Masazumi Akahoshi

Depressor effect of intraventricular administration of calcium on spontaneously hypertensive rats

The role of central Ca2+ in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) was investigated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Ten microliters of a high Ca2+ solution (Ca2+: 32.6 mM) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) decreased the mean arterial pressure (MAP) for more than 20 min in SHR (n = 7, P < 0.005), while no change of MAP was observed in the WKY (n = 6). This depressor response to Ca2+ i.c.v. was dose-dependent at Ca2+ concentrations between 16.3 and 65.2 mM. We also investigated the effect of high Ca2+ i.c.v. in SHR after pretreatment with Ca2+ channel blockers, diltiazem (60 micrograms/10 microliters) or nisoldipine (4, 8, 16 and 32 micrograms/10 microliters), administered i.c.v., the autonomic ganglion blocker, hexamethonium (50 mg/kg), administered i.v. and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (100 and 400 micrograms/10 microliters) delivered i.c.v. Pretreatment with i.c.v. diltiazem (n = 8) or nisoldipine (n = 5 for 8 micrograms, n = 6 for 4, 16, 32 micrograms) abolished and/or blunted the decrease of MAP due to high Ca2+. Hexamethonium administered i.v. (n = 6) also canceled the depressor action of i.c.v. Ca2+. Pretreatment with 100 micrograms of i.c.v. alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine could not prevent the depressor action of i.c.v. Ca2+; however, 400 micrograms of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine administered i.c.v. abolished the effect of i.c.v. Ca2+. Furthermore Ca2+ channel blockers administered i.c.v. in themselves increased MAP in SHR (P < 0.05). These results suggest that central Ca2+ is involved in the central regulation of BP in SHR. This effect may be mediated through changes in sympathetic activity.

Central pressor effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein in conscious rats

Although the parathyroid hormone-related protein gene is widely expressed in the central nervous system, the role of this protein in blood pressure is unknown. This article examines whether parathyroid hormone-related protein is involved in the central regulation of blood pressure. An intraventricularly injected solution of parathyroid hormone-related protein elicited a dose-dependent increase of mean arterial pressure accompanied by a decrease of heart rate in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. An anti-parathyroid hormone-related protein monoclonal antibody, given in an intraventricularly injected solution, blocked the pressor effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein. Furthermore, this pressor effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein was also abolished after pretreatment by intravenous administration of either hexamethonium bromide or doxazosin mesylate. These results suggest that central parathyroid hormone-related protein is implicated in the regulation of blood pressure, and that this effect may be mediated through sympathetic activation.

Contribution of the central interaction between calcium and sodium to hemodynamic regulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The contribution of the central interaction between calcium and sodium to hemodynamic regulation was assessed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The effect of a high calcium solution (Ca2+, 130 mg/dl, 10 microliters) infused into the cerebral ventricle (i.c.v.) on hemodynamic responses induced by a high sodium solution (Na+, 1,000 mEq/1, 10 microliters) i.c.v. and the mechanism by which high Ca2+ affects the hemodynamic responses induced by high Na+ i.c.v. were studied. High Na+ i.c.v. induced a pressor response with tachycardia in the SHRs, but induced a pressor response with reflex bradycardia in the WKYs. Prior treatment with high Ca2+ i.c.v. attenuated the pressor response induced by high Na+ i.c.v. (+55.6 +/- 4.4 to +33.1 +/- 3.2 mmHg, P < 0.01) and restored reflex bradycardia (+86.4 +/- 7.7 to -26.7 +/- 7.6 bpm, P < 0.01) in SHRs. Whereas prior treatment with high Ca2+ i.c.v. attenuated the pressor response (+35.7 +/- 2.0 to +22.2 +/- 4.0 mmHg, P < 0.05), it did not alter the degree of reflex bradycardia (-81.7 +/- 7.1 to -69.2 +/- 120 bpm, n.s.) in WKYs. Ganglionic blockade attenuated the pressor response (+56.9 +/- 3.5 to +42.9 +/- 2.3 mmHg, P < 0.05) and restored reflex bradycardia (+82.1 +/- 10.3 to -65.9 +/- 11.0 bpm, P < 0.01) in SHRs, whereas, inhibition of arginine vasopressin attenuated the pressor response without modification of the tachycardic response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Contribution of central amiloride-sensitive transport systems to the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This study was conducted to examine if central amiloride-sensitive transport systems are involved in the development and/or maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Either amiloride (75 microg/60 microl/day) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF, 60 microl/day) was infused centrally (i.c.v.) for 4 weeks to development (4-5-weeks-old) and maintenance (10-12-weeks-old) phases of hypertension in SHR. In development phase, amiloride i.c.v. (n=14) blunted the elevation of blood pressure (BP) compared to aCSF i.c.v. (n=9) (amiloride vs. aCSF; after 3 weeks of i.c.v., 146+/-3 vs. 166+/-5 mmHg, P<0.001). The difference of BP at 3 weeks of i.c.v. was canceled after ganglionic block with hexamethonium (115+/-4 vs. 117+/-5 mmHg). Further, pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine was augmented in amiloride i.c.v. rats (amiloride, n=11 vs. aCSF, n=6; %Delta BP at 800 ng/kg/min.: 16.9+/-1.3 vs. 10.8+/-1.4 mmHg, P<0.05) and this augmentation disappeared after ganglionic block. Pressor responsiveness to angiotensin II and cumulative sodium balance did not differ in the two groups. Intravenous administration of amiloride at the same dose did not attenuate the development of hypertension. On the other hand, in maintenance phase, amiloride i.c.v. by the same protocol as in development phase had no effect on BP in SHR. Also, amiloride i.c.v. did not affect BP in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. These results suggest that central amiloride-sensitive transport systems are involved in the development, but not in the maintenance, of hypertension in SHR through the modulation of autonomic neural mechanisms.

Augmented central pressor action of magnesium in SHR.

This study attempted to determine whether central magnesium (Mg) influences the regulation of blood pressure (BP). An intrace-rebroventricular (icv) injection of a high Mg2+ solution (190.0 mEq/L, 10 L), made by adding MgC12 to artificial cerebrospinal fluid, increased the mean BP in both conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; n = 17, p <0.001) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY; n = 8, p <0.005). Spontaneously hypertensive rats showed a greater pressor response than WKY (+11.7 0.9mm Hg versus +3.5 · 1.1 mm hg, p <0.001). This pressor response to Mg2+ concentration between 475 and 190.0 mEq/l), made by adding MgSO4 given icv, also increased the mean BP in SHR (n = 7, p <0.001) and WKY (n =6, p <0.01), whereas the high osmolarity solution (340 mOsm/kg H2O) given icv did not change the mean BP in either SHR or WKY. Also administered was a high Mg2+ solution icv after either hexamethonium bromide (Hx; 50 mg/kg intravenously) or arginine vasopressin antagonist (aAVP, (CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, 30·g/kg iv). The pressor response to the high Mg2+ solution was abolished by arginine vasopressin antagonist both in SHR and WKY, although it was not canceled by Hx. A high Mg2+ solution administered icv caused a 3.5-fold increase in plasma arginine vasopressin concentration in SHR (n = 5, p <0.001). These results suggest that central Mg influences the regulation of BP through the modulation of vasopressin activity in SHR and WKY, though the effect of central Mg is greater in SHR.

Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm Complicating Coarctation of the Aorta Two Autopsied Cases with Unusual Rupture

Two cases of aortic aneurysm complicating aortic coarctation with unusual rupture were reported. The first case is a 66-year-old female with aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. The coarctation of the aorta was located at lower thoracic aorta and the aneurysm was formed proxymal to the coarcta tion. The aneurysm protruded backwards being accompanied by osteolysis of ribs and finally ruptured extracorporeally at the left subscapular region. The second case is a 28-year-old male with mycotic aneurysm that occurred im mediately distal to the coarctation of the aorta. Streptococcus viridans was isolated by blood culture. The aneurysm was ruptured to the esophagus. The mechanisms of aneurysm formation in patients with coarctation of the aorta were discussed.