Pressor responsiveness in pseudopregnant and pregnant rats: role of maternal factors

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (4) ◽  
pp. R866-R871 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Paller ◽  
G. Gregorini ◽  
T. F. Ferris

During pregnancy the pressor response to vasoconstrictor substances such as angiotensin II (ANG II) is diminished, and renal, uterine, and vascular prostaglandin (PG) production may increase. However, little is known about the factors that alter vascular reactivity or stimulate PG synthesis during pregnancy. To ascertain whether these factors are of maternal or fetal-placental origin, we studied vascular reactivity and urinary PGE excretion in pseudopregnant rats. Pseudopregnant rats had plasma progesterone and weight gain similar to that observed in pregnant rats. Urinary PG excretion in nonpregnant rats was approximately 70 ng/24 h and remained constant during a 12-day observation. In contrast, urinary PG excretion in both pregnant and in pseudopregnant rats rose to levels approximately twice control within 4-6 days. The pressor response to ANG II was diminished in pseudopregnant rats compared with nonpregnant rats. When the PG synthesis inhibitor meclofenamate was given there was no change in the pressor response to ANG II in nonpregnant animals, but in pseudopregnant animals meclofenamate produced a significant increase in the pressor response to ANG II. The pressor response to norepinephrine and arginine vasopressin (AVP) was not diminished in pseudopregnant animals, and meclofenamate did not increase the pressor response to these agents. Therefore, a developing fetus and placenta is not necessary for the decrease in pressor response to ANG II nor for the early increase in urinary PGE excretion. Like in pregnancy, the pressor response to ANG II was increased after meclofenamate in pseudopregnancy. Increased PG production may, therefore, be partly responsible for the decrease in pressor responsiveness to ANG II. However, pseudopregnancy, unlike pregnancy, did not affect pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine or AVP. Both maternal and fetal-placental factors seem required for the reduction in responsiveness to norepinephrine and AVP in pregnancy.

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (6) ◽  
pp. H2063-H2068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Grewal ◽  
Janis Cuevas ◽  
Gautam Chaudhuri ◽  
Lauren Nathan

It has been demonstrated in reflex-intact animals that the sensitivity to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is increased during pregnancy and that this action is mediated by sex steroids but not by nitric oxide (NO). We assessed the effects of CGRP in the following groups of anesthetized ganglion-blocked rats: 1) pregnant, 2) ovariectomized, and 3) ovariectomized and treated with estradiol and progesterone. Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) were assessed after the administration of varying doses of CGRP. Decreases in MAP after CGRP administration were significantly greater in pregnant rats and ovariectomized rats administered sex steroids than in ovariectomized controls. The CGRP antagonist CGRP8–37 produced a pressor response of similar magnitude in both pregnant and ovariectomized rats. We also assessed the effects of CGRP and the modulating role of NO in the isolated uterine vascular bed preparation. CGRP reduced perfusion pressure to a greater degree in ovariectomized animals treated with sex steroids than in ovariectomized animals. This response was attenuated by pretreatment with an NO synthesis inhibitor. CGRP8–37 produced a similar increase in perfusion pressure in both groups. We conclude that 1) the increased vascular sensitivity observed during pregnancy or after treatment with sex steroids is in part mediated by NO, and 2) CGRP8–37 has a vasoconstrictor action of its own.


1982 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. I. Fuchs ◽  
L. G. Moore ◽  
S. Rounds

Pulmonary arterial pressure is decreased in pregnant women despite increased cardiac output, suggesting that pulmonary vascular resistance is decreased in pregnancy. To determine if pulmonary vascular reactivity is decreased in pregnant rats, lungs isolated from pregnant rats were perfused with blood from other pregnant rats at constant flow rate, and pressor responses to airway hypoxia and to angiotensin II were measured. Compared with responses obtained in lungs from nonpregnant female rats, hypoxic and angiotensin II pressor responses were blunted in pregnancy. To separate possible effects of pregnancy on the lung from those of substance(s) circulating in the blood in pregnancy, we perfused lungs from nonpregnant rats with blood from pregnant rats. Both the hypoxic and angiotensin II pressor responses were blunted by blood from pregnant rats. The angiotensin II pressor response was blunted also in lungs from pregnant rats perfused with blood from nonpregnant rats. These results suggest that a circulating substance is responsible for blunting of pulmonary vascular reactivity in pregnancy and that changes in the lung induced by pregnancy also depress angiotensin II responses. It is unlikely that estrogen and progesterone were responsible for these effects, since lungs and blood obtained from animals treated with these hormones did not have blunted pulmonary vascular reactivity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (6) ◽  
pp. R1457-R1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hines ◽  
J. P. Porter

It is known that the pressor response to intravenous angiotensin II (ANG II) is blunted in pregnancy. In the present study we examined the pressor response to intracerebroventricular ANG II to determine whether central ANG II effects are also attenuated in conscious pregnant rats. Two to three days before experimentation, animals were instrumented with arterial and venous catheters and a ventricular guide cannula. Pressor responses to 10, 50, and 100 ng iv of ANG II, and 30, 100, and 300 ng iv of norepinephrine were significantly reduced in pregnant animals. The pressor response to 5, 20, and 50 ng iv of vasopressin was not attenuated in pregnant rats. The pressor response to intracerebroventricular 100 ng ANG II was significantly increased in pregnancy. Blockade of the vasopressin V1 receptor and the sympathetic ganglia indicated that the greater pressor response to intracerebroventricular ANG II in pregnancy may be the result of a larger contribution by the sympathetic nervous system. We conclude that the central effects of ANG II are augmented in pregnancy, suggesting a significant role for central ANG II in blood pressure regulation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. E182-E188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel Moreno ◽  
Rosemary Wangensteen ◽  
Juan Sainz ◽  
Isabel Rodríguez-Gomez ◽  
Virginia Chamorro ◽  
...  

This study analyzed the role of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in the abnormal renal vascular reactivity of hypothyroid rats. Renal responses to vasoconstrictors [VC: phenylephrine (PHE) and ANG II] and vasodilators [VD: ACh, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and papaverine (PV)] were studied in kidneys from control and hypothyroid rats under normal conditions and after NO or EDHF blockade. NO was blocked by the administration of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and EDHF by the administration of tetraethylammonium (TEA) or by an increased extracellular K+. The response to VC was also evaluated after endothelium removal. Hypothyroid kidneys showed reduced responsiveness to PHE and a normal response to ANG II. l-NAME and TEA administration produced an increased sensitivity to PHE and to ANG II in control preparations. l-NAME also increased the response to PHE in hypothyroid kidneys, but the differences between control and hypothyroid kidneys were maintained. TEA administration did not change the response to either VC in hypothyroid preparations. In endothelium-removed preparations, TEA was unable to increase pressor responsiveness to VC. Hypothyroid kidneys showed reduced responsiveness to ACh and SNP and normal response to PV. The differences between hypothyroid and control preparations in the responses to ACh and SNP were maintained after l-NAME or increased K+. In conclusion, this study shows that 1) the attenuated response to PHE in hypothyroidism is not related to an increased production of endothelium-derived relaxing factors NO and EDHF; 2) the response to VC in hypothyroid preparations is insensitive to EDHF blockade; and 3) hypothyroid preparations have a reduced reactivity to the NO donor, and NO-independent vasodilatation remains unaffected.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. E49-E55 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Naden ◽  
S. Coultrup ◽  
B. S. Arant ◽  
C. R. Rosenfeld

Reduced vascular responsiveness to infused angiotensin II (ANG II) has been observed during pregnancy. It has been proposed that infusions produce lower circulating concentrations of ANG II in pregnancy, due to an increase in the metabolic clearance rate of ANG II (MCRangii). We have evaluated the MCRangii and the arterial plasma concentrations of ANG II during constant infusions of 1.15 micrograms ANG II/min into chronically instrumented pregnant (n = 6) and nonpregnant (n = 9) sheep. Although the pressor responses were significantly less in the pregnant than in the nonpregnant sheep (17.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 34.9 +/- 3.2 mmHg, P less than 0.001), the values for MCRangii were not different: 56.2 +/- 6.3 ml X min-1 X kg-1 in nonpregnant and 55.9 +/- 4.3 ml X min-1 X kg-1 in pregnant sheep. The steady-state plasma ANG II concentrations during the infusions were slightly less in pregnant than in nonpregnant sheep (388 +/- 36 vs. 454 +/- 36 pg/ml); however, this difference would be responsible for only a 2-mmHg reduction in the pressor response. We conclude that the reduced pressor response to infused ANG II in pregnancy is not due to an increase in MCRangii nor to lower plasma ANG II concentrations.


Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuto Nakamura ◽  
Masanobu Yamazato ◽  
Yusuke Ohya

Objective: Aminopeptidase A (APA) degrades of various sympathomodulatory peptides such as angiotensin (Ang) II, cholecystkinin-8, neurokinin B and kallidin. APA activity is increased in the brain of hypertensive rats. A centrally acting APA inhibitor prodrug is currently under investigation in clinical trial for treatment of hypertension. In previous reports, a role of APA in the brain on cardiovascular regulation was researched focus on only renin-angiotensin system. We previously reported that intracerebroventricular(icv) administration of APA increased blood pressure and that this pressor response was partially blocked by angiotensin receptor blocker. In this study, we evaluated a role of APA on cardiovascular regulation focusing on peptides other than Ang II. Method: Eleven weeks old Wistar Kyoto rats were used. We icv administrated 800 ng/8 μL of APA after pretreatment of following drugs, i) 8μL of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) as a control, ii) 80 nmol/8 μL of amastatin which is a non-specific aminopeptidase inhibitor, iii) 1 nmol/8 μL of HOE-140 which is a bradykinin receptor blocker to evaluate the involvement of degradation of kallidin to bradykinin by APA. Result: i) Icv administration of APA after pretreatment of aCSF increased blood pressure rapidly. Blood pressure reached a peak within 1 minute. The elevated blood pressure decreased gradually and reached baseline blood pressure in 10 minutes. A peak pressor response is 25.5±1.4 mmHg (n=5). ii) Icv pretreatment of amastatin or HOE-140 did not change the blood pressure. A peak pressor response induced by APA is 13.1±4.1 mmHg (n=6, p<0.05 vs aCSF). iii) Icv pretreatment of HOE-140 did not change the blood pressure. A peak pressor response induced by APA is 21.2±1.8 mmHg (n=4, p<0.05 vs aCSF). Conclusion: 1) Icv administration of APA increased blood pressure by APA enzymatic activity. 2) Cardiovascular regulation of APA in the brain is due to not only degradation of Ang II to Ang III but also degradation of kallidin to bradykinin. Clinical implication: We think inhibition of APA in the brain may be a unique therapeutic target which affects several cardiovascular peptides in the brain.


1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 1040-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Mazmanian ◽  
B. Baudet ◽  
C. Brink ◽  
J. Cerrina ◽  
S. Kirkiacharian ◽  
...  

A bolus injection of methylene blue (1 mg), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, or aspirin (3 mg) in the isolated rat lung preparation had little or no effect on resting perfusion pressure under normoxic condition. In contrast, methylene blue markedly potentiated hypoxic vasopressor response (4-fold) when injected before or during the alveolar hypoxic stimulation. Hemoglobin also potentiated the hypoxic pressor response. Similarly, methylene blue or aspirin augmented the pressor responses to angiotensin II (0.1–1 microgram). The increased hypoxic response induced by methylene blue was immediate and sustained. Methylene blue, when added during hypoxia in the presence of aspirin, further augmented the response to hypoxia compared with the enhanced hypoxic response observed with aspirin alone. Our results suggest that, in addition to the role of cyclooxygenase products, the pulmonary vascular bed may be regulated by endothelium-dependent factors that can be antagonized directly or indirectly by methylene blue.


1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (1) ◽  
pp. H100-H108 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Paller

The mechanism of decreased pressor responsiveness to pressor agents was examined serially throughout pregnancy in conscious rats. Rats, 15 and 20 days pregnant, showed marked blunting of the pressor response to graded doses of angiotensin, whereas after only 5 days of pregnancy there was a normal response and at 10 days an intermediate pressor response. A role for prior occupancy of vascular angiotensin II receptors for the blunted pressor response was made less likely by the observation that treatment with captopril to decrease endogenous angiotensin II did not improve the angiotensin II pressor response in 15-day pregnant rats. Studies of smooth muscle receptor binding of angiotensin II showed that, in pregnancy, receptor affinity and number was not changed. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with meclofenamate increased the pressor response to angiotensin II toward normal in pregnant animals. The blunted vascular response in pregnancy was not specific for angiotensin since pregnant animals showed a similar decrease in the response to both norepinephrine and arginine vasopressin. Furthermore, meclofenamate increased the pressor response to norepinephrine and vasopressin in pregnant rats. We conclude that pressor hyporesponsiveness in pregnancy is not specific for angiotensin II and is not caused by alterations in vascular receptor occupancy or binding. In pregnancy there is a decreased pressor response to all three major pressor agents that is improved by inhibition of prostaglandin production.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (5) ◽  
pp. H1697-H1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Di Wang ◽  
Douglas G. Johns ◽  
Shanqin Xu ◽  
Richard A. Cohen

Our purpose was to address the role of NAPDH oxidase-derived superoxide anion in the vascular response to ANG II. Blood pressure, aortic superoxide anion, 3-nitrotyrosine, and medial cross-sectional area were compared in wild-type mice and in mice that overexpress human superoxide dismutase (hSOD). The pressor response to ANG II was significantly less in hSOD mice. Superoxide anion levels were increased twofold in ANG II-treated wild-type mice but not in hSOD mice. 3-Nitrotyrosine increased in aortic endothelium and adventitia in wild-type but not hSOD mice. In contrast, aortic medial cross-sectional area increased 50% with ANG II in hSOD mice, comparable to wild-type mice. The lower pressor response to ANG II in the mice expressing hSOD is consistent with a pressor role of superoxide anion in wild-type mice, most likely because it reacts with nitric oxide. Despite preventing the increase in superoxide anion and 3-nitrotyrosine, the aortic hypertrophic response to ANG II in vivo was unaffected by hSOD.


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