Effect of short- and long-term heart failure on small artery morphology and endothelial function in the rat.

Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with hemodynamic changes and activation of several neurohormonal systems, which are able both to inhibit and to facilitate arterial growth or remodeling and also to influence endothelial function. As these vascular changes may depend on the duration of HF, we evaluated morphologic and endothelial functional alterations in a rat model of HF after a short and long duration of HF. Rats with coronary ligation and sham-operated controls were investigated either 8 or 26 weeks after the operation with measurements of hemodynamics and isolated mesenteric small artery morphology and endothelial function.

Differential regulation of ventricular adrenomedullin and atrial natriuretic peptide gene expression in pressure and volume overload in the rat.

1. Adrenomedullin is a recently discovered vasodilating and natriuretic peptide whose physiological and pathophysiological roles remain to be established. Like atrial natiuretic peptide adrenomedullin is expressed in the left ventricle.

Tissue expression of components of the renin-angiotensin system in experimental post-infarction heart failure in rats: effects of heart failure and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment.

1. It has been suggested that local tissue renin-angiotensin systems may be activated in heart failure and that effects on such systems may, at least partially, explain the beneficial effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in this syndrome. To investigate these hypotheses, we examined expression of renin-angiotensin system components in several tissues in a rodent model of post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart failure, and analysed whether such expression is modified by ACE inhibitor treatment.

Lymphocyte redistribution in connection with physical activity in the rat.

Previous studies have demonstrated numerous immunobiological changes in connection with exercise. A decrease in peripheral blood mononuclear white cells (PBMC) 2 h after intense exercise has been shown. This lymphocytopenia in humans after exercise is thought to be of great importance regarding the morbidity to viral infection.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and contractile effects of angiotensin I and II in human uteroplacental arteries.

Objective: Our purpose was to study local angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and the mechanical effects of angiotensin I and II in human uteroplacental arteries.

Study Design: Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was measured by a simple radioimmunoassay with tritiated benzoyl-glycyl-glycyl-glycine as substrate in isolated human intramyometrial arteries from nonpregnant (n = 8) and term pregnant women (n = 8) and placental (n = 8) stem villous arteries. Moreover, in these vessels the mechanical effects of angiotensin I and II were investigated in organ bath experiments.