Homologous desensitization of calcitonin gene-related peptide response in rat glomerular mesangial cells in culture.

Addition of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to rat glomerular mesangial cells in culture resulted in an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in a concentration-dependent fashion with an EC50 of approximately 3 nM. Inclusion of CGRP8-37, a CGRP1 selective antagonist shifted CGRP concentration-response curve to the right, suggesting the presence of CGRP1 subtype receptors in these cells. Pretreatment of these cells with CGRP followed by washing and rechallenge with CGRP or isoproterenol or forskolin resulted in selective attenuation of CGRP-mediated cAMP accumulation by 55-60% without affecting isoproterenol or forskolin-mediated accumulation, suggesting that CGRP pretreatment of mesangial cells induced homologous desensitization.

Functional significance of leukotriene B4 in normal and glomerulonephritic kidneys.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is the major 5-lipoxgenase product released during early experimental glomerulonephritis. To test its functional relevance, its actions in the normal rat kidney and its influence on renal function in the heterologous phase of mild nephrotoxic serum-induced glomerular injury were examined. Intrarenal administration of leukotriene B4 resulted in mild vasorelaxant and natriuretic responses which were shared by 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid but not 12(S)-leukotriene B4 or 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, suggesting activation of a common recognition site with a requirement for 12(R) stereochemistry.

Vasopressin antidiuretic agonist and antagonist activity in dogs: structural and stereochemical relationship between bridge and carboxyl terminus.

A series of vasopressin analogs with various amino acid tail modifications were tested for antidiuretic agonist and antagonist (water diuretic) activity in the water-loaded indomethacin-treated and hydropenic dogs, respectively. Changing the carboxy terminus from Cys6-Pro7-Arg8-NH2 in SK&F 101926 to Cys6-Arg7-NH2 or to D-Cys6-Pro7-Arg8-NH2 or to D- or L-Cys6-Arg7-D-Arg8-NH2 reduced antidiuretic agonist and increased water diuretic activity. Replacement of the sulfur atoms in the cysteine residues with methylene groups further reduced the antidiuretic agonist activity of all carboxy terminus-modified compounds which possessed full agonist activity.

Assessment of myeloperoxidase activity in whole rat kidney.

A method to quantitate myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity from rat whole kidney is described. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration into tissue is a hallmark of acute inflammation. Historically, the degree of inflammation has been quantified by the identification and enumeration of PMNs histologically or by some other means.