Reduced plasma L-arginine in hypercholesterolaemia.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Arginine↗
Biomedical subjects
T Münzel
Publications and source records attributed to T Münzel.
Alterations of skeletal muscle in chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to define the prevalence and characteristics of skeletal muscle alterations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and their relation to exercise capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ultrastructure of skeletal muscle was analyzed by ultrastructural morphometry in 57 patients with CHF and 18 healthy controls. The volume density of mitochondria (Vvm) and the surface density (Svmc) of mitochondrial cristae were evaluated as a structural correlate of oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle. Vvm and Svmc were reduced by approximately 20% in patients with severe CHF irrespective of age and etiology. The cytochrome oxidase activity in mitochondria as determined by cytochemistry and subsequent morphometry in a subset of patients (n = 10) was significantly decreased in heart failure (p less than 0.01). The capillary length density of skeletal muscle was reduced in CHF (n = 12, p less than 0.05), and the fiber type distribution was shifted to type II fibers (n = 15, p less than 0.05). Vvm and Svmc were significantly related to peak exercise VO2 (r = 0.56, p less than 0.001, n = 60) and to VO2 at anaerobic threshold (r = 0.535, p less than 0.0001, n = 60). In 16 patients with severe heart failure, Vvm was inversely related to the duration of heart failure (r = 0.545, p less than 0.03). In 11 patients who underwent repeat biopsies after 4 months, a correlation was observed between the change in Vvm and the change in peak exercise VO2 (r = 0.89, p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that patients with CHF develop significant ultrastructural abnormalities of skeletal muscle reflecting a depressed oxidative capacity of working muscle. It appears that these alterations of skeletal muscle contribute to the decreased exercise capacity of these patients but are, in principle, reversible by an effective treatment regimen.
Aging↗
Mechanisms of interaction between the sulfhydryl precursor L-methionine and glyceryl trinitrate.
BACKGROUND: L-Methionine potentiates systemic hemodynamic effects of intravenous glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in tolerant and nontolerant patients to a similar extent as N-acetylcysteine (NAC). This potentiation of GTN action by L-methionine has been attributed to enhanced intracellular formation of nitrosothiols, known to be potent stimulators of soluble guanylyl cyclase. This study was performed to analyze directly the effects of L-methionine on GTN-induced dilation of large epicardial arteries and the venous capacitance system of the dog in the tolerant and nontolerant states. Cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and purified guanylyl cyclase were used to study potential intracellular and extracellular mechanisms responsible for this interaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In awake nontolerant dogs, L-methionine (100 mg/kg) potentiated the tachycardic response to GTN (5.0 and 15 micrograms/kg/min) and enhanced the hypotensive action of GTN (1.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min) in anesthetized, nonreflexic dogs. In nontolerant and tolerant dogs, however, L-methionine did not alter the dose-response of large epicardial artery dilation to intravenous GTN challenges and did not modify nitrate tolerance of the low pressure system of the dog. The infusion of L-methionine (100 mg/kg) significantly increased plasma methionine levels (from 52 +/- 12 to 1,141 +/- 239 microM), cystine levels (from 12 +/- 4 to 26 +/- 7 microM), but not homocystine levels. In vitro, the L-methionine conversion product L-cysteine (0.1-1.0 mM) but not homocysteine significantly enhanced the augmentation of purified guanylyl cyclase activity by GTN (100 microM). Incubation of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells with L-methionine (10 microM or 1 mM) did not result in a significant increase of free intracellular sulfhydryl group content. CONCLUSIONS: The L-methionine conversion product L-cysteine mediates tolerance independent the potentiation of GTN action. This may result from an L-cysteine-induced formation of a vasoactive metabolite of GTN (nitric oxide) or nitrosothiol. This effect occurs primarily in the resistance vessel circulation, not in large epicardial arteries and veins. The lack of effect of L-methionine on sulfhydryl group content in large conductance vessels indicates that hepatic L-methionine metabolism constitutes the significant source of L-cysteine. These findings strongly suggest that administration of sulfhydryl-group precursor L-methionine does not represent a therapeutic alternative to a nitrate-free interval to restore nitrate sensitivity in tolerant large epicardial arteries and veins.
Animals↗
Neurohormonal inhibition and hemodynamic unloading during prolonged inhibition of ANF degradation in patients with severe chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of prolonged inhibition of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) degradation in patients with severe chronic heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of repeated doses of the endopeptidase inhibitor candoxatrilat (150 mg i.v.) were examined over a 24-hour period in patients with severe chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association class III-IV). Plasma alpha-hANF(99-126) was elevated at baseline (235 +/- 59 pg/ml), increased 2.5-fold at 2 hours after the first dose, and remained significantly elevated throughout the 24-hour protocol. In contrast, pro-hANF(31-67) decreased from 3,151 +/- 616 to 2,072 +/- 362 pg/ml (p less than 0.05). Cardiac index (CI) increased only transiently after the first dose of candoxatrilat (CI, 2.11 +/- 0.2 to 2.67 +/- 0.28 l/min/m2, p less than 0.05). Sodium excretion increased sixfold (p less than 0.05) 2 hours after the first dose of candoxatrilat and remained significantly elevated throughout the protocol. Degree of natriuresis and diuresis in response to candoxatrilat was closely related to baseline cardiac output. Glomerular filtration rate and volume excretion did not change significantly. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure fell from 23 +/- 3 to 18 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and remained below baseline throughout the 24 hours. Arterial pressure, heart rate, and total peripheral resistance did not change significantly during the 24-hour period. Urinary cGMP excretion increased fivefold (p less than 0.05), whereas urinary ANF immunoreactivity and plasma cGMP levels remained unchanged. Excretion of prostacyclin metabolite 6-keto-PGF-1 alpha increased 3.3-fold (p less than 0.05). Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels decreased significantly after candoxatrilat and remained suppressed over the 24-hour period. There was also a transient reduction in plasma vasopressin, aldosterone levels, and plasma renin activity. Hematocrit, total protein content, and plasma albumin concentrations did not change, indicating that no fluid shift into the extravascular space had occurred. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The inhibition of ANF degradation causes sustained drop in left and right atrial pressures that appears to be mediated by an inhibition of neurohumoral activity; 2) concomitant inhibition of bradykinin breakdown (which in turn stimulates renal prostacyclin synthesis) contributes to natriuresis; 3) the close correlation between renal response and baseline cardiac index indicates that an inadequate renal perfusion secondary to low cardiac output diminishes the efficacy of this treatment modality. This spectrum of action would be advantageous for a first-line diuretic agent early in the course of disease rather than in patients with advanced chronic heart failure.
Aged↗
Arterial dilatory reserve in congestive heart failure.
AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are abnormalities in flow-mediated large vessel relaxation in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: The radial arterial diameter and flow responses upon the release of 10 min of forearm arterial occlusion (reactive hyperemia) were measured with ultrasound and Doppler devices. RESULTS: In patients with CHF there was a 26% reduction in peak blood flow (P = 0.09) compared to age-matched controls. However, the increase in arterial diameter that followed the peak blood flow was reduced by 49% in CHF (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The causes of the abnormal flow-mediated large artery relaxation in CHF are unclear; both structural and endothelial abnormalities may contribute.
Blood Flow Velocity↗
Adaptive changes in the periphery and their therapeutic consequences.
Systemic vasoconstriction in chronic heart failure is due to several compensatory mechanisms with different time courses. Peripheral vasoconstriction mediated by increased sympathetic tone and activation of the plasma renin-angiotensin system may act primarily for short-term control. The effects of the vascular renin-angiotensin system, impaired flow-dependent, endothelium-mediated dilation (resulting from chronically reduced flow) and structural alterations of the vessel wall slowly emerge with time. In addition, fluid retention may contribute to increased vascular stiffness in chronic heart failure. Improved cardiac output with acute administration of vasodilators and inotropes is not immediately translated into increased blood flow to skeletal muscle, because (1) the reversal of the peripheral alterations described develops slowly over time (in fact, vasodilators and inotropes given acutely may cause redistribution of blood flow in skeletal muscle without improving oxygen availability); and (2) intrinsic abnormalities of skeletal muscle exist in chronic heart failure (e.g., due to chronic deconditioning, resulting in reduced oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle, as suggested by ultrastructural analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). Drugs that interfere with the underlying compensatory mechanisms (e.g., renin-angiotensin system) without development of tolerance during long-term therapy exert beneficial effects after long-term treatment (e.g., the beneficial effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are, in part, due to peripheral mechanisms--the inability of the peripheral vessels to dilate--and to improvement of peripheral oxygen extraction).
Adaptation, Physiological↗
Mechanisms involved in the response to prolonged infusion of atrial natriuretic factor in patients with chronic heart failure.
We examined the mechanisms involved in the cardiovascular and renal response to prolonged infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in patients with chronic heart failure. ANF infusion was titrated to produce a 30% decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure or a 20% increase in cardiac output, and this dose (average, 75 +/- 4 ng/kg/min) was then administered for 20 hours. The short-term response to ANF included significant reductions in central filling pressures, increases in cardiac output, modest increases in diuresis and glomerular filtration rates, significant reduction in plasma aldosterone levels, and a 3.6-fold increase in plasma cyclic GMP levels. During prolonged infusion, plasma cGMP levels and cardiac output gradually returned to baseline. Similarly, the initially increased diuretic effects were completely abolished during prolonged ANF infusion, although plasma alpha-hANF levels remained consistently elevated above baseline values (control, 198 +/- 38; titration, 2,760 +/- 596; 20 hours, 3,499 +/- 659 pg/ml). Four hours after beginning the ANF infusion, marked increases in hematocrit levels were noted (42.5 +/- 1.0% versus 45.3 +/- 1.4%, control and infusion, respectively, p less than 0.05); during this time, no change in total plasma protein concentration occurred, indicating extravascular shift of fluid and plasma proteins. No evidence was noted for activation of vasoconstrictor hormones during prolonged ANF infusion, although mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced throughout the infusion period. Plasma pro-ANF (31-67) levels, determined as a marker for endogenous ANF secretion, were significantly suppressed as were the reductions of central filling pressures. After ANF discontinuation, heart rate and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased significantly above baseline values without evidence for sympathetic stimulation. We conclude that 1) prolonged infusion of ANF causes only transient increases in plasma cGMP levels but a sustained reduction of the cardiac release of ANF and that 2) the beneficial hemodynamic effects of ANF, that is, unloading of the ventricles, may be associated with or, in part, may be secondary to a shift of plasma constituents into the extravascular space. The latter may limit the therapeutic potential of ANF for long-term treatment.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
Nitrate action on epicardial coronary arteries and tolerance: new aspects based on longterm glyceryl trinitrate infusions in dogs.
Continuous application of organic nitrates in patients causes a well-documented attenuation of their antianginal efficacy. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is assumed to reverse this nitrate tolerance by replenishing depleted intracellular sulphydryl groups, but data on NAC application in patients are controversial. Therefore, we studied the effect of NAC on epicardial artery vasomotion under nitrate tolerance, and we examined under these conditions the epicardial artery dilations induced by glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and those mediated by the endothelium, since the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase is a common mechanism of these two reactions. Tolerance was induced in chronically instrumented dogs by long-term GTN infusion (1.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 i.v. for 5 to 6 days) and shifted the GTN dose response curve of epicardial arteries to 17- to 20-fold higher doses. However, there was no alteration of epicardial artery dilations induced by SIN-1, another activator of guanylate cyclase, or of endothelium-mediated dilations. Furthermore, NAC (100 mg kg-1 i.v.) did not alter the dose-response relation of GTN under tolerance. In vitro, however, NAC potentiated the activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase by GTN, while NAC without GTN was ineffective. In non-tolerant dogs, NAC slightly (1.5- to 2-fold) augmentated dilations induced by 0.5-1.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 GTN, and a similar small augmentation of GTN dilations by NAC is observed in patients, regardless whether they are tolerant to nitrates or not. We conclude: (1) a step prior to the guanylate cyclase activation is responsible for GTN-specific tolerance of epicardial arteries in vivo. (2) NAC does not reverse GTN-specific tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acetylcysteine↗
Nitrate tolerance in epicardial arteries or in the venous system is not reversed by N-acetylcysteine in vivo, but tolerance-independent interactions exist.
N-acetylcysteine is assumed to reverse nitrate tolerance by replenishing depleted intracellular sulfhydryl groups, but data on interactions of N-acetylcysteine and nitrates in patients with stable angina are controversial and disappointing. Therefore, we studied the effect of N-acetylcysteine on nitrate responsiveness of epicardial arteries and of the venous system (assessed as changes in effective vascular compliance) in dogs (n = 12) during long-term nitroglycerin treatment (1.5 micrograms/kg/min i.v. for 5-6 days). In dogs with nitroglycerin-specific tolerance (shift of venous or epicardial artery dilation to 15-17-fold higher dosages), N-acetylcysteine (100 mg/kg i.v.) had no dilator effect and did not alter the dose-response relations of nitroglycerin. Yet, in nontolerant dogs (n = 17), N-acetylcysteine augmented (1.5-2.0-fold) the dilation of epicardial arteries and the reduction of peripheral vascular resistance induced by 0.5-1.5 micrograms/kg/min nitroglycerin. In vitro, the augmentation of purified guanylate cyclase activity by nitroglycerin (10-100 microM) was potentiated by N-acetylcysteine (0.01-1.0 mM) in saline or in canine plasma, but N-acetylcysteine alone was ineffective. We conclude that 1) N-acetylcysteine does not restore nitroglycerin responsiveness in tolerant epicardial arteries or veins in vivo, 2) a small, tolerance-independent augmentation of nitroglycerin-induced dilation may result from N-acetylcysteine-induced extracellular formation of a stimulant of guanylate cyclase from nitroglycerin.
Acetylcysteine↗
Sympathoadrenal inhibition by atrial natriuretic peptide is not attenuated during development of congestive heart failure in dogs.
The feedback control of neuroendocrine activity by cardiopulmonary blood volume is disturbed in congestive heart failure. By analyzing plasma catecholamine kinetics, we tested in 11 chronically instrumented conscious dogs whether attenuations in the sympathoadrenal inhibition induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) contributed to this disturbance. Low-output failure was brought about by continuous ventricular pacing at 265 beats/min for 2 weeks. This resulted in a decline in aortic flow by 37 +/- 5% (SEM), an increase in peripheral vascular resistance by 48 +/- 4%, a 13 +/- 3-fold elevation in plasma ANP, a 9 +/- 3-fold elevation in plasma renin activity, and an augmentation of the norepinephrine-release rate into plasma by 132 +/- 17%. During ANP infusion, the epinephrine-release rate declined by 26 +/- 5% per 10-fold elevation in plasma ANP before pacing and by 31 +/- 7% (not significantly different) after 2 weeks of pacing. Before pacing, ANP attenuated plasma renin activity and caused hypotension without a rise in norepinephrine-release rate. After 2 weeks of pacing, ANP lowered norepinephrine release (by 16 +/- 6%) without affecting blood pressure or plasma renin activity, and vascular nonresponsiveness to ANP was verified under autonomic blockade. These data indicate that, during the development of heart failure, an inhibitory action of ANP on norepinephrine release is unmasked by an ANP-specific vascular desensitization, whereas the inhibition of epinephrine release is observed throughout. It is concluded that ANP-induced sympathoadrenal inhibition is not attenuated and, therefore, does not contribute to the disturbed regulation observed early in the development of failure.
Adrenal Medulla↗
Failure of the sulfhydryl donor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to reverse nitrate tolerance in large epicardial arteries and the venous capacitance system of the dog.
NAC has been thought to reverse nitrate tolerance by replenishing depleted intracellular sulfhydryl groups, however data on interactions between N-acetylcysteine and nitrates in patients with stable angina are controversial and disappointing. Therefore, we studied the effect of NAC on nitrate responsiveness of epicardial arteries and of the venous system (assessed as changes in effective vascular compliance) in dogs (n = 12) during long-term nitroglycerine (GTN)-treatment (1.5 micrograms/kg/min for 5 to 6 days). In dogs with GTN-specific tolerance (shift of venous or epicardial artery dilation with 15- to 17-fold higher dosages), NAC (100 mg/kg i.v.) had no dilator effect and did not alter the dose response relations of nitroglycerin. However, in nontolerant dogs (n = 7) NAC augmented (1.5- to 2-fold) the reduction of peripheral vascular resistance induced by 0.5-1.5 microgram/kg/min GTN. In vitro, the augmentation of purified guanylate cyclase activity by GTN (100 microM) was potentiated by NAC (0.01-1.0 mM) in saline or in canine plasma, whereas NAC alone was ineffective. Therefore, NAC does not restore GTN-responsiveness in epicardial arteries or veins in vivo and a small, tolerance-independent augmentation of GTN-induced dilation may result from NAC-induced extracellular formation of a stimulant of guanylate cyclase from GTN.
Acetylcysteine↗
Consideration of conduit and resistance vessels in regulation of blood flow.
In heart failure the maximal capacity for dilation, especially in skeletal muscle arteries, is reduced. This may be due to changes in sympathetic tone, in hormonal stimulation (both by circulating and intramurally released compounds like angiotensin II with additional presynaptic effects) or in endothelium mediated vasodilation. The loss of endothelium-mediated, flow-dependent dilation in large arteries may originate from endothelial impairment induced by, e.g., chronic hypoxia or hypercholesterolemia. Similar effects result from suppressed local dilator autacoid release brought about, e.g., by circulating atrial natriuretic factor in the presence of a fully functioning endothelium. Finally, attenuated augmentations in flow may be secondary to changes in muscular metabolism, and an increased alpha-adrenergic neurogenic constriction may be present. This may be further enhanced by a local, beta-receptor-mediated angiotensin II release. An impaired dilation at the level of resistance vessels may result from a combination of the mechanisms listed above.
Animals↗
Discrepancy between initial and steady-state resistance vessel responsiveness to short-term nitroglycerin exposure in the hindlimb of conscious dogs.
Since much of the antianginal efficacy of nitroglycerin can be ascribed to its ability to dilate large arteries and venous capacitance vessels at dosages that have little steady-state effect on vascular resistance, we re-examined the reasons for low responsiveness of resistance vessels to nitroglycerin in a peripheral vascular bed in vivo. In chronically instrumented conscious dogs, intra-iliac nitroglycerin (0.15, 0.5, and 1.5 micrograms/kg/min) resulted in substantial dose-dependent initial increases in iliac flow (35% +/- 7%, 60% +/- 11%, and 106% +/- 12%, respectively). However, unlike the responses of iliac large artery diameter, these dilations were not sustained during a 6-min infusion. In contrast, doses of nitroprusside, acetylcholine, and adenosine, which gave initial dilations comparable to nitroglycerin, resulted in considerably greater steady-state responses (p less than 0.001). Nitrate tolerance, autoregulatory escape, reflex vasoconstriction, and the influence of cyclooxygenase products were ruled out as potential explanations of this selective pattern of nitroglycerin response. It is proposed that the rapid attenuation of nitroglycerin-induced dilation in a representative peripheral vascular bed cannot be attributed to currently accepted hypotheses and contributes more to the unique and beneficial spectrum of nitrate vascular action than an a priori lack of sensitivity of resistance vessels.
Acetylcysteine↗
Preferential venoconstriction by cyclooxygenase inhibition in vivo without attenuation of nitroglycerin venodilation.
Because prostacyclin is a rather potent venodilator in vivo, we analyzed the effect of cyclooxygenase inhibition on venous tone in 14 anesthetized dogs during ganglionic and beta-adrenergic blockade and atraumatic conditions. Effective vascular stiffness (a reciprocal of effective vascular compliance) as a variable of integrated venous tone was 0.30 +/- 0.01 mm Hg.kg/ml (n = 35) and was augmented up to twofold by diclofenac (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg i.v.), ibuprofen (6 and 60 mg/kg), or indomethacin (5 mg/kg) parallel to augmentations in central venous pressure, while the rise in arterial pressure was less than half of the increase induced by equivenoconstrictor dosages of norepinephrine. After preconstriction by indomethacin or diclofenac, nitroglycerin (1.5 micrograms/kg/min) lowered effective vascular stiffness (by 24 +/- 2% or 23 +/- 5%, respectively), similarly as during preconstriction by norepinephrine (by 24 +/- 4%). Long-term cyclooxygenase inhibition (diclofenac 2 x 1 mg/kg/day for 4 days) did not modify arterial pressure, heart rate, or hematocrit levels in conscious dogs at rest, but it lowered plasma volume to 52.5 +/- 1.9 ml/kg (sham treatment: 59.1 +/- 1.6 ml/kg, p less than 0.05, n = 4). In conclusion, venoconstriction by clinical dosages of cyclooxygenase inhibitors does not interfere with the venodilator action of nitroglycerin and is compensated chronically by adjustments of plasma volume.
Animals↗
[Cardiac mechanisms for the development of angina pectoris pain].
Despite numerous experimental and clinical investigations, the exact mechanisms involved in the development of cardiac pain are not completely understood. Sensory receptors for painful stimuli, presumably sympathetic sensory nerve endings, are located in the atria, the ventricles, and in the walls of the coronary arteries. These receptors fire at a background rate under normal hemodynamic conditions. They respond to chemical stimuli and are therefore similar to polymodal nociceptors. The afferent fibers (slow-conducting, unmyelinated group IV-fibers, or fast-conducting myelinated group III-fibers) run in the cardiac sympathetic nerves and converge with somatosensory fibers on the same ascending spinothalamic neurons, which may explain the phenomenon of "referred pain". Still unknown is the role of the afferent vagal fibers in pain perception; however, a modulating influence on pain threshold and characteristics seems possible. Two main mechanisms may be responsible for cardiac pain during ischemic periods: a) chemical excitation of free sensory nerve endings by substances such as bradykinin, PGE2, adenosine, histamine, serotonin, or K+; b) abnormal motion of ischemic segments (dyskinesia, bulging) during systole and excitation of mechanical receptors by passive stretching, and probably a combination of a) and b): the release of chemical substances sensitizes mechanical receptors and lowers their threshold for nociceptive stimuli. These can be suppressed at various spinal or supraspinal levels.
Afferent Pathways↗
Reversal of acetylcholine-induced coronary resistance vessel dilation by hemoglobin.
In large arteries, acetylcholine-induced dilation is mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and can be blocked by hemoglobin (Hb). However, the role of EDRF in the microcirculation is uncertain. Therefore, the effect of Hb on acetylcholine-induced dilation of resistance vessels was studied in isolated, constant-flow perfused rabbit hearts. Hb reversibly blocked the acetylcholine-induced lowering of perfusion pressure (control -27 +/- 3%; during Hb 0 +/- 4%) without inhibiting responses to other dilators, strongly suggesting that acetylcholine action in the microcirculation is mediated by EDRF.
Acetylcholine↗
[Atrial natriuretic hormone in the human].
The muscle cells of cardiac atria contain many secretory granula with a prohormone of 126 amino acids (ANF(1-126)). Distension of the atria causes exocytosis of the granula with cleavage of the prohormone into the hormone ANF(99-126) or alpha-ANP and the N-terminal fragment ANF(1-98) with an as yet unknown role. The plasma concentration of the hormone in normal man is in the range of 10 pM (30 pg/ml) with a plasma half-life of several minutes and a release rate of 2-3 ng/kg per minute. The plasma concentration changes in parallel with the intake of sodium chloride and is elevated acutely by all interventions which increase the blood volume, or which cause its redistribution towards the cardiopulmonary compartment. Infusions of the hormone cause diuresis and natriuresis, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and of sympathetic activity and augmentation of tissue filtration. Thus, a hormonal feedback loop for cardiac unloading by limiting the plasma volume could be assumed. However, the ANF infusion rates necessary for eliciting these actions in man induce ANF plasma concentrations above physiological levels. On the other hand, a physiological role of the hormone in this regulation is suggested by observations during long-term administration of the hormone, which demonstrate actions of the hormone at physiological plasma levels. Furthermore, experiments with injection of ANF antibodies indicate a synergistic action of ANF, together with reflexes in response to atrial distension. ANF acts by activating specific high affinity membrane receptors, resulting in intracellular cGMP formation and cGMP release into plasma and urine. These ANF receptors are "down-regulated" by infusions of the hormone and by chronic volume expansion. In fetal circulation and in congestive heart failure, there is also augmented prohormone synthesis in the cardiac ventricles, which may then contribute to the release of the hormone. Although during cardiac failure the ANF plasma levels are augmented up to 30-fold, and the atrial prohormone content is reduced, there is no indication for an exhaustion of hormone synthesis or for resetting of stimulated hormone release. In addition to its role as a peripheral hormone for "cardiac unloading", ANF occurs in the central nervous system as a neuropeptide, which might also be involved in blood pressure and volume regulation.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
[Dilatation of epicardial coronary vessels by intravenous diltiazem in patients with coronary heart disease].
UNLABELLED: Coronary diameters and central hemodynamics were measured in 22 patients with stable coronary artery disease before and after 20 mg of intravenous diltiazem. Coronary diameters from high quality biplane coronary angiograms were calculated as mean values after caliper measurements of identical segments. Measurements were made in angiographically normal and abnormal proximal, middle and distal vessel segments. Central hemodynamics showed a significant decrease for heart rate, mean aortic pressure and peripheral resistance (p less than 0.001). Coronary diameters increased between 2 and 16% (proximal or distal segments). Diameter increases were statistically significant for all segments (p less than 0.001) except for proximal atherosclerotic segments. These hemodynamic and diameter changes were seen after 5, 10 and 20 minutes. CONCLUSION: Intravenous diltiazem shows an acute coronary dilative effect in patients with stable coronary artery disease. This effect is regarded as one of the essential antianginal actions of the drug.
Benzazepines↗