Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are characterized by enhanced nifedipine-sensitive component of sympathetic vasoconstriction. Our study tried to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for long-term reduction of blood pressure (BP) in SHR subjected to early transient captopril treatment. Adult untreated SHR aged 30-34 weeks were compared with animals subjected to chronic captopril treatment for 6 weeks either in youth (between 4 and 10 weeks of age) or in adulthood (between 24 and 30 weeks of age). Antihypertensive effects of captopril were more pronounced in young than adult SHR. This was due to greater attenuation of sympathetic and nifedipine-sensitive BP components and prevention of residual BP rise in young captopril-treated SHR in which the reductions of nifedipine-sensitive BP component and residual BP persisted for 20 weeks after captopril withdrawal. The magnitude of nifedipine-sensitive component of sympathetic vasoconstriction is decisive for BP maintenance not only in untreated SHR but also in SHR during active captopril treatment by or after its withdrawal., J. Zicha, Z. Dobešová,J. Kuneš., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a life-threatening complication, known for almost 100 years, but its etiopathogenesis is still not completely understood. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology and pathophysiology of neurogenic pulmonary edema. The roles of systemic sympathetic discharge, central nervous system trigger zones, intracranial pressure, inflammation and anesthesia in the etiopathogenesis of neurogenic pulmonary edema are considered in detail. The management of the patient and experimental models of neurogenic pulmonary edema are also discussed., J. Šedý, J. Zicha, J. Kuneš, P. Jendelová, E. Syková., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
High blood pressure (BP) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is maintained by enhanced activity of sympathetic nervous system (SNS), whereas that of Ren-2 transgenic rats (Ren-2 TGR) by increased activity of renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, both types of hypertension are effectively attenuated by chronic blockade of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (L-VDCC). The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the magnitude of BP response elicited by acute nifedipine administration is proportional to the alterations of particular vasoactive systems (SNS, RAS, NO) known to modulate L-VDCC activity. We therefore studied thes e relationships not only in SHR, in which mean arterial pressure was modified in a wide range of 100-210 mm Hg by chronic antihypertensive treatment (captopril or hydralazine) or its withdrawal, but also in rats with augmented RAS activity such as homozygous Ren-2 TGR, pertussis toxin- treated SHR or L-NAME-treated SHR. In all studied groups the magnitude of BP response to nifedipine was proportional to actual BP level and it closely correlated with BP changes induced by acute combined blockade of RAS and SNS. BP response to nifedipine is also closely related to the degree of relative NO deficiency. This was true for both SNS- and RAS-dependent forms of genetic hypertension, suggesting common mechanisms responsible for enhanced L-VDCC opening and/or their upregulation in hypertensive animals. In conclusions, BP response to nifedipine is proportional to the vasoconstrictor activity exerted by both SNS and RAS, indicating a key importance of these two pressor systems for actual L-VDCC opening necessary for BP maintenance., J. Zicha ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Maintenance of norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction is dependent on Ca2+ influx through L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCC), which is opposed by nitric oxide. Adrenergic receptors are coupled with different G proteins, including inhibitory G proteins (Gi) that can be inactivated by pertussis toxin (PTX). Our study was aimed to investigate the effects of endothelium removal, PTX pretreatment and acute VDCC blockade by nifedipine on the contractions of femoral arteries stimulated by norepinephrine. We used 12-week-old male WKY, half of the rats being injected with PTX (10 μg/kg i.v., 48 h before the experiment), which considerably reduced their blood pressure (BP). Contractions of isolated arteries were measured using Mulvany-Halpern myograph. NE dose-response curves determined in femoral arteries from PTX-treated WKY rats were shifted to the right compared to those from control WKY. On the contrary, removal of endothelium augmented NE dose-response curves shifting them to the left. Acute VDCC blockade by nifedipine (10-7 M) abolished all differences in NE dose-response curves which were dependent on the presence of either intact endothelium or functional Gi proteins because all NE dose-response curves were identical to the curve seen in vessels with intact endothelium from PTX-treated animals. We can conclude that BP reduction after PTX injection is accompanied by the attenuation of NE-induced contraction of femoral arteries irrespective of endothelium presence. Moreover, our data indicate that both vasodilator action of endothelium and Gi-dependent vasoconstrictor effect of norepinephrine operate via the control of Ca2+ influx through VDCC., S. Líšková, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The objective of the current study was to search for genetic determinants associated with antihypertensive effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril. Linkage and correlation analyses of captopril-induced effects on blood pressure (BP) with renal transc riptome were performed in the BXH/HXB recombinant inbred (RI) strains derived from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Brown Norway (BN-Lx) progenitors. Variability of blood pressure lowering effects of captopril among RI strains was continuous suggesting a polygenic mode of inheritance. Linkage analysis of captopril- induced BP effects revealed a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 15. This QTL colocalized with cis regulated expression QTL (eQTL) for the Ednrb (endothelin receptor type B) gene in the kidney (SHR allele was associated with increased renal expression) and renal expression of Ednrb correlated with captopril-induced BP effects. These results suggest that blood pressure lowering effects of ACE inhibitor captopril may be modulated by the variants at the Ednrb locus., J. Zicha ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The development of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) can be elicited by an immediate epidural balloon compression of the thoracic spinal cord. To evaluate whether a slower balloon inflation could prevent NPE development, we examined the extent of NPE in animals lesioned with a rapid (5 μl - 5 μl - 5 μl) or slow rate (3 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl - 2 μl) of balloon inflation. These groups were compared with the NPE model (immediate inflation to 15 μl) and with healthy controls. Slow balloon inflation prevented NPE development, whereas the pulmonary index and histology revealed a massive pulmonary edema in the group with a rapid rate of balloon inflation. Pulmonary edema was preceded by a considerable decrease in heart rate during the inflation procedure. Moreover, rapid inflation of balloon in spinal channel to either 5 μl or 10 μl did not cause NPE. Thus, a slow rate of balloon inflation in the thoracic epidural space prevents the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema, most likely due to the better adaptation of the organism to acute circulatory changes (rapid elevation of systemic blood pressure accompanied by profound heart rate reduction) during the longer balloon inflation period. It should be noted that spinal cord transection at the same level did not cause neurogenic pulmonary edema., J. Šedý ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a life-threatening disease arising as a frequent complication of diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Since it is typically undetected for long periods, it often progresses to end-stage renal disease. CKD is characterized by the development of progressive glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy along with a decreased glomerular filtration rate. This is associated with podocyte injury and a progressive rise in proteinuria. As endothelin-1 (ET-1) through the activation of endothelin receptor type A (ETA) promotes renal cell injury, inflammation, and fibrosis which finally lead to proteinuria, it is not surprising that ETA receptors antagonists have been proven to have beneficial renoprotective effects in both experimental and clinical studies in diabetic and non-diabetic CKD. Unfortunately, fluid retention encountered in large clinical trials in diabetic CKD led to the termination of these studies. Therefore, several advances, including the synthesis of new antagonists with enhanced pharmacological activity, the use of lower doses of ET antagonists, the addition of diuretics, plus simply searching for distinct pathological states to be treated, are promising targets for future experimental studies. In support of these approaches, our group demonstrated in adult subtotally nephrectomized Ren-2 transgenic rats that the addition of a diuretic on top of renin-angiotensin and ETA blockade led to a further decrease of proteinuria. This effect was independent of blood pressure which was normalized in all treated groups. Recent data in non-diabetic CKD, therefore, indicate a new potential for ETA antagonists, at least under certain pathological conditions., I. Vaněčková, S. Hojná, M. Kadlecová, Z. Vernerová, L. Kopkan, L. Červenka, J. Zicha., and Seznam literatury
Enhanced production of superoxide radicals by nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in the brain and/or kidney of salt hypertensive Dahl rats has been proposed to participate in the pathogenesis of this form of experimental hypertension. Most information was obtained in young Dahl saltsensitive (DS) rats subjected to high salt intake prior to sexual maturation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether salt hypertension induced in adult DS rats is also accompanied with a more pronounced oxidative stress in the brain or kidney as compared to Dahl salt-resistant (DR) controls. NADPH oxidase activity as well as the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (oxidative index), which indicate a degree of lipid peroxidation, were evaluated in two brain regions (containing either hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus or rostral ventrolateral medulla) as well as in renal medulla and cortex. High salt intake induced hypertension in DS rats but did not modify blood pressure in DR rats. DS and DR rats did not differ in NADPH oxidase-dependent production of ROS, TBARS content or oxidative index in either part of the brain. In addition, high-salt diet did not change significantly any of these brain parameters. In contrast, the enhanced NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production (without significant signs of increased lipid peroxidation) was detected in the renal medulla of salt hypertensive DS rats. Our findings suggest that there are no signs of enhanced oxidative stress in the brain of adult Dahl rats with salt hypertension induced in adulthood., M. Vokurková, H. Rauchová, L. Řezáčová, I. Vaněčková, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii