Involvement of nitric oxide in corticosterone release and glucose metabolism in food deprived rats.

This study was performed to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in corticosterone, endpoint product of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, and metabolic responses to 3 days of food deprivation. To investigate this aim, we used a nonspecific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases, N-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In food deprived group we have noted a significant increase in plasma corticosterone concentration accompanied by a significant depletion in hepatic glycogen content with concomitant increase in glycogen phosphorylase (GP) activity by 63.72%, key enzyme of glycogenolysis and decrease in hexokinase (HK) activity by 25.16%, leading to significant decrease in glucose concentration. However, L-NAME administration in food deprived rats decreased slightly corticosterone level and GP activity (16.39%) and increased HK activity (11.26%) as compared to food deprived group. Considering these results, we can deduce that in food deprivation nitric oxide is involved in the regulation of corticosterone release and in glucose metabolic responses via glycogenolysis activation by the stimulation of GP activity and the inhibition of HK activity. However, more studies are necessary to further clarify the mechanisms by which NO induces these responses.

[Uterine electromyogram: principle and interest in the diagnosis of preterm labour]. / L'électromyogramme utérin: principes et intérêt pour le diagnostic de travail prématuré.

Preterm labour diagnosis rely on clinical arguments exhibiting low positive predictive values. Discrimination between uterine contractions leading to preterm delivery and physiologic uterine activity increase throughout pregnancy and remains difficult. Uterine electrical activity can be recorded non-invasively from the abdominal wall and could help in the diagnosis of preterm labour. Electrical signal characteristics are reflecting myometrial cells electrical properties which are varying throughout pregnancy and labour. During pregnancy, uterine electrical activity is very low. During term and preterm labour, uterine electrical activity increases as well as mechanical activity. Bursts become regular with high amplitude. Spectral analysis demonstrates an increase in the frequency content, as represented by the shift of the burst power density spectrum peak frequency from low to high frequencies. Consequently, the electromyogram signal reflects myometrial excitability and allows differentiating powerful uterine contractions leading to delivery from uterine physiologic activity. Moreover, electromyogram signal modifications occur before any increase in mechanical activity in the pregnant rats, allowing identification of preterm labour earlier than uterine mechanical activity measured by intrauterine pressure. Two studies performed in women present with preterm contractions are supporting the potential interest of the uterine electromyogram recording to help in the diagnosis of preterm labour; but further investigations are necessary.

Pain and Vertebral Dysfunction in Dry Immersion: A Model of Microgravity Simulation Different from Bed Rest Studies.

BACKGROUND: Astronauts frequently experience back pain during and after spaceflight. The aim of this study was to utilize clinical methods to identify potential vertebral somatic dysfunction (VD) in subjects exposed to dry immersion (DI), a model of microgravity simulation. METHOD: The experiment was performed in a space research clinic, respecting all the ethical rules, with subjects completing three days of dry immersion (n = 11). Assessments of VD, spine height, and back pain were made before and after simulated microgravity. RESULTS: Back pain was present in DI with great global discomfort during the entire protocol. A low positive correlation was found (Pearson r = 0.44; P < 0.001) between VD before DI and pain developed in the DI experiment. CONCLUSIONS: There is a specific location of pain in both models of simulation. Our analysis leads to relativizing constraints on musculoskeletal system in function of simulation models. This study was the first to examine manual palpation of the spine in a space experience. Additionally, osteopathic view may be used to select those individuals who have less risk of developing back pain.

Vasopressin and nitric oxide synthesis after three days of water or food deprivation.

Nitric oxide has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of fluid and nutrient homeostasis. In the present investigation, vasopressin and nitric oxide metabolite (nitrite and nitrate) levels were determined in plasma of male Wistar rats submitted to water or food deprivation for three days. Hematocrit and plasma sodium showed marked increase in dehydrated and starved rats. Potassium levels and plasma volume decreased in both treated groups. Plasma osmolality and vasopressin levels were significantly elevated in water deprived (362.8 +/- 7.1 mOsm/kg H2O, 17.3 +/- 2.7 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.001) rats, but not in food deprived (339.9 +/- 5.0, 1.34 +/- 0.28) rats, compared to the controls (326.1 +/- 4.1, 1.47 +/- 0.32). The alterations observed in plasma vasopressin levels were related to plasma osmolality rather than plasma volume. Plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate were markedly increased in both water and food deprived rats (respectively, 2.19 +/- 0.29 mg/l and 2.22 +/- 0.17 mg/l versus 1.33 +/- 0.19 mg/l, both p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma nitrite and nitrate concentration and plasma volume. These results suggest that both dehydration and starvation increase plasma nitric oxide, probably by activation of nitric oxide synthases. The release of nitric oxide may participate in the regulation of the alteration in blood flow, fluid and nutrient metabolism caused by water deprivation or starvation.

Rats desensitized by capsaicin alter their food intake regulation especially at cold ambient temperature.

Adult rats were treated subcutaneously for 10 days with capsaicin, and their food intake and body weight were recorded for almost 6 weeks after stopping the treatment. The animals were exposed to different ambient temperatures: Ta (22, 32, 35, 10 and 22 degrees C). In the capsaicin-treated group a persistent increase in food intake and a reduction of body weight were observed when the animals were exposed to the lowest Ta of 10 degrees C. Starting from this temperature, food intake remained significantly higher than in controls until the end of the experiment at a Ta of 22 degrees C. The discrepancy between body weight increase and food intake especially at low temperature (10 degrees C) suggests that capsaicin could prevent suppression of food intake through the mediation of capsaicin-sensitive vagal afferent fibers by activation of cold-temperature-sensitive receptors.

Spectral analysis of blood pressure variability in heart transplant patients.

The cardiac transplant patient provides a unique model for the study of blood pressure variability in the absence of heart rate variability. We examined the harmonic and fractal components of blood pressure variability in 14 heart transplant patients (12 men, 2 women; 21 to 62 years of age) and in age-and sex-matched control subjects during seated rest, supine rest, and supine rest with fixed-pace breathing (12 respirations per minute). Heart rate was faster in transplant patients than in control subjects, with much less heart rate variability (P < .0001). Spectral analysis of blood pressure variability revealed no difference in total power for either systolic or diastolic pressure, but transplant patients had less low-frequency (0 to 0.15 Hz) harmonic spectral power in both systolic (P < .01) and diastolic (P < .03) pressure and more high-frequency power (0.15 to 0.5 Hz) in diastolic pressure than control subjects. The ratio of high-frequency power in diastolic relative to systolic pressure was consistently higher (P < .0001) in the transplant patients (0.29 to 0.51) than in control subjects (0.11 to 0.13). The slope of the fractal component of systolic pressure was approximately 1.8 in both transplant patients and control subjects. This was greater than the slope for heart rate variability (approximately 1.1 in control subjects). These data provide clear evidence of independence of the fractal component of heart rate and blood pressure variabilities in both transplant patients and control subjects. The heart rate component of the arterial baroreflex minimized high-frequency diastolic pressure changes while contributing to low-frequency variations in both systolic and diastolic pressures.

White coat effect and reactivity to stress: cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system responses.

The aim of this study was to elucidate further the precise nature of the so-called "white coat" (WC) effect. We enrolled 88 hypertensive (46 men, 42 women) and 18 normotensive (4 men, 14 women) subjects in whom beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured with a Finapres device at rest (R period) and during conventional BP measurement (WC period). The WC effect was defined as WC period minus R period values of Finapres systolic BP. Using the same method, we also measured the BP and HR variations induced by mental stress (MS period) and by assuming the standing position (S period). Variability was estimated in the frequency domain for BP (BPV) and HR (HRV) and gave indices of the autonomic nervous system. Pulse wave velocity was taken as an index of arterial distensibility. In hypertensive subjects, the WC effect was significantly and positively correlated with the BP response to stress (0.51, P<.0001) and standing (0.63, P<.0001). An increased BPV was observed in the low-frequency band (0 to 0.150 Hz) during WC, MS, and S periods. In normotensive subjects, the WC effect was very slight and not correlated with the responses to stress and standing. In this group, the WC period was not accompanied with an increased BPV, unlike the stress and standing periods. HRV was similar in normotensives and in hypertensives: decreased, unchanged, and increased during MS, S, and WC periods, respectively. The PWV was significantly increased in the hypertensives relative to the normotensives, even in the quartile of those with the lowest BP (on average similar to that of the normotensives). This work shows that the WC effect is associated with an enhanced BP response to standing and mental stress; these three situations are characterized by an increased BPV in the low frequencies, suggesting a similar modification of the sympathovagal balance. The WC effect may entail an increased risk because it is associated with impaired arterial distensibility.

Energy and water metabolism, body composition, and hormonal changes induced by 42 days of enforced inactivity and simulated weightlessness.

Inactivity causes profound deleterious changes. We investigated in eight healthy men the impact of a 42-day head-down bed rest (HDBR) on energy and water metabolism and their interrelationships with body composition (BC) and catabolic and anabolic hormones. Total energy expenditure (TEE), total body water, water turnover, and metabolic water formation were assessed by the doubly labeled water method 15 days before and for the last 15 days of HDBR. Resting energy expenditure was determined by indirect calorimetry, and BC was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Urinary excretion of cortisol, GH, normetanephrine, metanephrine, urea, and creatinine were measured daily. HDBR resulted in significant reductions in body weight (2%), total body water (5%), metabolic water (17%), and lean body mass (LBM; 4%), but fat mass and water turnover did not change. Segmental BC showed a decreased LBM in legs and trunk, whereas fat mass increased, no significant changes were noted in the arms. The hydration of LBM was unchanged. TEE and energy intake decreased significantly (20% and 13%), whereas resting energy expenditure was maintained. Expenditure for physical activity dropped by 39%. Subjects were in energy balance during HDBR, whereas it was negative during the control period (-1.5 MJ/day). There were decreases in urinary normetanephrine (23%) and metanephrine (23%), but urinary cortisol (28%; weeks 2 and 3), GH (75%; weeks 2-4), and urea (15%; weeks 3 and 4) increased. It was concluded that during prolonged HDBR no relevant modifications in water metabolism were triggered. BC changes occurred in the nonexercised body segments, and the reduction in TEE was due to inactivity, not to LBM loss. Moreover, body weight alone does not accurately reflect the subject's energy state, and energy balance alone could not explain the body weight loss, which involves a transient metabolic stress.

Fuel homeostasis during physical inactivity induced by bed rest.

The consequences of physical inactivity on fuel homeostasis were evaluated during 7 days of head-down bed rest (HDBR), a model mimicking weightlessness. Eight men (32.4 +/- 1.9 yr; body mass index, 23.9 +/- 0.7 kg/m2) and eight women (27.9 +/- 0.9 yr; body mass index, 20.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 1 g/kg) before and after HDBR. The glucose load was labeled with 13C and associated with D-[6,6-2H2] glucose infusion, indirect calorimetry, breath tests, and plasma measurements to determine the glucose turnover and biodisponibility, substrate oxidation, and endocrine responses. Body composition was assessed using H2(18)O dilution. In addition, hormones were measured in daily blood and 24-h urine samples. No change in body composition was noted. Daily fasting insulin increased during HDBR (men, 34%; women, 26%), as did the insulin to glucose ratio (men, 30%; women, 25%). The normetanephrine level dropped (men, 30%; women, 16%), but metanephrine was unchanged. During OGTTs, the insulin response was increased after HDBR (men, 47%; women, 67%), whereas plasma glucose levels were similar. Nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels were lower. Endogenous glucose production dropped (28%), and exogenous glucose oxidation increased (28%) only in men. Resting energy expenditure was unchanged, but nonproteic respiratory quotient increased (men, 10%; women, 14%). Basal levels of lipid oxidation dropped in both sexes (approximately 90%), but those of carbohydrate oxidation increased in men (40%); as did lipogenesis in women (570%). In response to OGTTs, lipid oxidation was 80% reduced in both sexes after HDBR, but carbohydrate oxidation increased (25%) in men. Lipogenesis occurred in men (304%) and women (74%), but the latter had higher absolute levels. Therefore, 7 days of HDBR resulted in 1) reduced sympathetic activity, 2) insulin resistance suggested at the muscle level in men and at both the muscle and liver levels in women, 3) no changes in glucose biodisponibility, suggesting no alterations in the gastrointestinal function, and 4) a shift toward carbohydrate oxidation in men and a net lipogenesis in women. Such results suggest gender differences in response to sedentary life style and warrant further analysis.

Attenuation by propranolol of exercise training effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of propranolol (10 mg/kg) on systolic blood pressure (SBP), resting and exercising heart rates (HR), and body weight (BW) were examined in 11-week swim-trained spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. In both species, SBP was significantly reduced by either propranolol or training, but the reduction was greater with propranolol than with training. However, when propranolol was administered to rats during training, their independent beneficial effects on SBP were annulled. HR was modified slightly by propranolol and training, but they both decreased BW. The mechanism of propranolol action on BW is not clear. Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 Max), relative heart weight (RHW), and absolute heart weight (AHW) were measured after 11 weeks of training. In both SHR and WKY rats, VO2 Max was elevated by exercise training; moreover, VO2 Max was greatest among those receiving propranolol while training. However, the combined effects of propranolol and training produced a significant reduction of AHW in SHR. The RHW was increased by training, but it was decreased by propranolol. SHR rats were more sensitive to the effects of training and propranolol than WKY rats. In humans, several observations have been reported on the attenuation of certain exercise-induced cardiovascular and metabolic changes by beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Our results obtained with rats confirm some of those observations. It would seem that the hypertensive strain of rats could serve as a model for the study of attenuation mechanisms by beta-adrenergic blockers.

Swim training in genetically hypertensive rats of the Lyon strain: effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

We studied the effects of training by forced swimming on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in the Lyon genetically hypertensive rats (LH), its normotensive (LN) and low blood pressure (LL) controls. Training was carried out 5 days a week for 5 weeks. The duration of daily training sessions was increased 15 min per day, from 2 to 6 h/day. Following training low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in LL, and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) was also lower in LN (P less than 0.01) and LH (P less than 0.05) rats compared with their sedentary controls. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was not significantly increased after training in all strains. Compared with controls, plasma total cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and phospholipids were not modified by training. The reduction of LDL-C, VLDL-C as well as the increase of the HDL-C:VLDL-C ratio suggest a beneficial effect of training on atherosclerosis and perhaps coronary heart disease risk.

Cardiovascular effects of central injection of acetylcholine in anaesthetized dogs: a role for vasopressin release.

1. The effect of an intracisternal injection of 20 micrograms kg-1 of acetylcholine was studied on systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, and plasma levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, vasopressin, plasma renin activity and atrial natriuretic factor in chloralose-anaesthetized dogs, 8 of which were normal and 7 with diabetes insipidus (deprived of vasopressin secretion by surgical lesion of the hypothalamoneurohypophysial system). 2. Acetylcholine significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both groups of animals. However, the rise in blood pressure was significantly shorter lived in the dogs with diabetes insipidus. 3. Acetylcholine significantly increased plasma levels of noradrenaline but not adrenaline in control animals and in dogs with diabetes insipidus. Noradrenaline and adrenaline responses after acetylcholine were not different in the two groups of animals. 4. Acetylcholine induced a significant increase in vasopressin plasma levels only in control animals while in dogs with diabetes insipidus vasopressin remained at nearly undetectable levels. 5. Acetylcholine significantly increased atrial natriuretic factor plasma levels only in control dogs. 6. Although plasma renin activity increased in both groups of animals after the i.c. injection of acetylcholine, this change was not significant in any group. 7. These results suggest that, in the anaesthetized dog, the central injection of acetylcholine induces a rise in blood pressure through both an increase in sympathetic outflow and a release of vasopressin.

Central cardiovascular effects of acetylcholine in the conscious dog.

1. The effects of central cholinomimetic drugs on cardiovascular and vasoactive hormonal responses (blood pressure, heart rate, catecholamines, vasopressin, atrial natriuretic factor, neuropeptide Y plasma levels and plasma renin activity) were investigated in conscious Beagle dogs. For this purpose a catheter was chronically implanted into each dog's cisterna magna to allow repeated central injections in the awake animals. 2. Intracisternal acetylcholine (20 micrograms kg-1) significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These changes were accompanied by an initial short term tachycardia followed by a long lasting bradycardia. Intracisternal acetylcholine also increased noradrenaline, adrenaline and vasopressin plasma levels, decreased plasma renin activity but did not modify plasma levels of neuropeptide Y and atrial natriuretic factor. 3. The effects of acetylcholine were completely abolished by pretreatment with intracisternal injection of the muscarinic antagonist, atropine (5 micrograms kg-1) but not by the intracisternal injection of the nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine (25 micrograms kg-1). 4. The present results demonstrate that there are qualitative and quantitative differences between the central cardiovascular effects of acetylcholine in conscious dogs compared to what we previously reported, using a comparable protocol, in anaesthetized dogs. Under both conditions, we observed a central cholinergically mediated increase in blood pressure secondary to an increase in sympathetic tone and vasopressin release but these responses were shorter (less than 10 min) in the conscious dogs than in anaesthetized dogs (more than 10 min). Moreover, we detected in the response to the central cholinergic stimulation in the conscious dogs a significant increase in plasma adrenaline levels and biphasic changes in heart rate which were not described previously in the anaesthetized dog.

Increased plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor, renin activity, and leukotriene C4 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We studied atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma levels of leukotrienes (LTs) B4 and C4 in 23 patients with COPD undergoing right cardiac catheterization for suspected pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic measurements together with concomitant ANF levels (both in venous and pulmonary artery blood and right atrial and pulmonary artery plasma levels of LTC4 and LTB4, were determined at rest (T0), after 30 min of breathing oxygen (3 L/min) (T1), and after 30 min recovering and breathing air (T2). Patients with effective exacerbation or definitive evidence of left ventricular disease, hypertension, arrhythmias, or vasodilator or diuretic therapy were excluded. Increased levels of ANF, both in peripheral venous blood (117 +/- 65 pg/ml) and the pulmonary artery (153 +/- 75 pg/ml), were found in patients with COPD, with or without pulmonary hypertension. Levels of LTC4 were also significantly increased (366 +/- 406 pg/ml) when compared with our control values. No correlations among ANF, LTC4 values, functional tests, and hemodynamic measurements were found. Brief increased levels of oxygen did not modify ANF or LTC4 plasma levels, either in patients with or without pulmonary hypertension.

Counteraction of spaceflight-induced changes in the rat central serotonergic system by adrenalectomy and corticosteroid replacement.

The effects of a 17-day spaceflight duration on serotonergic measures in various parts of rat brain have been studied (flight-SHAM group). The contribution of the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) related to the response of the central serotonin system was evaluated in adrenalectomized with chronic corticosterone replacement rats (flight-ADX+CORT group). These two groups of rats were compared to their respective ground-based controls. Physiological parameters (body, adrenal and thymus weights) and corticosterone levels were measured. In flight-SHAM group as compared to controls, adrenal hypertrophy and elevation in plasma corticosterone levels (174%) were observed, without change in thymus mass. In most brain areas studied, significant decreases in TRP, 5-HTP and 5-HIAA were found associated with lower levels of 5-HT in cortex, thalamus and striatum. Conversely, there were elevations in TRP, 5-HTP levels in striatum and increases in 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios, an index of 5-HT turnover, in cortex, striatum and olfactory bulb while the hypothalamus was the sole region where a fall was observed. In ADX rats with chronic corticosterone replacement these effects were not observed in the majority of brain areas. It is concluded that a 17-day spaceflight exerted an inhibitory effect on serotonin metabolism, probably by activation of the HPA axis. The results could not distinguish between the effects of microgravity and the stress associated with landing.

Cardiovascular variability and baroreceptor reflex sensitivity over a 14-day tail suspension in rats.

To verify whether a long-term weightlessness simulation was associated with development of cardiovascular deconditioning, male Wistar rats were tail suspended for 13 days and then removed for a 24-h recovery. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) responses, their spectral properties, and the pharmacologically tested baroreceptor reflex sensitivity were studied throughout the suspension period and after removal from the tail suspension device. BP, HR, and their variability were not altered over the experimental period, and there were no indications of orthostatic intolerance on release from head-down suspension. Spectral properties of BP and HR were unchanged during the experiment, and tail suspension did not induce modifications in the baroreceptor reflex sensitivity. These results taken together suggest that cardiovascular deconditioning may not be developed even after long-term hindlimb suspension in rats, in contrast to humans exposed to actual or simulated weightlessness. Our results raise issue with the use of tail-suspended rats as a valid model for the study of alterations in cardiovascular function induced by spaceflight in humans.

Adverse effects of strenuous exercise: a densitometric and histomorphometric study in the rat.

To investigate the manner in which cancellous bone in different skeletal sites and within a bone site adapts to strenuous training, 5-wk-old male rats were subjected to intensive treadmill running [80% of maximal O2 consumption (VO2max)] for 11 wk. VO2max, tibia length, and bone mineral density were measured. Histomorphometric analysis was performed in the epiphysis, primary spongiosa (1 zero sp) and secondary spongiosa (2 zero sp) of the contralateral proximal tibia, and the 2 zero sp of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. VO2max was increased by 39%. No changes were observed in vertebrae. Tibia length, 1 zero sp bone volume, and number of trabeculae were significantly decreased, indicating a retarded longitudinal bone growth. Bone mineral density in the proximal tibia was significantly decreased. In the epiphysis, a trabecular thinning and an increase of trabecular number were shown. In the 2 zero sp, bone volume and number of trabeculae were significantly decreased. The increased total eroded surfaces could indicate an early but transient increase in bone resorption activity. Osteoid thickness was reduced, whereas osteoclast number and osteoid surfaces were unchanged, suggesting that the observed bone loss was mostly due to an impaired osteoblastic activity. In conclusion, 1) strenuous training in young rats reduces longitudinal bone growth and induces bone loss, 2) the cancellous bone adaptation is site specific, and 3) the bone loss is mainly due to decreased osteoblastic activity rather than a global adaptation of bone remodeling.

Hormonal responses to exercise during moderate cold exposure in young vs. middle-age subjects.

The influence of moderate cold exposure on the hormonal responses of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), catecholamines, and plasma renin activity (PRA) after exhaustive exercise was studied in 9 young and 10 middle-aged subjects. Exercise tests were randomly performed in temperate (30 degrees C) and cold (10 degrees C) environments. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and peripheral arterial blood pressure were measured at regular intervals. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after exercise at 30 or 10 degrees C. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured, and the change in plasma volume was calculated. At rest and during exercise, oxygen consumption was similar during exposure to both temperate and cold temperatures. During submaximal exercise intensities, the rise in heart rate was blunted while the increase in systolic blood pressure was significantly greater at 10 than at 30 degrees C. The increases in plasma sodium and potassium concentrations after exhaustion were similar between environments, as was the decrease in plasma volume. In both groups, all plasma hormones were significantly elevated postexercise, with the AVP response similar at 10 and 30 degrees C. However, the norepinephrine and ANF responses were significantly greater while the PRA response was significantly reduced at 10 degrees C. In the middle-aged subjects the epinephrine response to exercise was higher at 10 than at 30 degrees C. The greater ANF and reduced PRA responses to exercise in the cold may have resulted from central hemodynamic changes caused by cold-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Restraint vs. hindlimb suspension on fluid and electrolyte balance in rats.

To determine the effect of hindlimb suspension on body fluid volume, salt and water balance, and relevant hormones, two series of experiments were performed in an experimental protocol including periods of isolation (7 days), horizontal attachment (7 days), and suspension (14 days). 1) During the first experiment, water and electrolyte balance, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and guanosine 3',5'- cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) were determined in urine, atrial natriuretic peptide in plasma and atria, and renin concentration and AVP in plasma in 30 rats. 2) During the second experiment, blood volume and extracellular fluid volume were measured by a dilution technique (Evans blue and sodium thiocyanate) in another 30 rats. We observed a pronounced and early effect of horizontal attachment on the renal variables. After 48 h, diuresis (49%), natriuresis (44%), kaliuresis (36%), osmotic load (39%), creatinine (28%), and AVP excretion (155%) were significantly increased in attached rats (P < 0.05). There was no short-term (24-h) effect of suspension on urine flow and Na+, K+, creatinine, and AVP excretion, but the urine cGMP decreased significantly (45%; P < 0.05). Significant decreases in natriuresis, kaliuresis, urine creatinine, and osmotic load occurred in the suspension group 7 days after suspension. After the 14-day tail suspension, plasma volume and extracellular fluid volume measured in suspended rats were not different from isolated rat values, whereas plasma volume increased by 15% (P < 0.05) in the attached rats. Plasma immunoreactive plasma atrial natriuretic levels of suspended rats were significantly reduced by 35% vs. isolated rats (P < 0.001) and by 18% vs. attached rats (P < 0.05). By using this experimental protocol, the physiological alterations revealed that suspension produced some acute and long-term effects, but the fixation to the suspension device, restraint, and confinement have their own influence on fluid distribution and renal function.

Central and peripheral sympathetic activities in rats during recovery from simulated weightlessness.

Rats were tail suspended, keeping their forelimbs weight bearing for 14 days, and then allowed to recover for a short (6-h) or a long (24-h) period to assess the behavior of the sympathetic nervous system after weightless simulation. Sympathetic activity was determined by measuring norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the brain stem cell groups involved in central blood pressure control and in organs playing a key role in the cardiovascular regulation (heart and kidneys). The NE turnover was greatly reduced in the rostral (-56%; P < 0.001) and caudal (-73%; P < 0.001) A2 nucleus of suspended rats but was unchanged in the A1, A5, and A6 cell groups compared with attached rats. The NE turnover in the cardiac atria (-34%; P < 0.001) and ventricles (-35%; P < 0.001) and kidneys (-31%; P < 0.001) was decreased after suspension. The central and peripheral sympathetic activities returned to normal within 24 h of release from suspension, but there was hyperactivity after 6 h of recovery. This raises the problem of interpreting the results obtained in animals killed a few hours after return from spaceflight.