Increased plasma endothelin in NIDDM patients with retinopathy.

Objective: To elucidate the significance of ET in diabetic microvascular disease.

Research Design And Methods: We determined plasma levels of ir-ET-1 in 25 NIDDM patients without hypertension and/or renal dysfunction.

Results: The plasma levels of ir-ET-1 in NIDDM patients with simple (n = 8) and proliferative (n = 8) retinopathy were 0.

Endothelin-specific antibodies decrease blood pressure and increase glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Objective: Studies were undertaken to clarify the pathophysiologic significance of endogenous endothelin in the control of blood pressure and renal hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Design: The technique of passive immunization was used to neutralize endogenous endothelin in order to estimate the contribution of endothelin to the in vivo control of blood pressure and renal hemodynamics.

Methods: Endothelin-specific antibodies were administered intravenously into anesthetized SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and the effects upon blood pressure and renal function (renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate) assessed.

Histological study on ouabain immunoreactivities in the mammalian hypothalamus.

The endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) which has recently been purified from human plasma and identified as 'ouabain', a cis-trans-cis steroid of plant origin, is thought to be similar to the hypothetical humoral factor, 'endogenous digitalis-like substance (EDLS)'. In order to examine the hypothesis that EDLS is produced in the hypothalamus, we prepared an ouabain-specific antibody, and applied it to rat and macaque brains. Ouabain immunoreactivities were observed in the hypothalamus of both species.

Endothelin-3 immunoreactivity in gonadotrophs of the human anterior pituitary.

Endothelin (ET), originally discovered in vascular endothelial cells, has also been demonstrated in nonvascular tissues. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the presence of ET in the human pituitary. The avidin-biotin complex method with antiserum to ET-1 (and ET-2) or ET-3 was used to identify ET in human pituitaries obtained by autopsy.

A highly repetitive interspersed sequence isolated from genomic DNA of the Medaka, Oryzias latipes, is conserved in three other related species within the genus Oryzias.

A highly repeated interspersed sequence (OLR1) was isolated from a genomic DNA library of the Medaka, Oryzias latipes. The OLR1 was about 160 base pairs (bp) in length. As judged from the results of colony hybridization experiments, OLR1 is one of the major repeated DNA sequences in the Medaka genome and is present in every 136 kb on average.

Endothelin stimulates aldosterone secretion in vitro from normal adrenocortical tissue, but not adenoma tissue, in primary aldosteronism.

In addition to vasoconstriction, endothelin (ET) has been reported to show various endocrine actions in animals. However, no data have emerged concerning the effect of ET on adrenal function in humans. We, therefore, investigated the effects of ET on aldosterone and cortisol secretion from adrenocortical tissues obtained from normal subjects (n = 6) and patients with primary aldosteronism (n = 5).

A patient with a prolactinoma associated with an aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma: differences in dopaminergic regulation of PRL and aldosterone secretion.

A patient with a rare combination of prolactinoma and aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma (APA) was reported in relation to studies concerning dopaminergic regulation of PRL and aldosterone secretion. The patient is a 38-year-old female with plasma PRL and aldosterone concentrations (PAC) of 563 ng/ml and 54 ng/dl, respectively. A bolus of 10 mg of metoclopramide significantly increased plasma PRL in 6 normal subjects and in 4 patients with APA, whereas the responses were blunted in 7 patients with prolactinoma and in our patient.

[A randomized study of pirarubicin (THP) versus adriamycin (ADM) for intravesical instillation therapy against superficial bladder cancer].

To determine the antitumor action by intravesical instillation prior to transurethral resection TUR, a randomized study on pirarubicin (THP) versus adriamycin (ADM) was performed for superficial, papillary and initially detected bladder cancers with participation of 21 Urological Clinics in 3 Tokai Prefectures. The instillation dose of 500 micrograms/ml was given 3 times per week for 3 weeks in both THP (n = 33) and ADM (n = 30) groups. The complete and partial response rates were 56.

Differential responses of Ca-activated K channels to bradykinin in sensory neurons and F-11 cells.

The nonapeptide bradykinin (BK) excites a subset of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with putative nociceptive functions by stimulating an inward cation current. In addition, BK stimulates various intracellular signaling pathways including an elevation of intracellular Ca2+. In a DRG neuron x neuroblastoma hybrid cell (F-11), BK stimulates similar increases in intracellular [Ca2+] and inward current but also elicits a large transient outward current through Ca(2+)-activated K channels.

Atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide coexist in the secretory granules of human cardiac myocytes.

To elucidate the intracellular localization of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in human cardiac myocytes, an immunocytochemical study was carried out by a double immunogold technique using antisera highly specific for ANP and BNP. Surgical and autoptic tissue specimens of human heart were studied. In the atrial myocytes, ANP was localized in almost all of the secretory granules, whereas BNP was colocalized with ANP in some of the granules.

Antiserum against homologous atrial natriuretic peptide diminishes the natriuretic response during mineralocorticoid escape in rats.

To elucidate the physiological role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in plasma during mineralocorticoid escape, we investigated the effects of passive immunization with ANP-specific antiserum on deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-treated rats. Sodium was retained in excess of intake during the first day after treatment with DOCA, and sodium balance returned to control values by the second day, whereas the excretion of potassium exceeded the intake during all days after DOCA treatment. These changes in electrolyte balance were associated with a significant increase in plasma levels of ANP.

Relationship between fetal hypoxia and endothelin-1 in fetal circulation.

The role of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide secreted by endothelial cells, in fetal circulation was investigated in relation to fetal hypoxia. Umbilical venous blood was obtained from 23 subjects who delivered between 36 and 41 weeks of gestation. In all cases, pH of umbilical venous blood was measured immediately after the delivery of placenta.

Molecular form of immunoreactive endothelin in plasma and urine of normal subjects and patients with various disease states.

To elucidate the pathophysiologic significance of the family of endothelin (ET) peptides, we have investigated plasma and urinary immunoreactive (ir-) ET levels and its molecular forms in normal and pathological conditions. Plasma and urine ET were extracted with an Amprep C2 column. The molecular form of ET was determined by a combination of radioimmunoassay and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Is big endothelin converted to endothelin-1 in circulating blood?

Although evidence has been accumulating to support an intracellular processing of big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) to ET-1, molecular conversion in the circulating blood remains to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether big ET-1 was converted to ET-1 in human blood. In the first experiment, normal serum with synthetic big ET-1 exogenously added or serum from patients with chronic renal failure was incubated in vitro at 37 degrees C for 1 h.

Plasma immunoreactive endothelin, but not thrombomodulin, is increased in patients with essential hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

To ascertain an involvement of vascular endothelial cells in cardiovascular disease, we have determined plasma levels of two endothelium-derived substances, endothelin (ET) and thrombomodulin (TM), in essential hypertension (EH) and ischemic heart disease. Plasma ET was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) after extraction. Plasma TM levels were determined by enzymunoimmunoassay.

Immunoreactive endothelin in plasma of nonmammalian vertebrates.

Immunoreactive endothelin (ir-ET) was estimated in plasma of nonmammalian vertebrates, using radioimmunoassay (RIA) for endothelin-1 (ET-1). Blood samples were collected from unanesthetized animals. Plasma ET was determined by RIA after extraction.

Electrophysiological analysis of structural aspects of voltage-dependent SR K+ channel.

This article presents a brief review on the electrophysiological analysis of the structural aspects of the voltage-dependent SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum) K+ channel. In the first half, early attempts to determine the physical dimensions of the ion conducting mechanism such as the mouth, narrow tunnel, or ion selective filter of the channel, are reviewed. The depicted cartoon of the SR K+ channel, as an extremely short, busy district with a big mouth on each side, is quite similar to the recently-obtained reconstructed structural image of the acetylcholine receptor channel.

Intracellular formation and release of angiotensins from juxtaglomerular cells.

Evidence accumulates that intrarenal angiotensin II (Ang II) plays important roles in the regulation of renal functions. To determine the mechanism and site of the intrarenal formation of Ang II, we employed histochemical, cell biological and ex vivo perfusion methods. Immunohistochemical studies have revealed the co-existence of renin and Ang II in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, and electron microscopic studies and subcellular organelle fractionation have demonstrated the localization of renin and angiotensin in renin granules.

Renal and hemodynamic effects of endothelin in anesthetized dogs.

The effects of endothelin on systemic hemodynamics and renal functions were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Infusion of endothelin at a dose of 1 ng/kg/min decreased renal blood flow and increased renal vascular resistance and filtration fraction. Endothelin at doses higher than 10 ng/kg/min significantly decreased cardiac output, glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, urine volume, and urinary sodium excretion.

Classification of the intrafusal muscle fibres in the frog muscle spindle: histochemical and immunofluorescent studies.

Intrafusal muscle fibres from bull-frog semitendinosus, iliofibularis and sartorius muscles were classified into three types using the histochemical, immunofluorescent and morphological characteristics, with reference to the extrafusal muscle fibres, which were classified into five types in accordance with Rowlerson & Spurway (1988). Immunofluorescent reactions with antibodies against slow or fast myosins obtained from anterior or posterior latissimus dorsi muscles (ALD or PLD), respectively, of chicken were used as the primary criterion. Histochemical profiles of muscle fibres were classified into nine types of myosin ATPase activity as the secondary criterion.

Aminoglycoside blockade of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channel from rat brain synaptosomal membranes incorporated into planar bilayers.

Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels from rat brain synaptosomal membranes were incorporated into planar lipid bilayers, and the effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the single channel conductance (258 +/- 13 pS at 100 mM K+) were investigated. Aminoglycosides reduced the single channel conductance from the 'cis' (cytoplasmic) side in a dose- and voltage-dependent manner. Voltage dependence of the blockade indicated an interaction between positively charged amino residues of aminoglycoside antibiotics and a binding site located within the electric field of the ion-conducting pathway.

Increased levels of beta-human atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity in chronically overloaded atrial tissue.

The levels and molecular form of atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity (ANP-LI) in human atrial tissue were investigated. The levels of right atrial ANP-LI were significantly higher in mitral disease than in other cardiac or noncardiac diseases. The increased ANP-LI was mainly accounted for by an increase in beta-human ANP-LI (beta-hANP-LI).

[Carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter. An investigation of 384 registered cases in the Tokai Urological Cancer Registry].

Registration of renal pelvic and ureteral tumor was done from 1980 through 1986, in the Tokai Urological Tumor Registry. Among the 404 cases of the carcinoma, 384 cases (210 renal pelvis, 174 ureter) were subjected to the present study. A total of 319 cases (83.

Effects of endothelin on renal hemodynamics and excretory functions in anesthetized dogs.

The effects of endothelin on renal hemodynamics and excretory functions were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Infusion of endothelin at a rate of 1 ng/kg.min resulted in a slight but significant decrease in renal blood flow and an increase in renal vascular resistance and filtration fraction.

Immunocytochemical localization of endothelin in cultured bovine endothelial cells.

To investigate the intracellular localization of endothelin in cultured endothelial cells, an immunocytochemical study was carried out by the post-embedding protein A-gold technique with endothelin-specific antiserum. Gold particles were seen on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi cisternae, the Golgi vesicles, small vesicles beneath the cell membrane, and the lysosomes. By contrast, no secretory granules were observed.