Evaluation of Amycolaptosis sp. Ver12 as a potential degrader of benzo(b)fluoranthene.

Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with five fused benzene rings; it is a highly recalcitrant compound and a priority environmental pollutant due to its detrimental effects on human health and the survival of wild animals. Biodegradation of BbF by microorganisms is an attractive alternative, and few studies have been focused on this issue. In this work, bacteria with the ability to degrade BbF were isolated and selected. The capability of the isolates to tolerate concentrations of 50 and 75 mg l-1 of BbF in liquid medium was evaluated. The selected isolates were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing as belonging to Bacillus, Gordonia, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Ochrobactrum, and Amycolatopsis. All isolates were tolerant and grew at the BbF concentrations tested, some isolates were more competitive than others, and the most prominent was Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12, which removed 47% of BbF, furthermore, with the addition of yeast extract, removed 59% of the compound. In summary, the report shows that Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12 can degrade BbF efficiently and could be considered for bioremediation of BbF-contaminated environments.

Utilization of naproxen by Amycolatopsis sp. Poz 14 and detection of the enzymes involved in the degradation metabolic pathway.

The pollution of aquatic environments by drugs is a problem for which scarce research has been conducted in regards of their removal. Amycolatopsis sp. Poz 14 presents the ability to biotransformation naphthalene at high efficiency, therefore, in this work this bacterium was proposed as an assimilator of naproxen and carbamazepine. Growth curves at different concentrations of naproxen and carbamazepine showed that Amycolatopsis sp. Poz 14 is able to utilize these drugs at a concentration of 50 mg L-1 as a source of carbon and energy. At higher concentrations, the bacterial growth was inhibited. The transformation kinetics of naproxen showed the total elimination of the compound in 18 days, but carbamazepine was only eliminated in 19.9%. The supplementation with cometabolites such as yeast extract and naphthalene (structure similar to naproxen) at 50 mg L-1, showed that the yeast extract shortened the naproxen elimination to 6 days and reached a higher global consumption rate compared to the naphthalene cometabolite. The biotransformation of carbamazepine was not improved by the addition of cometabolites. The partial sequencing of the genome of Amycolatopsis sp. Poz 14 detected genes encoding putative enzymes for the degradation of cyclic aromatic compounds and the activities of aromatic monooxygenase, catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase exhibited their involving in the naproxen biodegradation. The HPLC-MS analysis detected the 5-methoxysalicylic acid at the end of the biotransformation kinetics. This work demonstrates that Amycolatopsis sp. Poz 14 utilizes naproxen and transforms it to 5-methoxysalicylic acid which is the initial compound for the catechol and gentisic acid metabolic pathway.

Evaluation of the removal of pyrene and fluoranthene by Ochrobactrum anthropi, Fusarium sp. and their coculture.

Fluoranthene and pyrene are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of high molecular weight that are recalcitrant and toxic to humans; therefore, their removal from the environment is crucial. From hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, 25 bacteria and 12 filamentous fungi capable of growth on pyrene and fluoranthene as the sole carbon and energy source were isolated. From these isolates, Ochrobactrum anthropi BPyF3 and Fusarium sp. FPyF1 were selected and identified because they grew quickly and abundantly in both hydrocarbons. Furthermore, O. anthropi BPyF3 and Fusarium sp. FPyF1 were most efficient at removing pyrene (50.39 and 51.32 %, respectively) and fluoranthene (49.85 and 49.36 %, respectively) from an initial concentration of 50 mg L(-1) after 7 days of incubation. Based on this and on the fact that there was no antagonism between the two microorganisms, a coculture composed of O. anthropi BPyF3 and Fusarium sp. FPyF1 was formed to remove fluoranthene and pyrene at an initial concentration of 100 mg L(-1) in a removal kinetic assay during 21 days. Fluoranthene removal by the coculture was higher (87.95 %) compared with removal from the individual cultures (68.95 % for Fusarium sp. FPyF1 and 64.59 % for O. anthropi BPyF3). In contrast, pyrene removal by the coculture (99.68 %) was similar to that obtained by the pure culture of Fusarium sp. FPyF1 (99.75 %). The kinetics of removal for both compounds was adjusted to a first-order model. This work demonstrates that the coculture formed by Fusarium sp. FPyF1 and O. anthropi BPyF3 has greater potential to remove fluoranthene than individual cultures; however, pyrene can be removed efficiently by Fusarium sp. FPyF1 alone.

Conversion to everolimus in liver transplant patients with renal dysfunction.

Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) immunosuppressive therapy post-liver transplantation (OLT) is important to reduce graft rejection episodes. However, these drugs show important side effects, particularly renal dysfunction (RDF). Changing from CNI to a nonnephrotoxic drug, as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor may solve the problem. Our objective was to evaluate renal function (RF) among liver transplant patients initially receiving CNI, among whom the patients with RDF were converted completely or partially to an mTOR inhibitor like everolimus (EVE). We performed a prospective study in liver transplant patients from 2000 to 2009. Creatinine levels and creatinine clearances (Cockroft-Gault) expressed as mean values ± standard deviations were measured pre- and postswitch for comparisons using Wilcoxon nonparametric tests. Six patients were converted fully or partially to EVE. Their mean age at the moment of introducing the new therapy was 52.2 ± 13.6 years (range = 28-60). Immunosuppression time prior to switching from CNI to EVE was 23.8 ± 26.6 months (range = 6-70). Postconversion follow-up was 25.8 ± 16.5 months (range = 8-42). All patients showed improvement in RF. The creatinine level improvement was significant (P = .03) namely, from a mean of 2.26 ± 0.49 to 1.21 ± 0.57 mg/dL. Glomerular filtration rate improved from a mean of 40 ± 15.13 to 72.60 ± 17.3 mL/min/m(2) (P = .03). Conversion from CNI to EVE improved creatinine concentrations and creatinine clearances with long-term effects free of graft rejection.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and its association with respiratory disturbances in obese patients living at moderately high altitude.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the point prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and its relationship with respiratory disturbances in obese patients living at moderate altitude. SUBJECTS: A total of 57 obese patients comprised the final sample and consisted of 34 women and 23 men, with a mean age of 42.7+/-12.1 ys and a mean body mass index (BMI) 47.1+/-10.6 kg/m(2) (range from 30.1 to 76.1). The mean living altitude was 2248.7 m, range 2100-2400 m above sea level. MEASUREMENTS: Doppler echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas analysis, and polysomnography were performed. RESULTS: Data showed that 96.5% of the studied sample had daytime PH defined as calculated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PSAP) >30 mmHg (mean PSAP=50, s.d.=13 mmHg). The severity of diurnal PH was found to be related to the presence of alveolar hypoventilation and BMI. The main risk factor for severity of diurnal PH was hypoventilation with a significant odds ratio (OR) 7.96, 95% CI 1.35-46.84, BMI was (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.25) and apnea/hypopnea index was not a predictor of pulmonary hypertension severity (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.02). CONCLUSION: We concluded that prevalence of diurnal PH is high in obese patients living at moderate altitude, and that hypoventilation is the main risk factor associated with the severity of pulmonary hypertension.

Phylogenetic characterization of a corrosive consortium isolated from a sour gas pipeline.

Biocorrosion is a common problem in oil and gas industry facilities. Characterization of the microbial populations responsible for biocorrosion and the interactions between different microorganisms with metallic surfaces is required in order to implement efficient monitoring and control strategies. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis was used to separate PCR products and sequence analysis revealed the bacterial composition of a consortium obtained from a sour gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Only one species of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was detected in this consortium. The rest of the population consisted of enteric bacteria with different characteristics and metabolic capabilities potentially related to biocorrosion. Therefore, several types of bacteria may be involved in biocorrosion arising from natural biofilms that develop in industrial facilities. The low abundance of the detected SRB was evidenced by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). In addition, the localized corrosion of pipeline steel in the presence of the consortium was clearly observed by ESEM after removing the adhered bacteria.

Kinin B2 receptors mediate blockade of atrial natriuretic peptide natriuresis induced by glucose or feeding in fasted rats.

We have shown previously that the kininogen-derived peptides bradykinin, prokinins, and PU-D1, given intravenously or into the duodenal lumen, block the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-induced diuretic-natriuretic effect in fasting, anesthetized rats infused with isotonic glucose. HOE-140, an inhibitor of bradykinin B2 receptors, completely suppresses this ANP blockade. When intravenous glucose infusion is omitted, the above-described inhibition of ANP does not take place. Therefore, to clarify the role of glucose and/or feeding in this phenomenon, we used fasted, anesthetized rats to test how the ANP excretory response was affected by (1) short-term feeding before anesthesia, (2) 1 mL of isotonic glucose introduced into the stomach, and (3) the interaction of HOE-140 with these treatments. In addition, we tested the effects of 1 mL of intragastric glucose administration and HOE-140 on urinary excretion in awake rats. In anesthetized rats, both glucose administration and feeding significantly inhibited the diuretic-natriuretic effect of ANP for up to 90 minutes. Similarly, intragastric glucose delayed spontaneous sodium and water excretion for 90 minutes in awake rats. In all 3 cases, pretreatment with HOE-140 (2.5 microg IV) fully prevented the inhibition of ANP excretory action, ruling out osmotic effects as the cause of reduced diuresis. These results indicate that the presence of glucose in the digestive tract triggers an inhibitory effect on ANP renal actions that requires activation of kinin B2 receptors, providing strong support to our hypothesis that during the early prandial period, gastrointestinal signals elicit a transient blockade of renal excretion with a mechanism involving the kallikrein-kinin system.

Croxatto's fifty-year pursuit: from pepsanurin to the discovery of a new kininogen-derived peptide (PU-D1).

This paper narrates Dr Héctor R Croxatto and collaborators' efforts over the past 50 years in search for peptidic hormones obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of blood plasma substrates. In the forties, Croxatto described three peptidic fractions characterized by their hypertensive, oxytocic and antidiuretic properties, designated as pepsitensin, pepsitocin and pepsanurin, respectively. While pepsitensin and pepsitocin were later identified as angiotensin I and metlys-bradykinin, pepsanurin was not identified and its research was halted for 35 years. During that time, Prof Croxatto and his group worked mostly on the renal kallikrein-kinin system, studying its physiological anti-hypertensive role, making significant contributions in the field of renovascular hypertension. After the discovery of atrial natriuretic peptide, Croxatto resumed his work with pepsanurin. In a series of papers from 1988 to 1998, it was shown that: 1) when injected intraperitoneally or in the intestinal lumen of anesthetized rats, or in the isolated perfused rat kidneys, pepsanurin is a potent inhibitor of the natriuretic effect of ANP; 2) plasma kininogens are identified as the substrates for pepsanurin formation; 3) bradykinin and prokinins exert the anti-ANP effect when injected either intravenously, intraperitoneally or intraduodenally, at small non-vasodilator doses; endogenous kinins also block ANP renal excretory effects; 4) a 20-amino acid peptide released by pepsin from domain 1 of purified LMW kininogen was isolated by Croxatto and collaborators, designed as PU-D1, and shown to exert similar anti-ANP effects as pepsanurin or kinins, but being more potent and longer lasting; 5) the anti-ANP effect of pepsanurin, kinins and PU-D1 is mediated by B2 kinin receptors, since it is blocked by a bradykinin receptor antagonist. Currently, Dr Croxatto is working on the hypothesis that intestinal-borne kinins and/or PU-D1 may reduce renal excretion during the prandial cycle.

Interactions between bradykinin and ANP in rat kidney in vitro: inhibition of natriuresis and modulation of medullary cyclic GMP.

In anesthetized rats, the renal excretory actions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are inhibited by intravenous or intraperitoneal injections of bradykinin. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this inhibition, we evaluated bradykinin effects on: i- ANP-induced natriuresis and diuresis in isolated perfused rat kidneys, and ii- ANP-induced cGMP production in rat renal medulla in vitro. In perfused kidneys, 1 microgram bradykinin completely inhibited the diuretic and natriuretic responses elicited by 0.5 microgram ANP, without changes in perfusion pressure. The inhibitory effects of bradykinin were abolished by HOE-140, a kinin-B2 receptor antagonist. Bradykinin alone had no effect on urinary excretion or perfusion pressure. Incubation with ANP (0.1 nM to 1 microM) increased renal medullary cGMP content up to 30-fold, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Medullary cGMP was moderately increased by the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (1 microM), but it was unchanged by bradykinin (0.1 nM-0.1 microM). Despite this, ANP-induced cGMP production was significantly enhanced by co-incubation with low concentrations of bradykinin (up to 0.1 nM). In contrast, ANP-induced cGMP accumulation was unchanged by concentrations of 1 nM bradykinin or higher. In the presence of 100 nM HOE-140, bradykinin (0.1-1 nM) did not affect ANP-induced cGMP production. These results demonstrate that bradykinin counteracts ANP-stimulated sodium and water excretion, by acting directly on the kidney. The interaction between both peptides is complex; our data suggest that renal medullary ANP receptors are subjected to an on/off modulation by fluctuating bradykinin concentrations.

[Glucose in conjunction with peptides derived from kininogens might act from digestive tract as blockers of atrial natriuretic peptide mediated diuresis-natriuresis]. / La glucosa en conjunto con péptidos derivados de cininógenos podrían actuar desde el aparato digestivo como bloqueadores de la acción diurética-natriurética del péptido natriurético auricular.

This paper describes long term research efforts which have lead: 1) to the identification of peptides present in pepsanurin, a peptidic fraction obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of plasma globulins that inhibits the renal excretory action of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and 2) to the discovery of an unexpected role of glucose, as a requisite for these inhibitory effects. The active peptides identified in pepsanurin are derived from plasma kininogens, substrates of the kallikrein-kinin system. Pro-kinins of 15, 16 and 18 amino acids, and bradykinin itself, block ANP-induced diuresis and natriuresis when injected i.v., i.p. or into the duodenal lumen of anesthetized rats in picomol doses. Furthermore, a novel 20 amino acids fragment derived from kininogen dominium-1, named PU-D1, is the most potent and longer lasting blocker of ANP renal effects. The anti-ANP effects of those peptides are prevented by B2-kinin receptor antagonists. The inhibition of ANP by kinins and PU-D1 was evident only in rats infused with isotonic glucose; whereas the excretory effect of ANP was not affected in fasted rats not infused, or infused with saline. These findings provide evidence that glucose facilitates liquid retention through a kinin-mediated inhibition of ANP excretory action that may be related to the prandial cycle.

Kinins mediate the inhibition of atrial natriuretic peptide diuretic effect induced by pepsanurin.

Pepsanurin is a peptidic fraction resulting from pepsin digestion of plasma globulins, that inhibits ANP renal excretory actions. We studied whether kinin-like peptides mediate the anti-ANP effect by testing if pepsanurin: 1) was blocked by the kinin B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140, 2) was produced from kininogen, and 3) was mimicked by bradykinin. Anti-ANP activity was assessed in anesthetized female rats by comparing the excretory response to two ANP boluses (0.5 microgram i.v.) given before and after i.p. injection of test samples. Pepsanurin from human or rat plasma (1-5 mL/kg), and bradykinin (5-20 micrograms/kg), dose-relatedly inhibited ANP-induced water, sodium, potassium and cyclic GMP urinary excretion, without affecting arterial blood pressure. The same effect was exerted by pepsin hydrolysates of purified kininogen, whereas hydrolysates of kininogen-free plasma had no effect. HOE-140 (5 micrograms, i.v.) did not alter baseline, or ANP-induced excretion, but blocked the anti-ANP effects of pepsanurin. Histamine (15 micrograms/kg) plus seroalbumin hydrolysates did not affect ANP response, despite inducing larger peritoneal fluid accumulation as compared with pepsanurin or bradykinin. We concluded that kinins cleaved from kininogen mediate the anti-ANP effects of pepsanurin by activation of kinin B2 receptors, independently of changes in systemic arterial pressure or peritoneal fluid sequestration.

A peptide released by pepsin from kininogen domain 1 is a potent blocker of ANP-mediated diuresis-natriuresis in the rat.

A 20-amino acid peptide, KYEIKEGDCPVQSGKTWQDC (PU-D1), released by pepsin hydrolysis of LMW kininogen domain 1 was tested for its ability to antagonize the diuretic and natriuretic effect of ANP(103-125) in anesthetized rats. A single dose of 10.8 or 21.6 pmol (25 or 50 ng) PU-D1 given intravenously or into the duodenal lumen suppressed the diuresis-natriuresis induced by 209 pmol (500 ng) ANP by 43% to 59% and 69% to 96%, respectively. None of the doses tested (2.16 to 432 pmol, 5 ng to 1 microg) modified systemic blood pressure. Strikingly, a single IV dose of 10.8 pmol PU-D1 blocked the action of ANP for more than 3 hours. ANP blockade by PU-D1 was annulled completely by the bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor inhibitor Hoe 140. On a molar basis, PU-D1 is more effective than BK and kinins of 15, 16, and 18 amino acids for blocking the ANP-mediated diuresis-natriuresis. As with BK and other kinins, the inhibitory effect of Pu-D1 on ANP is obtained only within a small range of picomol doses. A single dose of 2.16 or 4.32 pmol PU-D1 or 47 pmol (50 ng) BK is ineffective against ANP if injected alone. However, when both substances are administered concomitantly at these subthreshold doses, they totally suppress ANP-induced diuresis-natriuresis. These results raise the question of whether PU-D1, released from kininogen domain 1, either alone or associated with BK, may interact with ANP in the regulation of urinary water and electrolyte excretion in physiological and pathological conditions.

A fragment of human kininogen containing bradykinin blunts the diuretic effect of atrial natriuretic peptide.

A synthetic 15 aminoacids kinin, named PU-15, is able to block the diuretic natriuretic action of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP). The structure of PU-15 is Met-Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg-Ser-Ser-Arg-Iso, having the aminoacid sequence of a fragment of human kininogens. The increase in the urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, and water, elicited by a bolus of 0.5 microg of ANP in anesthetized rats, is blocked by PU-15 (100-150 ng) given either intravenously 3 min before ANP injection, or injected intraperitoneally or in the duodenal lumen, 40 min before ANP. This ANP blockade, which mimics the action of pepsanurin, is only obtained with doses of PU-15 in a narrow range around 100 picomol/rat, and do not modify blood pressure. Larger doses, 2- to 8-fold the effective dose, either do not change the response to ANP or raise the excretion of sodium and water. The administration of HOE-140, a bradykinin B2 receptor blocker, prior to PU-15, completely abolishes the anti-ANP action of PU-15. These findings lend support to the proposal that kinins released from the intestinal tract during prandial period can modulate renal excretory function.

[Hepatopulmonary syndrome in decompensated cirrhotic patients]. / Sindrome hépatopulmonar en pacientes cirróticos descompensados.

Hypoxemia is common in cirrhotic patients and, when obvious pulmonary or cardiac causes are discarded, it is attributed to the so-called hepatopulmonary syndrome. The aim of this work was to assess the frequency of hypoxemia and orthodeoxia and its relationship with the degree of liver failure, in cirrhotic alcoholic patients. We studied 30 alcoholic cirrhotics. In all, arterial blood gases were measured in supine and standing positions, in 26 a chest X ray examination was done and in 20 a spirometry. Twelve patients had a subnormal PaO2 and this parameter fell more than 105 when assuming the standing position in one of these. The same reduction was observed in two subjects with normal supine PaO2. In the chest X ray examinations, pleural effusions were observed in five hypoxemic subjects and four with normal PaO2. Likewise minimal athelectasis was found in six and seven subjects and intestinal infiltrates in one of the two subjects. A significant association between hypoxemia and Pugh score was observed. Similarly, subjects with hypoxemia is frequent in alcoholic cirrhotic patients and, since it is not associated to obvious pulmonary causes, it may be attributed to the hepatopulmonary syndrome.

[Digestive process and regulation of renal excretory function: pepsanurin and prokinin inhibit the natriuretic peptide diuretic action]. / El proceso digestivo y la regulación de la función excretora renal: pepsanurina y procininas inhibidoras de la acción diurética del péptido natriurético auricular.

In order to clarify the blunting effect of peptides released by pepsin from blood plasma on ANP diuretic action, two prokinins designated PU-18 and PU-16 were tested. Both of them were able to inhibit in nanomolar doses the diuretic-saluretic action of 0.5 ug i.v. bolus of ANP given to anesthetized rats either by intravenous route or introduced in the duodenal lumen. PU-16 in doses of 0.5 and 1 ug were able to reduce in 72 and 96.5% respectively the natriuresis induced by 0.5 ug intravenous bolus of ANP. The data support the hypothesis that prokinins liberated in the digestive tract, could be physiological factors involved in hydrosaline homeostasis, moderating the ANP mediated increase of water, Na and K excretion during digestion.

Blunting effect of pepsanurin introduced in the duodenum on the atrial natriuretic peptide diuretic action in rats.

Pepsanurin (PU) is a peptide(s) obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of human plasma or its globulin fraction. We have reported that the accelerated renal excretory rate induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can be considerably blunted by PU either in the intact rat or in the isolated perfused rat kidney. We explored whether or not PU can be part of a signaling mechanism originated in the digestive tract, involved in the regulation of water and electrolyte homeostasis. PU obtained either from human (0.5 ml) or rat plasma (0.25-0.5 ml) administered into the duodenal lumen of rats, counteracted significantly the diuretic-saluretic action of a 0.5- microgram bolus of ANP, reproducing qualitatively the effect of its intraperitoneal administration. Human PU reduced the ANP-stimulated renal excretion by 67-90% for Na (P < 0.001) and by 35-54% for water (P < 0.02-P < 0.001); the inhibition induced by rat PU was 45-96% for Na (P < 0.05-P < 0.01) and 35-65% for water (P < 0.05-P < 0.01). Rat PU (0.5 ml) abolished the rise of glomerular filtration rate induced by ANP without affecting fractional Na excretion. All the samples tested decreased K excretion, but in some experiments, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Contrary to the effect of PU, the introduction in the duodenum of (i) isotonic glucose solution, (ii) hydrolysate of bovine serum albumin, or (iii) hydrolysate of casein prepared after the same procedure yielding PU from plasma failed to produce an inhibition of the ANP stimulation of renal excretory rate. In addition, human plasma incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 to 48 hr, prior to pepsin digestion, did not yield PU, which indicates that PU is generated from a substrate sensitive to endogenous enzymes and/or that its stability is vulnerable to endogenous enzymes.

Renal vascular and excretory resistance to atrial natriuretic peptide in pre-cirrhotic, bile-duct ligated rats.

Renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide in chronic cholestasis was studied in anaesthetized rats and in their isolated perfused kidneys. Cholestasis was induced by bile duct section after ligature, while controls were sham operated. Three weeks after surgery, cholestatic rats showed moderate arterial hypotension, elevated diuresis and no differences in urinary sodium, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa), when compared to controls. Isolated kidneys of cholestatic rats had equal basal diuresis and less natriuresis than the controls. Cholestatic rats presented blunted natriuretic and diuretic responses to iv injections of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP 0.5 microgram), associated with reduced increments in GFR and FENa, when compared with controls. Similarly, the diuretic-natriuretic response of isolated kidneys to ANP (3.5 x 10(-9) M) was greatly attenuated in this group. ANP did not increase perfusion pressure in cholestatic rats, as it did in controls. These results indicate that animals with chronic cholestasis present refractoriness to ANP, which might be mediated by a direct impairment at the renal vascular and tubular sites for ANP action.

Renal vascular and excretory resistance to atrial natriuretic peptide in pre-cirrhotic, bile-duct ligated rats

Renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide in chronic cholestasis was studied in anaesthetized rats and in their isolated perfused kidneys. Cholestasis was induced by bile duct section after ligature, while controls were sham operated. Three weeks after surgery, cholestatic rats showed moderate arterial hypotension, elevated diuresis and no differences in urinary sodium, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa), when compared to controls. Isolated kidneys of cholestatic rats had equal basal diuresis and less natriuresis than the controls. Cholestatic rats presented blunted natriuretic and diuretic responses to iv injections of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP 0.5 microgram), associated with reduced increments in GFR and FENa, when compared with controls. Similarly, the diuretic-natriuretic response of isolated kidneys to ANP (3.5 x 10(-9) M) was greatly attenuated in this group. ANP did not increase perfusion pressure in cholestatic rats, as it did in controls. These results indicate that animals with chronic cholestasis present refractoriness to ANP, which might be mediated by a direct impairment at the renal vascular and tubular sites for ANP action

[N-methyl-Tyr1,N-methyl-Arg7-D-Leu8]-dynorphin-A-(1-8)ethylamide, a stable dynorphin analog, produces diuresis by kappa-opiate receptor activation in the rat.

The i.v. administration of E-2078 ([N-methyl-Tyr1-N-methyl-Arg7-D-Leu8]-dynorphin-A-(1-8) ethylamide) to conscious animals in doses of 15, 50 or 200 micrograms/rat caused a dose-related diuretic response associated with a significant in crease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and in blood pressure. The overall excretion of Na+ was not modified by the opioid, whereas it reduced K+ output and its fractional excretion. Time course studies demonstrated that the increase in GFR and in blood pressure were transient and did not parallel the changes in urine outflow. Pretreatment of the animal with 1 mg/kg of naltrexone or of naloxone reduced the pressor response but did not reduce the renal action of E-2078. Doses of naltrexone 10 times larger (10 mg/kg) were required to attenuate the diuretic effect and abolish completely the changes in K+ excretion; however, the increase in GFR was not antagonized by 10 mg/kg of naltrexone. Consonant with the studies in conscious rats, perfusion of isolated rat kidneys with 0.2 to 1.8 microM E-2078 increased urine flow in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was prevented by the simultaneous perfusion of 2 microM naltrexone with the peptide. In pentobarbital-anesthetized animals, E-2078 elicited a diuretic response that was not parallelled by changes in GFR or electrolyte excretion. In addition, E-2078 caused a long lasting decrease in blood pressure which was blocked completely by pretreatment of the animal with 1 mg/kg of naltrexone. The diuretic effect of E-2078 was not modified by pretreatment of the animals with beta-funaltrexamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of atrial natriuretic peptide-induced natriuresis by plasma hydrolysates containing pepsanurin.

The specificity of antidiuretic actions of pepsanurin, a peptidic fraction obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of plasma, was studied in anesthetized rats and in isolated perfused rat kidneys. Pepsanurin was obtained from fresh dialyzed human plasma digested with pepsin (2,400 units/ml, 18 hours at 37 degrees C, pH 2.5), deproteinized (10 minutes at 80 degrees C), and centrifuged. In the rat, intraperitoneal injections of pepsanurin (0.5 ml/100 g body wt) significantly inhibited the effects of an intravenous bolus of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (0.5 micrograms) on water, sodium, and potassium excretion without altering systemic blood pressure. In addition, pepsanurin abolished the peak in glomerular filtration rate and reduced the ANP-induced rise in fractional sodium excretion. Pepsanurin also inhibited the natriuretic effects of amiloride (10 micrograms/100 g body wt i.v.) without changing glomerular filtration rate, but it did not inhibit the potassium-retaining effect of amiloride. In contrast, pepsanurin had no effect on basal urinary excretion, and it did not affect the diuretic response induced by furosemide (doses of 25, 50, or 100 micrograms i.v.). Control peptidic hydrolysates prepared from human plasma preincubated 48 hours at 37 degrees C (PIPH), bovine albumin (BSAH), or human albumin did not inhibit ANP, amiloride, or furosemide. In perfused kidneys, pepsanurin significantly and reversibly reduced sodium and water excretion. Furthermore, pepsanurin, but not PIPH or BSAH, blocked the natriuretic and diuretic effects of ANP. These results support the existence of a specific plasma substrate able to release a peptide or peptides that counteract distal tubule diuresis and natriuresis by an intrarenal mechanism.