[Malignant pheochromocytoma of the organ of Zuckerkandl].
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
M Barontini
Publications and source records attributed to M Barontini.
Evaluation of sympathetic nervous system and adrenomedullary activity in normal children.
In 22 healthy children heart rate, blood pressure and plasma levels of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) were evaluated under basal conditions and in response to standing (5 min). Basal plasma E and NE levels found in these children were (means +/- S.E.M.) 139 +/- 17.9 pg/ml and 236 +/- 31.0 pg/ml respectively. Ten out of the 22 children reported dizziness and discomfort by the end of the 5 min standing period. These children showed not only a greater decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure but also a lower basal heart rate, a tendency to higher basal NE levels and a blunted plasma NE response (23 +/- 7%) when compared with children not reporting symptoms (60 +/- 9%, P less than 0.01). Plasma E levels also showed an increment although a wide range of individual responses was observed in both groups.
Adrenal Medulla↗
The sympathetic superior cervical ganglia as "little neuroendocrine brains".
The superior cervical ganglia (SCG) provide sympathetic innervation to the pineal gland, cephalic blood vessels, the choroid plexus, the eye, carotid body and the salivary and thyroid glands. Removal of the ganglia brings about several neuroendocrine changes in mammals, including the disruption of water balance in pituitary stalk-sectioned rats and the alteration of normal photoperiodic control of reproduction and thyroid function in hamsters, ferrets, voles, rams and goats. These effects are commonly attributed to pineal denervation. However, pinealectomy does not always mimic ganglionectomy in its neuroendocrine sequelae. This paper discusses several examples illustrating the differences in ganglia and pineal removal, including the acute and chronic effects of ganglionectomy on the control of thyroid response to TSH in rats. A functionally relevant link between SCG and the hypothalamus occurs in rats, inasmuch as ganglionectomy depresses norepinephrine uptake and increases the number and responses of alpha-adrenoceptors in medial basal hypothalamus. Lastly the SCG are active points of concurrency for hormone signals, as revealed by the metabolic changes induced by steroid and anterior pituitary hormones in these structures, even in the absence of intact preganglionic connections, as well as by the existence of putative receptors for some of the hormones, namely estradiol, testosterone and corticosteroids. The SCG appear to constitute a peripheral neuroendocrine center.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
Modulation of thyroid function by the sympathetic nervous system.
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Animals↗
Ipsilateral thyroid growth and depressed thyroid hormone synthesis and content after unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy in rats.
The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the control of the goitrogenic response was examined in adult male rats subjected to unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy 12-30 days earlier. A spontaneous goiter as well as an increased thyroid growth after the administration of the goitrogenic agents methylmercaptoimidazole and thyrotropic stimulating hormone (TSH) were found in the ipsilateral lobe. Norepinephrine and epinephrine content decreased significantly by 80 and 31%, and thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) content by 24 and 15%, in the ipsilateral lobe. After the injection of a tracer dose of 125I, percent radioactivity incorporation to diiodotyrosine (DIT) was higher, and that to monoiodotyrosine (MIT) lower, in the ipsilateral lobe; additionally a lower ratio "labeled T3 + T4/labeled DIT" was found in the denervated thyroid lobe. These results suggest that the sympathetic nerve terminals in the thyroid gland modulate the organ's response to circulating TSH.
Animals↗
Catecholamines levels and parotid secretion in children with chronic atopic dermatitis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo state of both branches of the autonomic nervous system in children with chronic atopic dermatitis. In 15 patients, age 4 to 11, the following parameters were analyzed: (1) basal plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine; (2) poststimulation (standing and i.v. furosemide administration); (3) basal urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and vainillin mandelic acid; (4) 30 min postfurosemide administration; (5) parotid secretory response to intraoral 0.1 m citric acid: flow rate, saliva pH, and concentrations of bicarbonate, chlorides, inorganic phosphates, total protein, and amylase activity. No differences in plasma and urinary basal levels of the catecholamines were observed. In response to standing, plasma norepinephrine from atopic children showed a greater increase than that seen in normal healthy children. From the salivary factors studied, no differences were found in parotid flow-rate, bicarbonates, chlorides, and inorganic phosphates. Protein concentration as well as amylase activity were significantly decreased in children with atopic dermatitis. These findings suggest that in atopic dermatitis, the beta-sympathetic mediated responses are impaired; on the other hand, parasympathetic mediated responses remain preserved.
Catecholamines↗
Efferent neuroendocrine pathways of sympathetic superior cervical ganglia. Early depression of the pituitary-thyroid axis after ganglionectomy.
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Animals↗
Role of the sympathetic nervous system in the control of the goitrogenic response in the rat.
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Animals↗
Effects of alpha-bromoergocryptine on pituitary hormone secretion in children.
The effect of bromoergocryptine (BE) on human GH (hGH), PRL, LH, FSH, TSH, and blood sugar levels was evaluated in a series of 22 normal children. Blood samples were collected in basal conditions and after 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min of BE administration (1.25 or 0.62 mg/os). The drug induced a marked and sustained increase in hGH secretion when basal serum levels of the hormone were lower than 10.0 ng/ml (n = 15). When basal hGH serum levels were higher (n = 7), BE provoked either a later increase of serum hGH in most children (n = 5) or a persistent decrease in hGH (n = 2). On the other hand, BE markedly inhibited PRL secretion without modifying LH, FSH, or TSH. The data obtained suggest that BE can be used as a useful tool for the assessment of hGH secretion in children.
Adolescent↗
Plasma met-enkephalin levels: its relationship with age and type of headache.
The aim of the present study was to assess the peripheral proenkephalin-A system in order to determine if it is related in any way to age and/or the type of headache. Our results show no significant change in plasma met-enkephalin (ME) and neutrophil met-enkephalin-containing peptide (NMECP) with aging in controls. Plasma ME levels and NMECP in patients suffering from migraine without aura and tension-type headaches were found to be similar in both groups, younger and older than 60 years old. When ME plasma levels were compared among the three groups of subjects in the two age-groups, only chronic tension-type headache patients differed ( [Formula: see text] ) from both controls and migraine without aura subjects.
Journal Article↗
Mechanisms of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal disruption in polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Although the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is still controversial, a series of investigations has demonstrated an array of neuroendocrine abnormalities as a major component of the syndrome. From a neuroendocrine perspective, patients with PCOS exhibit an accelerated frequency and/or higher amplitude of LH pulses, augmentation of LH secretory burst mass, and a more disorderly LH release. Elevated in vitro LH bioactivity and a preponderance of basic LH isoforms, which correlate positively with elevated serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone concentrations, also characterize adolescents with PCOS. Heightened GnRH drive of gonadotropin secretion and a steroid-permissive milieu appear to jointly promote elevated secretion of basic LH isoforms. Positive feedback is implied, because hypersecretion of highly bioactive LH in PCOS probably contributes to inordinate androgen output. However, the precise nature of feedback disruption remains uncertain. Indeed, recent data suggest that PCOS is marked by anomalies of both feedforward and feedback signaling between GnRH/LH and ovarian androgens. From a single hormone perspective, the individual patterns of LH and androstenedione release are consistently more irregular in patients with PCOS. Bihormonal analysis has disclosed concomitant uncoupling of the pairwise synchrony of LH and testosterone, LH and androstenedione, and testosterone and androstenedione secretion. The foregoing ensemble of findings points to deterioration of both orderly uniglandular and coordinate bihormonal output in PCOS. Additional studies are needed to establish the primary pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this disorder.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
Atenolol improves ventricular function without changing plasma noradrenaline but decreasing plasma atrial natriuretic factor in chronic heart failure.
1 There is good evidence that beta-blockers improve ventricular function, disease progression and survival in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of atenolol therapy on the sympathetic nervous system at rest and after ergometric exercise, on left ventricular function and on baseline plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). 2 Twenty-two patients [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <36%; New York Heart Association II-III] were studied before atenolol treatment. Because of cardiac events (new Hospital admission or death) only 13 patients completed 1 year of treatment. Baseline noradrenaline (NE) concentrations were similar in patients and controls while ANF was higher in patients than in controls (328 +/- 35 pg ml(-1) vs. 37 +/- 3 pg ml(-1); P<0.01). 3 Patients with events showed higher NE (540 +/- 87 pg ml(-1) vs. 303 +/- 44 pg ml(-1); P<0.01) and ANF (460 +/- 70 pg ml(-1) vs. 291 +/- 44 pg ml(-1); P<0.03) at rest; and greater NE response to exercise (2.003 +/- 525 pg ml(-1) vs. 694 +/- 121 pg ml(-1); P<0.005). Atenolol treatment improved LVEF (19.5 +/- 1.9% vs. 33 +/- 3.9%; P<0.001), increased exercise tolerance (9 +/- 3.2 min vs. 17 +/- 4.8 min; P<0.001) and decreased plasma ANF (292 +/- 42 pg ml(-1) vs. 133 +/- 35 pg ml(-1); P<0.01). 4 Reduced basal dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG)/NE ratio (3.4 +/- 0.46 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.35; P<0.01) was observed in patients compared with healthy volunteers. Atenolol increased DHPG plasma levels (1.398 +/- 129 pg ml(-1) vs. 913 +/- 86 pg ml(-1); P<0.005) but the DHPG/NE ratio during exercise was not modified after treatment, suggesting that re-uptake of released NE is not changed by beta-blocker treatment. 5 In conclusion, the fact that atenolol treatment improves ventricular dysfunction and clinical status without changing plasma NE levels in CHF patients, suggests that plasma NE is a poor surrogate measurement for cardiac sympathetic activity in this pathology. In addition, decrease in plasma ANF produced by atenolol treatment may reflect the improvement of ventricular function.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
Lack of response of proenkephalin A and sympathetic nervous system in chronic pain associated with lung cancer.
Since the discovery of the link between peripheral endogenous opioid peptides and pain regulation, these substances have been studied in relation to certain pain conditions. In order to elucidate the effect of chronic pain on both peripheral opioid system and sympathetic nervous activity, we assayed plasma met-enkephalin (ME), neutrophil met-enkephalin containing peptides (NMECP) and plasma free and conjugated catecholamines (CA) in lung cancer patients with chronic pain related to bone metastases and without pain. No significant difference was found in ME levels when the pain cancer group (0.36 +/- 0.06 pmol/ml) was compared to the pain-free group (0.37 +/- 0.04 pmol/ml); results were similar for NMECP levels (14.1 +/- 1.66 pmol/mg prot and 18.41 +/- 1.93 pmol/mg prot, respectively). CA levels in both groups were also similar. These results differ from those we have reported previously for acute pain, suggesting that a non-permanent painful stimulus may be necessary for peripheral opioid system stimulation.
Aged↗
Plasma met-enkephalin and catecholamine changes during the menstrual cycle and pain episode in menstrual migraine.
In order to explore opioid, sympathetic and hormonal parameters, we evaluated plasma met-enkephalin (ME), catecholamines (CA), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in different phases of the menstrual cycle and during menstrual crisis in women suffering from menstrual migraine (MM) and in controls. No differences in P and E2 were found between controls and patients. We observed an increase in plasma ME and a decrease in plasma free norepinephrine (NE) levels on day 22 in MM group and an increase in plasma ME, free NE and total epinephrine (E) during pain. Our data, although obtained in a small number of patients, show clear modifications in plasma ME and in the sympathoadrenal function, not only during pain but also in the mid luteal phase.
Adult↗
Met-enkephalin increase in patients with fibromyalgia under local treatment.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating condition of unknown etiology. The clinical picture suggests increased activity and/or supersensitivity in nociceptive pathways or inadequate activity in endogenous pain attenuation mechanisms. One therapeutic approach in the treatment of this syndrome is the administration of serial local injections of lidocaine hydrochloride in the painful points. To evaluate the effect of this treatment on plasma met-enkephalin (ME) levels we studied 15 patients, all women with fibromyalgia under local treatment in the tender points, grouped as follows: 5 were treated with local injection of lidocaine hydrochloride, 5 were treated with local injection of saline and 5 treated with dry needling. Significant increases in plasma ME concentrations were observed in all groups in the last sampling of each session studied. These results show an increase in plasma ME levels 10 minutes after finishing each session, which is independent of the maneuver employed.
Adult↗