Effects of Clonidine on Biochemical Indices of Sympathetic Function and Plasma Renin Activity in Normotensive Man

1977 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. H. Wing ◽  
J. L. Reid ◽  
C. A. Hamilton ◽  
P. Sever ◽  
D. S. Davies ◽  
...  

1. A single oral dose of clonidine hydrochloride (300 μg) lowered systolic blood pressure by 20 ± 2 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 15 ± 2 mmHg in seven healthy normotensive subjects. 2. Resting supine plasma noradrenaline concentration fell from 2·42 ± 0·47 nmol/l before dosing to a minimum of 0·59 ± 0·18 nmol/l at 6 h. The value subsequently rose and was not significantly different from that before the dose at 12 h. There was a significant reduction in urinary free catecholamine excretion in the first 12 h after dosing. 3. Resting supine plasma renin activity before dosing was 0·95 ± 0·16 pmol of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1 of plasma and rose significantly after clonidine to 3·50 ± 0·39 pmol of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1 of plasma at 6 h. By 12 h plasma renin activity had returned to control values. 4. When the same subjects were studied on a control, drug-free, day under the same conditions, there was no significant change in blood pressure or plasma noradrenaline. Although plasma renin activity rose during this control day, it was significantly lower than after clonidine. 5. In normotensive subjects single doses of clonidine lower blood pressure and are associated with a reduction of sympathetic nervous activity. Delayed elevation of plasma renin activity may be secondary to the fall in blood pressure. There is no evidence for an overshoot of sympathetic activity after a single dose of clonidine.

1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Mathias ◽  
N. J. Christensen ◽  
H. L. Frankel ◽  
W. S. Peart

1. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the release of renin during head-up tilt has been studied in five normal subjects and in four tetraplegic patients with cervical spinal-cord transection above the sympathetic outflow. Blood pressure, heart rate and concentrations of plasma noradrenaline, plasma adrenaline and plasma renin activity were measured during head-up tilt to 45° before and after acute β-adrenoreceptor blockade with intravenous propranolol. 2. In the normal subjects there were minimal changes in blood pressure during head-up tilt and there was a rise in both plasma noradrenaline concentration and plasma renin activity. After propranolol values of plasma renin activity at rest fell with little change occurring during head-up tilt. 3. In the tetraplegic patients there was a substantial fall in blood pressure during head-up tilt. Concentrations of plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline did not change but there was a marked increase in plasma renin activity. Values of plasma renin activity both at rest and during head-up tilt were unaffected by propranolol. 4. We conclude that in tetraplegic patients renin release during head-up tilt may occur independently of sympathetic nervous activity and is probably largely dependent on activation of renal vascular receptors.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto L. Schiffrin ◽  
Jolanta Gutkowska ◽  
Gaétan Thibault ◽  
Jacques Genest

The angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril (MK-421), at a dose of 1 mg/kg or more by gavage twice daily, effectively inhibited the pressor response to angiotensin I for more than 12 h and less than 24 h. Plasma renin activity (PRA) did not change after 2 or 4 days of treatment at 1 mg/kg twice daily despite effective ACE inhibition, whereas it rose significantly at 10 mg/kg twice daily. Blood pressure fell significantly and heart rate increased in rats treated with 10 mg/kg of enalapril twice daily, a response which was abolished by concomitant angiotensin II infusion. However, infusion of angiotensin II did not prevent the rise in plasma renin. Enalapril treatment did not change urinary immunorcactive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) excretion and indomethacin did not modify plasma renin activity of enalapril-treated rats. Propranolol significantly reduced the rise in plasma renin in rats receiving enalapril. None of these findings could be explained by changes in the ratio of active and inactive renin. Water diuresis, without natriuresis and with a decrease in potassium urinary excretion, occurred with the higher dose of enalapril. Enalapril did not potentiate the elevation of PRA in two-kidney one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats. In conclusion, enalapril produced renin secretion, which was in part β-adrenergically mediated. The negative short feedback loop of angiotensin II and prostaglandins did not appear to be involved. A vasodilator effect, apparently independent of ACE inhibition, was found in intact conscious sodium-replete rats.


1976 ◽  
Vol 51 (s3) ◽  
pp. 177s-180s ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gordon ◽  
Freda Doran ◽  
M. Thomas ◽  
Frances Thomas ◽  
P. Cheras

1. As experimental models of reduced nephron population in man, (a) twelve men aged 15–32 years who had one kidney removed 1–13 years previously and (b) fourteen normotensive men aged 70–90 years were studied. Results were compared with those in eighteen normotensive men aged 18–28 years and eleven men aged 19–33 years with essential hypertension. 2. While the subjects followed a routine of normal diet and daily activity, measurements were made, after overnight recumbency and in the fasting state, of plasma volume and renin activity on one occasion in hospital and of blood pressure on five to fourteen occasions in the home. Blood pressure was also measured after standing for 2 min and plasma renin activity after 1 h standing, sitting or walking. Twenty-four hour urinary aldosterone excretion was also measured. 3. The measurements were repeated in the normotensive subjects and subjects in (a) and (b) above after 10 days of sodium-restricted diet (40 mmol of sodium/day). 4. The mean plasma renin activity (recumbent) in essential hypertensive subjects was higher than in normotensive subjects. In subjects of (a) and (b) above, it was lower than normotensive subjects, and was not increased by dietary sodium restriction in subjects of (a). 5. The mean aldosterone excretion level was lower in old normotensive subjects than in the other groups, and increased in each group after dietary sodium restriction. 6. Mean plasma volume/surface area was not different between the four groups and in normotensive, essential hypertensive and nephrectomized subjects but not subjects aged 70–90 years was negatively correlated with standing diastolic blood pressure.


1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (s6) ◽  
pp. 319s-321s ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Leonetti ◽  
C. Bianchini ◽  
G. B. Picotti ◽  
A. Cesura ◽  
Letizia Caccamo ◽  
...  

1. Plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations and plasma renin activity were measured in 21 mothers at delivery and in their babies at birth (umbilical cord blood) and on days 1 and 5 of extrauterine life. 2. At birth plasma renin activity was significantly higher in the newborn than in mothers. Plasma renin activity increased further, but not significantly, on day 1 of life and significantly decreased on day 5. On day 5, 10 min head-up tilting caused no change in plasma renin activity. 3. Plasma noradrenaline in the newborn was higher than in mothers at birth and significantly decreased thereafter. Plasma adrenaline levels at birth were similar in the newborn and their mothers and significantly lower in the newborn in subsequent days. Tilting caused no increase in either plasma adrenaline or noradrenaline levels. 4. No correlation was found between plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline levels and plasma renin activity, or between noradrenaline, adrenaline or plasma renin activity and blood pressure.


1978 ◽  
Vol 55 (s4) ◽  
pp. 367s-371s ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bianchi ◽  
G. B. Picotti ◽  
G. Bracchi ◽  
D. Cusi ◽  
M. Gatti ◽  
...  

1. Almost all the factors that may cause a rise in blood pressure are, in turn, influenced by the increase in blood pressure per se. Thus any primary involvement of one or more of these factors in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension must be evaluated before or during the development of hypertension. 2. Young normotensive subjects both of whose parents are hypertensive have a much higher probability of developing hypertension than those whose parents are both normotensive. 3. The following measurements were made in 56 subjects of the first group (both parents hypertensive) and 35 of the second group (both parents normotensive), matched for age, sex and body surface area: renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate, using p-aminohippurate and inulin clearance; 24 h urinary excretion of aldosterone, protein and electrolytes; plasma renin activity; plasma volume. Plasma catecholamines and cardiac index were also measured in 26 subjects of the first group and 25 subjects of the second group using a radioenzymic method and echocardiography. 4. All these factors were similar in the two groups except that renal plasma flow was higher in the first group (767·2 ± 30 versus 650·7 ± 17 ml/min, P < 0·01). Plasma renin activity tended to be lower in subjects with a higher renal plasma flow, but there was no significant negative correlation between the two factors. 5. The possibility that the higher renal plasma flow in subjects with a high probability of developing hypertension is a compensatory mechanism for a primary intrarenal defect is discussed.


1977 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Snow ◽  
D. A. Piercy ◽  
Valerie Robson ◽  
R. Wilkinson

1. In 29 patients with acromegaly, plasma renin activity and growth hormone were measured during fasting and recumbency on free diet. Exchangeable sodium was measured in all cases and expressed as a percentage of the expected value on the basis of lean body mass. 2. Twenty-two control subjects without evidence of cardiovascular, renal or endocrine disease were studied in the same way. 3. There was a significant increase in exchangeable sodium and suppression of plasma renin activity in the acromegalic patients in comparison with control subjects. 4. There was a significant positive correlation between exchangeable sodium and plasma growth hormone. 5. Hypertensive acromegalic patients (diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg) tend to have a lower (although not significantly so) exchangeable sodium than normotensive subjects. 6. We conclude that (a) suppression of plasma renin activity in acromegaly can be explained by sodium retention, (b) hypersecretion of growth hormone is probably responsible for the increased exchangeable sodium, and (c) sodium overload cannot be directly related to blood pressure but may contribute to the increased occurrence of hypertension in acromegaly.


1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Stonier ◽  
J. Bennett ◽  
E. A. Messenger ◽  
G. M. Aber

1. The effect of oestradiol alone and in combination with indomethacin on blood pressure, erythrocyte cation concentration and Na+−K+ flux has been studied in adult female normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 2. Oestradiol alone resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (from 165.3 ± 3.9 to 146.4 ± 2.7 mmHg, P < 0.001), whereas it induced a significant increase in normotensive rats (from 111.8 ± 1.8 to 124.1 ± 3.6 mmHg, P < 0.001). When indomethacin and oestradiol were administered simultaneously or when indomethacin was given alone, no change in blood pressure occurred in spontaneously hypertensive rats (158.6 ± 6.9 and 159.8 ± 6.2 mmHg, respectively). 3. The fall in blood pressure induced by oestradiol in spontaneously hypertensive rats was associated with significant reductions in erythrocyte K+ concentration (from 127.4 ± 1.2 to 116.9 ± 1.7 mmol/l of cells, P < 0.001), in erythrocyte Na+ concentration (from 14.3 ± 0.8 to 13.0 ± 0.6 mmol/l of cells, P < 0.02), in ouabain-sensitive erythrocyte Na+ flux (from 17.8 ± 0.3 to 16.0 ± 0.4 mmol h−1 (1 of cells)−1, P < 0.01) and in ouabain-sensitive erythrocyte K+ flux (from 11.4 ± 0.2 to 10.4 ± 0.2 mmol h−1 (1 of cells)−1, P < 0.01). No change in blood pressure, erythrocyte cation concentration or Na+−K+ flux occurred when oestradiol and indomethacin were given together or when indomethacin was administered alone. 4. The hypertensive influence of oestradiol in normotensive rats was unaccompanied by any changes in erythrocyte K+ concentration, erythrocyte Na+ concentration and total, ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-resistant Na+−K+ flux. 5. The divergent changes in blood pressure noted in the two strains occurred despite comparable changes in plasma renin activity after oestradiol, with significant increases in plasma renin activity in normotensive rats (from 16.4 ± 4.2 to 28.4 ± 6.6 ng of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1, P < 0.05) and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (from 28.3 ± 2.7 to 39.5 ± 5.7 ng of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1, P < 0.01). The plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats receiving oestradiol or indomethacin and oestradiol were similar with values of 39.5 ± 5.7 and 40.6 ± 5.7 ng of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1, respectively, but were significantly higher than that seen in control animals (28.3 ± 2.7 ng of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1, P < 0.01). Similarly, indomethacin alone induced a significant increase in plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats to 35.8 ± 7.6 ng of angiotensin I h−1 ml−1 (P < 0.05). 6. The contrasting effects of oestradiol on blood pressure in the two rat strains occurred without any change in packed cell volume. Likewise, the changes in blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats with either oestradiol alone or in combination with indomethacin occurred without any change in packed cell volume, although indomethacin alone resulted in a significant reduction in packed cell volume (from 30.9 ± 1.6 to 26.8 ± 2.0, P < 0.01). 7. The results suggest that the hypotensive action of oestradiol in spontaneously hypertensive rats might be mediated through its influence on erythrocyte cation concentration and/or the modulation of Na+−K+ flux either directly or via the action of prostanoids.


1975 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-514
Author(s):  
J. Chodakowska ◽  
K. Nazar ◽  
B. Wocial ◽  
M. Jarecki ◽  
B. Skórka

1. The effect of physical exercise on blood pressure, plasma catecholamines and plasma renin activity was studied in fourteen patients with essential hypertension and in eight healthy subjects. 2. Resting plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline and plasma renin activity of the hypertensive patients did not differ from those of the control subjects. 3. In response to graded exercise producing successive heart rates of 120, 140 and 160 beats/min, significantly greater increases of blood pressure were found in the patients than in the control subjects. 4. Plasma noradrenaline increased significantly in both groups at all levels of exercise, the responses being significantly greater in the hypertensive patients. 5. The mean arterial blood pressure was significantly correlated with plasma noradrenaline concentration in the control subjects but not in the hypertensive patients. 6. In the hypertensive group plasma adrenaline increased significantly after exercise at all work loads whereas, in the control group, significant increase occurred only at the highest work load. The differences in the response of the two groups were significant at each work load. 7. Plasma renin activity increased significantly after exercise at the heart rate of 120 beats/min, both in the hypertensive patients and in the control subjects. The magnitude of the response was similar in the two groups.


1978 ◽  
Vol 55 (s4) ◽  
pp. 377s-379s ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Grim ◽  
M. H. Weinberger ◽  
D. P. Henry ◽  
F. C. Luft ◽  
N. S. Fineberg

1. Blood pressure, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, urinary noradrenaline during sleep (UNA-S) and several estimates of sodium intake were determined in 379 normotensive subjects (age 13–70) to investigate the relationship of these variables to blood pressure. 2. Blood pressure was correlated with age, weight, plasma renin activity UNA-S, and estimates of sodium intake. These variables were frequently intercorrelated. 3. Multiple-correlation analysis revealed that after removal of the effects of age, blood pressure was related to weight, plasma renin activity, UNA-S and estimates of sodium intake. 4. However, multiple-regression analysis failed to demonstrate an effect of plasma renin activity, UNA-S, or estimates of sodium intake on blood pressure when the effects of age, weight, race and sex were removed. 5. Careful matching of subjects by age, weight, race and sex in studies of blood pressure and biochemical factors in normal subjects is crucial to proper interpretation of such data.


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