Renato Faro

Inhibition of carrageenin‐induced rat paw oedema by crotapotin, a polypeptide complexed with phospholipase A2

1 The effect of purified crotapotin, a non‐toxic non‐enzymatic chaperon protein normally complexed to a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in South America rattlesnake venom, was studied in the acute inflammatory response induced by carrageenin (1 mg/paw), compound 48/80 (3 μg/paw) and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) (3 μg/paw) in the rat hind‐paw. The effects of crotapotin on platelet aggregation, mast cell degranulation and eicosanoid release from guinea‐pig isolated lung were also investigated. 2 Subplantar co‐injection of crotapotin (1 and 10 μg/paw) with carrageenin or injection of crotapotin (10 μg/paw) into the contralateral paw significantly inhibited the carrageenin‐induced oedema. This inhibition was also observed when crotapotin (10–30 μg/paw) was administered either intraperitoneally or orally. Subplantar injection of heated crotapotin (15 min at 60°C) failed to inhibit carrageenin‐induced oedema. Subplantar injection of crotapotin (10 μg/paw) also significantly inhibited the rat paw oedema induced by compound 48/80, but it did not affect 5‐HT‐induced oedema. 3 In adrenalectomized animals, subplantar injection of crotapotin markedly inhibited the oedema induced by carrageenin. The inhibitory effect of crotapotin was also observed in rats depleted of histamine and 5‐HT stores. 4 Crotapotin (30 μg/paw) had no effect on either the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 in vitro or on the platelet aggregation induced by both arachidonic acid (1 mm) and platelet activating factor (1 μm) in human platelet‐rich plasma. The platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) release induced by thrombin (100 mu ml−1) in washed human platelets were also not affected by crotapotin. In addition, crotapotin (10 μg/paw) did not affect the release of 6‐oxo‐prostaglandin F1α and TXB2 induced by ovalbumin in sensitized guinea‐pig isolated lungs. 5 Our results indicate that the anti‐inflammatory activity of crotapotin is not due to endogenous corticosteroid release or inhibition of cyclo‐oxygenase activity. It is possible that crotapotin may interact with extracellular PLA2 generated during the inflammatory process thereby reducing its hydrolytic activity.

Role of endothelin-1 and thromboxane A2 in the pulmonary hypertension induced by heparin-protamine interaction in anesthetized dogs

This study aimed to study the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pulmonary hypertension induced by interaction of heparin–protamine in anesthetized dogs. The effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) was also investigated in this model. Dogs were anesthetized and instrumented for acquisition of mean arterial blood pressure, mean arterial pulmonary pressure (MPAP), and pulmonary pressure gradient (PPG). Cardiac index (CI), heart rate, and index of systemic vascular resistance were also obtained. Intravenous administration of heparin (500 IU/kg) 3 minutes before protamine (10 mg/kg) caused marked pulmonary hypertension, as evaluated by the increase in MPAP and PPG. This was accompanied by systemic hypotension, CI decrease, and tachycardia. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg), dazoxiben (10 mg/kg), or tezosentan (10-mg/kg bolus plus 10-mg/kg/h infusion) significantly reduced the increase in MPAP and PPG, but had no effect on the systemic hypotension. Similar results were obtained with inhaled NO (3 ppm). Plasma TXB2 levels were markedly elevated during the pulmonary hypertension, and this was abolished in indomethacin-treated dogs. Our study shows that interaction of heparin–protamine in anesthetized dogs lead to TXA2- and ET-1–mediated pulmonary hypertension. Drugs that interfere with the synthesis of these mediators as well as inhaled NO may be of beneficial value to control this disorder.

PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF A NITRIC OXIDE-RELEASING DERIVATIVE OF ENALAPRIL IN MALE BEAGLES

1 Pharmacological compounds that release nitric oxide (NO) have been useful tools in the evaluation of the broad role of NO in physiopathology and therapeutics. The present study compared the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of enalapril and an NO‐releasing enalapril molecule (NCX899) in conscious male beagles. The effects of both enalapril and NCX899 in the arterial hypertension and bradycardia induced by acute NO inhibition in anaesthetized dogs were also investigated. 2 Dogs received either NCX899 (4 µmol/kg, i.v.) or enalapril (4 µmol/kg, i.v.), after which plasma concentrations of the analytes and metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). 3 In the NCX899 group, the area under the time‐course curve (AUC0−24h) was 29.18 ± 4.72, 229.37 ± 51.32 and 5159.23 ± 514.88 µg·h/L for the analytes nitro‐enalapril, enalapril and enalaprilat, respectively. In the enalapril group, the AUC0−24h was 704.53 ± 158.86 and 4149.27 ± 847.30 µg·h/L for the analytes enalapril and enalaprilat, respectively. Statistical analysis of data from both groups showed a significant difference for the analyte enalapril, but not for enalaprilat. Moreover, NCX899 and enalapril were equally effective in inhibiting the activity of serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme. 4 In anaesthetized dogs, i.v. administration of the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME; 0.1–10 mg/kg) significantly elevated arterial blood pressure, with concomitant bradycardia. The compound NCX899 significantly attenuated both arterial hypertension and bradycardia, whereas enalapril had no significant effect. 5 In conclusion, the present results showed that the NO‐releasing derivative of enalapril NCX899 presents a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship similar to its parent compound enalapril. Moreover, NCX899 (but not enalapril) was effective in protecting against the cardiovascular changes induced by acute NOS inhibition.

Role of endothelin ETA and ETB receptors in the arterial vasculature of the isolated canine liver

Summary: The vascular effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1; ETA / ETB agonist), sarafotoxin 6b (S6b; ETA agonist), and IRL 1620 (ETB agonist) were investigated in the isolated canine liver arterial circuit before and after infusions of indomethacin (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) and NOML-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor). Norepinephrine (NE) was used as vasoconstrictor control agent. The portal vein, hepatic artery, and vena cava were cannulated in vitro and the liver was perfused via the hepatic artery and portal vein with oxygenated (95% O2/5% CO2) Krebs solution at 37°C. Intra-arterial bolus injections of either ET-1 (0.4–400 pmol) or S6b (0.4–400 pmol) induced dose-dependent and long-lasting vasoconstriction accompanied by significant prostacyclin release. The vasoconstrictor responses to these peptides were slightly increased during infusion of indomethacin. Subsequent infusion of L-NAME potentiated both ET-1− and S6b-induced vasoconstriction (p < 0.05). IRL 1620 (up to 1.2 nmol) had no effect on the hepatic arterial vascular resistance even during indomethacin and L-NAME infusions. Infusion of the ETA receptor antagonist FR-139317 (0.3 μM) markedly reduced both ET-1− and S6b-induced vasoconstriction without affecting that evoked by NE. Our results indicate that pressor responses to ET-1 and S6b in the isolated canine liver are modulated by concomitant release of vasodilator mediators, including prostacyclin and nitric oxide. These effects appear to depend primarily on the activation of ETA receptor subtypes. IRL 1620 (but not ET-1) induced a significant release of hemoglobin into the venous effluent, suggesting that ETB receptors are located in the venous side of the intrahepatic circulation.

Characterisation of functional endothelin receptors in the canine isolated perfused spleen

The endothelin receptor subtypes involved in the vasoconstriction, capsular smooth muscle contraction, prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin release induced by endothelin-1 have been investigated in the canine isolated perfused spleen using both the endothelin ETA receptor antagonist FR 139317 and the endothelin ETB receptor agonist IRL 1620. THe isolated canine spleen was perfused with warmed (37 degrees C) and oxygenated (95% O2/5% CO2) Krebs solution at constant flow with continuous recording of splenic arterial perfusion pressure and spleen weight. Samples of splenic venous effluent were collected to determine the amounts of prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin, measured by radioimmunoassay. Endothelin-1 (4-200 pmol) and IRL 1620 (20-1000 pmol) dose-dependently increased splenic arterial perfusion pressure but the former was more potent on a molar basis (the molar dose ratio IRL/endothelin-1 required to increase splenic arterial vascular resistance by 25% was approximately 33). The infusion of the nitric oxide inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 microM), but not of the enantiomer N omega-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester, significantly potentiated the increase in splenic arterial vascular resistance induced by endothelin-1. The infusion of FR 139317 (1 microM) markedly attenuated the increased splenic arterial perfusion pressure induced by endothelin-1 without affecting that evoked by IRL 1620. At the highest dose (200 pmol), endothelin-1 induced a small but significant capsule contraction as reflected by the reduction in the spleen weight. The infusion of FR 139317 (1 microM) abolished this contractile effect. IRL 1620 (in doses up to 1000 pmol) did not significantly affect the capsule tone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of endothelin receptors in isolated, perfused human spleen.

At present, there is no information on endothelin-1 (ET-1)-mediated vascular effects in the human spleen. The objectives of this study were to investigate the in vitro vascular responses to ET-1 using pharmacologic probes (selective ET receptor agonists/antagonists) and to characterize the ET receptor population in the human spleen. Spleens (n = 6) were removed from patients for treatment of underlying disease. The organs were perfused with warmed (37 degrees C), oxygenated (95% O2/5% CO2) Krebs solution at constant flow, with continuous recording of splenic arterial perfusion pressure (SAPP). The increases in SAPP caused by injection of ET-1 (ETA/ETB agonist) were markedly reduced in the presence of the selective ETA antagonist FR-139317, whereas those induced by IRL-1620 (an ETB agonist) and norepinephrine (NE) were unchanged. The increases in SAPP induced by intra-arterial bolus injections of NE and ET-1 were significantly (p < 0.05) potentiated by indomethacin [INDO; a cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitor] alone and the responses to both peptides (ET-1 and IRL-1620) were significantly (p < 0.05) potentiated by INDO and L-NAME [a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor] together. We conclude that ET-1 contributes to the regulation of vascular tone in human spleen through activation of both ETA and ETB receptors and that these responses are modulated by concomitant release of prostaglandins and NO.