6) without changing systemic hemodynamics. Air-jet stress reduced urine volume (from 31 +/- 3 to 8 +/- 4 microL/min per gram kidney weight, P < .05, n = 12) and sodium excretion (from 4.3 +/- 0.9 to 1.2 +/- 0.3 mumol/min per gram kidney weight, P < .05, n = 12). After renal denervation, air-jet stress had no effect on either parameter. Six micrograms of the Ang II type 1 receptor inhibitor ZD 7155 blunted the decrease in urine volume and sodium excretion in response to air-jet stress, although the increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity during air-jet stress and the pressor response to exogenous Ang II were not affected. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were also not affected. Higher doses of 30 and 60 micrograms ZD 7155 inhibited the pressor response to exogenous Ang II and abolished the changes in urine volume and sodium excretion in response to air-jet stress. None of the ZD 7155 doses affected urinary sodium excretion permanently. Hence, the Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist ZD 7155 impaired or abolished the renal nerve-mediated antinatriuresis and anitidiuresis in response to air-jet stress. We conclude that endogenous Ang II modulates the renal effects of centrally mediated changes of sympathetic nerve activity in conscious rats.

Angiotensin II↗

Experimental studies on the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 in hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

T helper cells and macrophages infiltrate into the renal cortical interstitium during the course of hypertensive nephrosclerosis. To investigate the mechanisms of mononuclear cell infiltration, we examined the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its counterpart lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) in the progression of hypertensive renal injury. We studied nonclipped kidneys of two-kidney, one clip renovascular hypertensive and sham-operated control rats immunohistochemically at 4, 7, 14, and 28 days after clipping (n = 5 per group and time point). Systolic pressure was significantly elevated by day 7 (154 +/- 4 versus 117 +/- 6 mm Hg in sham, P < .05). The development of hypertension resulted in a progressive increase of ICAM-1 expression in the perivascular and interstitial areas of the renal cortex and on proximal tubular brush borders. Only a few glomeruli showed augmented ICAM-1 staining. Increased ICAM-1 was associated with an accumulation of LFA-1-positive mononuclear cells in the perivascular region (day 14: 15 +/- 4 versus 2 +/- 0.2 cells/mm2 in sham, P < .005) and intertubular region (127 +/- 11 versus 32 +/- 3 cells per millimeter squared in sham, P < .005). The maximum was obtained at day 14 and remained elevated until day 28. In addition, the number of interstitial LFA-1-positive infiltrating cells was related to the degree of interstitial and tubular ICAM-1 expression and correlated with blood pressure (r = .75, P < .001, n = 18). Our data suggest that ICAM-1 is involved in the recruitment of macrophages/lymphocytes via specific interaction of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in this model of hypertensive target-organ damage.

Animals↗

Role of the circulating renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of hypertension in transgenic rats. TGR(mREN2)27.

Transgenic rats, termed TGR(mREN2)27, which carry the mouse ren2d renin gene, develop fulminant hypertension. To evaluate the role of the circulating renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in hypertension of TGR(mREN2)27, we determined plasma levels of its components and their regulation by ether-stress. Plasma prorenin was elevated in prehypertensive and in adult heterozygous TGR(mREN2)27 (fourtyfold), when compared with Sprague Dawley (SD) controls, whereas plasma renin concentration (PRC) and angiotensin II were not in SD rats ether anesthesia increased PRC at day (11 a.m.; fivefold), but not at night (11 p.m.). Ether had no effect on PRC in TGR(mREN2)27. In contrast, ether increased plasma corticosterone levels at day and night in both strains to a similar degree. Our data indicate that plasma active renin is not a pathogenetic factor for hypertension in TGR(mREN2)27 and suggest a primary role of circulating prorenin. The lack of stimulation of PRC by ether in TGR(mREN2)27 probably reflects predominant extrarenal origin of renin.

Animals↗

Expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme in renovascular hypertensive rat kidney.

We hypothesized that the gene expression of angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor, in addition to renin, is increased in kidneys after renal artery stenosis. Two-kidney, one clip renovascular hypertension was initiated in Sprague-Dawley rats by clipping of the left renal artery; control rats were sham operated. Blood pressure was not changed for the first 2 days after clipping but was elevated on day 4 (mean arterial pressure, 104 +/- 4 versus 87 +/- 2 mm Hg in sham-operated control rats, P < .002) and increased further during the next 24 days. Rats were killed 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days after clipping or sham operation, and poly(A)(+)-purified renal cortical RNA was analyzed by Northern blotting. Autoradiographs were quantitated by densitometry and normalized for the expression of a housekeeping gene. Renin expression was increased in the clipped kidney (by 149% on day 2) and decreased in the nonclipped kidney (by 82% on day 2), compared with kidneys of control rats. Expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme was increased in clipped kidneys from the first day after clipping (158%) and throughout the experiment (66% on day 28), but was unchanged or slightly decreased in nonclipped kidneys. Angiotensinogen mRNA showed little change. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression was decreased in nonclipped kidneys but unchanged during the first 7 days in clipped kidneys. Our results show that components of the renin-angiotensin system other than renin are also differentially expressed in clipped kidneys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

Effects of human renin in the vasculature of rats transgenic for human angiotensinogen.

Transgenic rats, which express the human angiotensinogen gene, provide a unique model for studying local vascular effects of human renin. We examined the cleavage of human angiotensinogen to angiotensin I (Ang I) by human renin and its inhibition by a human renin inhibitor in an isolated perfused hindlimb preparation from such rats. Perfusion resulted in the sustained release of human angiotensinogen, which decreased from 19.4 to 11.8 pmol/mL over 45 minutes. Active human renin at doses of 3, 10, and 30 ng/mL perfusate for 15 minutes increased Ang I release from undetectable levels (mean +/- SEM) to 31.9 +/- 3.3, 147.1 +/- 26.2, and 206.4 +/- 17.1 fmol/mL, respectively, by 9 minutes. In separate experiments aimed at the quantification of renin-induced vasoconstriction, captopril decreased the perfusion pressure and lowered Ang II concentrations to nondetectable levels, whereas Ang I values increased sharply. When renin (30 ng/mL) was infused for 15 minutes, renin values in the perfusate decreased to barely detectable levels within minutes after termination of the infusion. However, Ang I values remained high for at least 30 minutes thereafter. The addition of a human renin inhibitor during renin infusion caused Ang I values to promptly decrease within minutes to undetectable levels. Hindlimbs from non-transgenic control rats released no detectable amounts of Ang I, with or without human renin. Finally, by in situ hybridization we documented the presence of human angiotensinogen message in the vessels of the hindlimb. We conclude that renin acts on angiotensinogen at a site in the vascular wall. The cleavage depends on renin and not on other lysosomal proteases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin I↗

Vascular angiotensin and the sympathetic nervous system: do they interact?

We tested the hypothesis that local vascular formation of angiotensin (ANG) II and the sympathetic nervous system potentiate each other. Isolated rat hindquarters were perfused with an artificial medium, and ANG I and II release was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Electrical stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic chain (0.5, 2, and 8 Hz) did not affect vascular ANG release in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Hypertensive, ren-2 transgenic (TG+) rat hindquarters released significantly more ANG I (110 +/- 19 vs. 65 +/- 21 fmol/30 min in SD rats) and ANG II (235 +/- 22 vs. 140 +/- 30 fmol/30 min); however, nerve stimulation did not alter ANG release in TG+ rats. Captopril inhibited vascular ANG II release by 90%, but neither captopril nor ANG II receptor blockade by losartan affected the pressor response to nerve stimulation in SD and TG+ rats. Isoproterenol failed to increase either vascular ANG release or pressor response to nerve stimulation in SD or spontaneously hypertensive rat hindquarters. Exogenous renin, which increased vascular ANG release approximately 100-fold, prolonged the pressor responses to nerve stimulation. We conclude that the vascular renin-ANG system does not interact with the sympathetic nervous system locally. However, high concentrations of ANG II, which can be induced by circulation-derived renin, may prolong the duration of sympathetic nerve-induced vasoconstriction.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Vascular renin in the guinea pig. Suppression by the renin inhibitor remikiren.

Angiotensin I and II are generated by the vascular wall. Whether this generation depends on renin or on other enzymes is debated. We tested the hypothesis that remikiren, a highly specific inhibitor of human and guinea pig renin, may inhibit the vascular renin-angiotensin system. Isolated hindquarters from guinea pigs were perfused with an artificial medium, and angiotensin I and II release was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Guinea pig hindquarters released angiotensin I (23.8 +/- 5.6 fmol/30 min; n = 13) and angiotensin II (95.2 +/- 19 fmol/30 min; n = 13) spontaneously. Inhibition of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme by captopril (10 nmol/mL) suppressed angiotensin II by 85% and increased angiotensin I by 352% (n = 5, P < .05). Infusion of remikiren (1.6 nmol/mL) in addition to captopril decreased angiotensin I release by 68% (P < .05 versus captopril alone, n = 5 each). We conclude that renin generates angiotensin I in an isolated guinea pig resistance vessel bed. Our study demonstrates that renin rather than nonrenin enzymes is responsible for the major part of vascular angiotensin formation.

Angiotensin I↗

Impaired cardiovascular reflexes precede deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertension.

We hypothesized that impaired cardiopulmonary reflexes but not altered baroreceptor reflexes precede deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Uninephrectomized rats were given either DOCA and 0.9% NaCl as drinking water, 0.9% NaCl alone, or tap water. We measured mean blood pressure, heart rate, and renal sympathetic nerve activity. After 8 days, mean blood pressure was not different in DOCA-salt and control rats. Volume-sensitive cardiopulmonary reflexes were tested by intravenous volume loading with saline (10% body weight in 15 minutes), which decreased renal sympathetic nerve activity without changing mean blood pressure or heart rate. This response was blunted in DOCA-salt rats. Chemosensitive cardiopulmonary reflexes were tested by 15-minute infusions of the serotonin 5-HT3 agonist phenylbiguanide, which decreased renal sympathetic nerve activity without changing mean blood pressure or heart rate. Sustained decreases in renal sympathetic nerve activity occurred during phenylbiguanide infusion in controls but were blunted over time in DOCA-salt rats. The arterial baroreflex responses to graded infusions of methoxamine and nitroprusside were analyzed by sigmoidal curve fitting. There were no differences in gain of renal sympathetic nerve activity or heart rate between the groups. Thus, DOCA-salt rats exhibit impaired cardiopulmonary reflexes before the onset of hypertension; the volume-sensitive reflexes are more severely affected than chemosensitive reflexes. The arterial baroreceptor reflex is unaltered. The decreased sensitivity of cardiopulmonary reflexes may contribute to DOCA-salt hypertension.

Analysis of Variance↗

Vascular conversion of angiotensin I in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

OBJECTIVE: Linkage studies have shown that the gene locus for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is associated with the expression of hypertension in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). We tested the hypothesis that the conversion of angiotensin I (Ang I) to angiotensin II (Ang II) in blood vessels is elevated in SHRSP. DESIGN: We measured the conversion rate of Ang I to Ang II during one pass through an isolated resistance vessel bed. We used the same substrains of SHRSP and Wistar-Kyoto control rats (WKY) that had been employed in the earlier linkage studies. METHODS: Isolated hindquarters from young and adult (10- to 12- and 36- to 38-week-old) rats were perfused with an artificial medium and then infused with Ang I at 0.5 and 2 pmol/ml. Ang I and II were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay in hindquarter effluent and in blank control channels. Conversion and extraction rates were calculated from angiotensin levels in hindquarter and blank perfusion channels, respectively. RESULTS: The conversion rates of Ang I to Ang II did not differ between SHRSP and WKY in young or in adult rats. Captopril completely abolished the formation of Ang II in all groups of rats. During infusion at the higher dose of Ang I, the extraction of Ang I was significantly decreased in SHRSP compared with WKY. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the notion that the metabolism of angiotensin is decreased in spontaneously hypertensive rats. However, we found no support for the hypothesis that vascular ACE is responsible for high blood pressure in SHRSP. These findings suggest that other genes close to the ACE locus or the hyperexpression of the enzyme in other areas may contribute to hypertension in these rats.

Aging↗

A highly selective cardiorenal serotonergic 5-HT3-mediated reflex in rats.

To elucidate whether prolonged stimulation of cardiopulmonary serotonergic (5-HT3) receptors could play a role in the control of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), we compared 15-min intravenous infusions to bolus administrations of the 5-HT3 receptor agonist phenyl biguanide (PBG) and to a 0.9% saline load (5% body wt) in rats. Short-term and prolonged stimulation of 5-HT3-sensitive cardiopulmonary reflexes caused dose-related decreases in RSNA but not in lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA); only short-term stimulation caused decreases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Saline loading lowered RSNA but not LSNA, BP, or HR. Baroreceptor denervation did not influence any of these responses. Scopolamine attenuated BP and HR but not RSNA responses to bolus PBG. Pretreatment with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist inhibited responses to PBG but not to saline. Vagotomy abolished all responses to all interventions. Thus 1) the prolonged stimulation of cardiopulmonary 5-HT3 receptors caused sustained suppression of RSNA, 2) decreased BP and HR were manifest only during short-term stimulation (3 min), and 3) blockade of 5-HT3 receptors did not influence responses to cardiopulmonary mechanoreceptor stimulation.

Animals↗

Angiotensin II facilitates sympathetic transmission in rat hind limb circulation.

We developed a novel method to stimulate the sympathetic innervation of the isolated, perfused rat hind limb to investigate whether a subpressor concentration of angiotensin II (Ang II) facilitates noradrenergic transmission in the vascular bed to skeletal muscle. We electrically stimulated the lumbar sympathetic trunk while perfusing the preparation with artificial medium. Seventy-five percent of the resulting frequency-dependent increases in perfusion pressure were mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Ang II (10 nM) significantly enhanced the effects of nerve stimulation at 1 and 10 Hz (by 42% and 35%, respectively). At a supramaximal stimulation frequency (20 Hz), Ang II prolonged the duration of the response without changing the peak increase in pressure. The reuptake inhibitor cocaine did not influence the effects of Ang II at 1 and 10 Hz but blocked the effect at 20 Hz. To control for nonspecific synergism with norepinephrine, we compared Ang II with vasopressin. Both peptides potentiated the pressor response to exogenous norepinephrine; however, vasopressin did not change the pressor response to nerve stimulation at any frequency. We conclude that Ang II, but not vasopressin, facilitates noradrenergic transmission in skeletal muscle resistance vessels, independent of its direct vasoconstrictor activity. The neurovascular preparation we describe may be useful in addressing other hypotheses concerning sympathetic transmission in skeletal muscle resistance vessels.

Angiotensin II↗

Angiotensinogen is cleaved to angiotensin in isolated rat blood vessels.

The cleavage of synthetic tetradecapeptide renin substrate has been used to infer the presence of renin in the walls of isolated blood vessels; however, the conversion of natural angiotensinogen to angiotensin in isolated blood vessels has not been reported. We studied the release of angiotensinogen and the formation of angiotensins in a bloodless, perfused, isolated hind limb preparation of the rat. Perfusion with a modified Tyrode's solution resulted in spontaneous release of 4.7 +/- 1.5 pmol per 30 minutes of angiotensinogen as measured directly by radioimmunoassay. Western blot further identified the released material as angiotensinogen. Spontaneous release of angiotensins I and II was demonstrated by high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. When highly purified rat angiotensinogen was added to the perfusate, release of angiotensin II was increased 14-fold compared with saline infusion. Captopril (10 mumol/L) inhibited angiotensinogen-induced angiotensin II release by 67% and led to an increase in angiotensin I release by 301%. Bilateral nephrectomy 24 hours before the experiments reduced basal angiotensin release below the detection limit and blunted angiotensinogen-induced angiotensin II formation by 95%. We conclude that active renin is present in the vessel wall and interacts with its natural substrate to form angiotensin peptides. Our data support the notion that the bulk of vascular renin is taken up from the circulation.

Angiotensin I↗

Early interstitial changes in hypertension-induced renal injury.

To elucidate the mechanisms of hypertensive renal injury, we investigated the time course and extent of changes in matrix composition, as well as cell proliferation and infiltration in two-kidney, one clip rats. The nonclipped kidneys from hypertensive and sham-operated control rats (n = 5 to 10 in each group) were studied at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after clipping. Systolic blood pressure was elevated by day 7 (154 +/- 3 versus 111 +/- 4 mm Hg in sham group, P < .001, n = 10 each). Hypertension resulted in an early expansion of the interstitial volume by 37%, whereas hypertensive vascular changes and glomerular injury did not become evident until day 21. Immunofluorescence studies revealed an early interstitial accumulation of collagens I, III, IV, V, VI, and fibronectin by day 7. In contrast, the glomeruli showed a mild to moderate increase in collagens I, III, IV, V, laminin, and fibronectin but not collagen VI later in the established phase of hypertension. Staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen as a marker of cell replication was increased in tubular epithelial but not interstitial or glomerular cells. A progressive infiltration of macrophages (16 +/- 2 versus 9 +/- 1 ED1+ cells/mm2, P < .05, n = 6) and T lymphocytes (93 +/- 15 versus 74 +/- 7 CD4+ cells/mm2, n = 8) in the cortical interstitium had already occurred by day 7. On the other hand, only macrophages increased in number within the glomeruli. Thus, renovascular hypertension leads to an early tubular cell proliferation, mononuclear cell recruitment, and deposition of matrix proteins primarily within the interstitium. We conclude that the injury producing nephrosclerosis in this model extends far beyond the glomeruli. Both the tubules and the interstitium are actively involved and may be the more important initial sites of injury.

Animals↗

Tissue renin: focus on vascular angiotensin formation.

Local vascular formation of angiotensin (Ang) peptides was investigated in isolated, plasma-free perfused rat hindquarters. Analysis of perfusate by high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay demonstrated spontaneous releases of Ang I and II from hindlimb vasculature. Captopril suppressed Ang II and increased Ang I levels. Formation of Ang peptides was abolished by bilateral nephrectomy but unaltered by subtotal 5/6 nephrectomy. Infused renin was taken up by hindlimb vasculature and led to substantial increases of local Ang formation and perfusion pressure. Both effects were sensitive to captopril (CAS 62571-86-2) and to the renin inhibitor H-142 (H-Pro-His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Val-Ile-His-OH). Conversion of Ang I to Ang II in hindquarter vasculature was approximately 75% and completely suppressed by captopril. Evidence for and against local vascular synthesis of renin is briefly discussed. In conclusion, the data indicate substantial local vascular formation of Ang I and II which, however, appears to be mainly due to plasma-derived renin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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↗

Vascular production and regulation of angiotensin.

To test the hypothesis that angiotensin (Ang) I and II are produced by blood vessels, we investigated the formation of both Ang I and Ang II in isolated, perfused rat hindquarters. To characterize the nature of this production further, we modulated plasma renin by total or subtotal nephrectomy and tested the effects of exogenous renin and renin substrate on vascular Ang formation. Assays of the perfusate by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay demonstrated the spontaneous release of Ang I and Ang II from the hindlimb vasculature. Conversion of Ang I to Ang II in hindquarter vasculature was approximately 75% and was totally suppressed by captopril. The spontaneous formation of Ang peptides was abolished by bilateral nephrectomy but was not affected by subtotal 5/6 nephrectomy. The addition of purified rat angiotensinogen to the preparation increased Ang II levels. The infusion of renin into the hindlimb vasculature led to substantial increases in local Ang formation and also raised the perfusion pressure. Both effects were sensitive to captopril and to the renin inhibitor H-142. The data indicate that Ang I and Ang II are produced locally within blood vessels. However, the origin of vascular renin remains controversial. Our results suggest that part of the enzyme is taken up from plasma.

Angiotensin I↗