In vitro evidence for local generation of renin and angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity by the human adrenal gland

1991 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Fallo ◽  
Matteo Pistorello ◽  
Francesco Pedini ◽  
Domenico D'Agostino ◽  
Franco Mantero ◽  
...  

Abstract. The adrenal gland of various mammalian species has been shown to contain all the components of a functional renin-angiotensin system. We investigated the existence of this local system in human adrenal tissues surgically obtained. Eight normal adrenals (cortex and medulla) and 6 aldosterone-producing adenomas (aldosteronomas) were examined. Minced tissues were superfused over 270 min, and 15-min fractions were collected. In the perfusates, active renin was measured by immunoradiometric assay with human anti-renin monoclonal antibodies; immunoreactive angiotensin II/III and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. Adrenal tissues, either normal or pathological, were found concomitantly to release renin, angiotensin II/III and aldosterone. The pattern of this spontaneous release exhibited a pulsatile character. The total amount of renin and angiotensin II/III secreted during superfusion clearly exceeded the tissue content (determined by extraction). Addition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor quinaprilat (4×10−5 mol/l) in the superfusion caused a concomitant decrease of angiotensin II/III and aldosterone secretion by 3 normal tissues, and no change in 2 aldosteronomas. These data provide evidence that the human adrenal gland in vitro generates and releases both renin and angiotensin II/III, and support the hypothesis that locally formed angiotensin II/III may play a role as a paracrine regulator of physiological aldosterone secretion.

1992 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Pistorello ◽  
Margherita Cimolato ◽  
Francesco Pedini ◽  
Donatella Piovan ◽  
Marco Boscaro ◽  
...  

Cardiac glycosides in man inhibit renin secretion, probably through a direct effect at the renal level (i.e. inhibition of juxtaglomerular cell Na/K ATPase). Since there is evidence that the human adrenal possesses an intrinsic renin-angiotensin system, we investigated the effect of digoxin on the in vitro generation of renin and angiotensin II/III, as well as of aldosterone, by the human adrenal gland. Minced normal adrenal tissues were studied in a superfusion system, measuring in the 15-min superfusate fractions active renin by immunoradiometric assay and angiotensin II/III and aldosterone by radioimmunoassay, respectively. In a first set of four experiments using different concentrations of digoxin in sequence for 45 min periods, digoxin 10−5, but not 10−8 and 10−6 mol/l, significantly reduced renin and angiotensin II/III output from adrenals, while no change in aldosterone was observed. In a second set of three experiments, the addition of digoxin 10−5 mol/l for 120 min caused a sustained reduction of renin and angiotensin II/III, but not of aldosterone. In the final experiment, the decrease of renin and angiotensin II/III during superfusion with digoxin 10−5 mol/l was significantly greater than that observed during superfusion with digoxin in the presence of antidigoxin antibodies. Our data indicate that digoxin at high doses reduces renin and angiotensin II/III but not aldosterone secretion by the human adrenal gland. This suggests two different effects of digoxin, probably both mediated by inhibition of the Na/K ATPase activity, on the adrenal renin-angiotensin- and aldosterone-secreting cells.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (6) ◽  
pp. H3726-H3731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald D. Lund ◽  
Robert M. Brooks ◽  
Frank M. Faraci ◽  
Donald D. Heistad

Endotoxin [or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] increases levels of superoxide in blood vessels and impairs vasomotor function. Angiotensin II plays an important role in the generation of superoxide in several disease states, including hypertension and heart failure. The goal of this study was to determine whether the activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction after endotoxin. We examined the effects of enalapril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or L-158809 (an angiotensin receptor blocker) on increases of superoxide and vasomotor dysfunction in mice treated with LPS. C57BL/6 mice were treated with either enalapril (60 mg·kg−1·day−1) or L-158809 (30 mg·kg−1·day−1) for 4 days. After the third day, LPS (10–20 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally, and one day later, vasomotor function of the aorta was examined in vitro. After precontraction with PGF2α, the maximal responses to sodium nitroprusside were similar in the aorta from normal and LPS-treated mice. In contrast, the relaxation to acetylcholine was impaired after LPS (54 ± 5% at 10−5, mean ± SE) compared with vessels treated with vehicle (88 ± 1%; P < 0.05). Enalapril improved ( P < 0.05) relaxation in response to acetylcholine to 81 ± 6% after LPS. L-158809 also improved relaxation in response to acetylcholine to 77 ± 4% after LPS. Superoxide (measured with lucigenin and hydroethidine) was increased ( P < 0.05) in aorta after LPS, and levels were reduced ( P < 0.05) following enalapril and L-158809. Thus, after LPS, enalapril and L-158809 reduce superoxide levels and improve relaxation to acetylcholine in the aorta. The findings suggest that activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes importantly to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction after endotoxin.


1977 ◽  
Vol 232 (5) ◽  
pp. F434-F437 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Freeman ◽  
J. O. Davis ◽  
W. S. Spielman

Suprarenal aortic constriction sufficient to reduce renal perfusion pressure by approximately 50% increased aldosterone secretion in anesthetized rats pretreated with dexamethasone. Bilateral nephrectomy under the same experimental conditions blocked the aldosterone response. Additionally, [1-sarcosine, 8-alanine]angiotensin II blocked the response in aldosterone secretion to aortic constriction in dexamethasone-treated rats. Finally, in rats hypophysectomized to exclude the influence of ACTH, the aldosterone response to aortic constriction was blocked by [1-sarcosine, 8-alanine]angiotensin II. The results indicate that angiotensin II increased aldosterone secretion during aortic constriction in the rat. These observations, along with those reported previously in sodium-depleted rats, point to an important overall role for the renin-angiotensin system in the control of aldosterone secretion in the rat.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiichi Ikeda ◽  
Tsuyoshi Isaka ◽  
Kouki Fujioka ◽  
Yoshinobu Manome ◽  
Katsuyoshi Tojo

Aldosterone, a specific mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) agonist and a key player in the development of hypertension, is synthesized as a final product of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Hypertension can be generally treated by negating the effects of angiotensin II through the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) or angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (ARBs). However, the efficacy of angiotensin II blockade by such drugs is sometimes diminished by the so-called “aldosterone breakthrough” effect, by which ACE-Is or ARBs (renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors) gradually lose their effectiveness against hypertension due to the overproduction of aldosterone, known as primary aldosteronism. Although MR antagonists are used to antagonize the effects of aldosterone, these drugs may, however, give rise to life-threatening adverse actions, such as hyperkalemia, particularly when used in conjunction with RAS inhibitors. Recently, several groups have reported that some dihydropyridine Ca2+channel blockers (CCBs) have inhibitory actions on aldosterone production inin vitroand in the clinical setting. Therefore, the use of such dihydropyridine CCBs to treat aldosterone-related hypertension may prove beneficial to circumvent such therapeutic problems. In this paper, we discuss the mechanism of action of CCBs on aldosterone production and clinical perspectives for CCB use to inhibit MR activity in hypertensive patients.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (6) ◽  
pp. E1027-E1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Mazzocchi ◽  
Ludwik K. Malendowicz ◽  
Anna Markowska ◽  
Giovanna Albertin ◽  
Gastone G. Nussdorfer

This study examined the effect of the pharmacological manipulation of adrenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on aldosterone secretion from in situ perfused adrenals of rats kept on a normal diet and sodium restricted for 14 days. Neither the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril nor the nonselective angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin and the AT1 receptor-selective antagonist losartan affected basal aldosterone output in normally fed rats. In contrast, they concentration dependently decreased aldosterone secretion in sodium-restricted animals, with maximal effective concentration ranging from 10− 7 to 10− 6 M. Captopril (10− 6 M), saralasin (10− 6 M), and losartan (10− 7 M) counteracted aldosterone response to 10 mM K+ in sodium-restricted rats but not in normally fed animals. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that adrenal RAS plays a role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion, but only under conditions of prolonged stimulation of zona glomerulosa probably leading to overexpression of adrenal RAS.


1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (s6) ◽  
pp. 101s-103s ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Sowers ◽  
M. L. Tuck ◽  
J. Barrett ◽  
M. P. Sambhi ◽  
M. S. Golub

1. In rats, intra-arterial metoclopramide, a dopamine antagonist, resulted in an elevation of plasma aldosterone at 5 min and plasma renin activity at 10 min and peak aldosterone and renin responses at 10 and 30 min respectively. 2. Pre-administration of l-dopa blunted and delayed aldosterone and renin responses to metoclopramide, indicating that metoclopramide-induced plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity increments are mediated by a direct effect of blockade of dopamine receptors rather than other effects of this drug. 3. Pre-administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (SQ 14 225) and the angiotensin II antagonist, saralasin, as well as bilateral nephrectomy did not significantly affect the aldosterone response to metoclopramide, Thus dopaminergic modulation of aldosterone secretion occurs independently of alterations in the renin-angiotensin system. 4. Modulating effects of dopamine on plasma aldosterone are probably mediated by direct effects as well as by interaction with other factors influencing aldosterone secretion at the adrenal zona glomerulosa.


1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sasamura ◽  
Hiromichi Suzuki ◽  
Ryuichi Kato ◽  
Takao Saruta

Abstract Angiotensin II, ACTH and potassium chloride were administered to rats for 6 days and the effects on adrenal renin-like activity and adrenal angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity were investigated. Rats infused with angiotensin II(140 pmol/min) either ip or sc showed increases in adrenal angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity (p<0.05) and plasma aldosterone concentration (p<0.05), but no change in adrenal renin-like activity. Captopril treatment of angiotensin Il-infused rats caused a slight decrease in angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity which did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, rats treated with ACTH (Cortrosyn-Z, 3 IU/day, sc) showed an increase in adrenal renin-like activity (p<0.01), but no significant change in adrenal angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity. Rats treated with KCl in drinking water showed increases (p<0.05) in adrenal renin-like activity, adrenal angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity, and plasma aldosterone. These results suggest that angiotensin II, ACTH and potassium, three major regulators of aldosterone secretion by the adrenal gland, have different effects on the adrenal renin-angiotensin system when administered in vivo.


Dose-Response ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932581773793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Lezama-Martínez ◽  
Ignacio Valencia-Hernández ◽  
Jazmin Flores-Monroy ◽  
Luisa Martínez-Aguilar

In hypertension, the combination therapy is frequently used to obtain a better therapeutic effect and reduce adverse effects. One effective combination is with inhibitors and β-blockers of renin–angiotensin system. Although the mechanisms of action of each drug are already known, the antihypertensive mechanism is more complex and therefore the combined treatment mechanism is unclear. Specifically, the effect of the treatments of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or AT1 receptor antagonist with β-blocker on the angiotensin II and bradykinin reactivity has not been studied. For this reason, we evaluated the interaction between propranolol and captopril or losartan on vascular reactivity to bradykinin and angiotensin II in spontaneously hypertensive rat. We constructed concentration–response curves to angiotensin II and bradykinin after treatment of SHR with propranolol–captopril or propranolol–losartan by using rat aortic rings. While losartan or captopril with propranolol potentiated bradykinin-induced vasodilation effect, the propranolol–losartan interaction decreased the angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction. In addition, the combinations did not reduce the heart rate significantly. These results suggest that the combined therapy decreased blood pressure to normotensive values and showed less effect for angiotensin II and greater effect for bradykinin than monotherapy which could contribute in the antihypertensive effect.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Poglitsch ◽  
Oliver Domenig ◽  
Cornelia Schwager ◽  
Stefan Stranner ◽  
Bernhard Peball ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a monocarboxypeptidase of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) which is known to cleave several substrates among vasoactive peptides. Its preferred substrate is Angiotensin II, which is tightly involved in the regulation of important physiological functions including fluid homeostasis and blood pressure. Ang 1–7, the main enzymatic product of ACE2, became increasingly important in the literature in recent years, as it was reported to counteract hypertensive and fibrotic actions of Angiotensin II via the MAS receptor. The functional connection of ACE2, Ang 1–7, and the MAS receptor is also referred to as the alternative axis of the RAS. In the present paper, we describe the recombinant expression and purification of human and murine ACE2 (rhACE2 and rmACE2). Furthermore, we determined the conversion rates of rhACE2 and rmACE2 for different natural peptide substrates in plasma samples and discovered species-specific differences in substrate specificities, probably leading to functional differences in the alternative axis of the RAS. In particular, conversion rates of Ang 1–10 to Ang 1–9 were found to be substantially different when applying rhACE2 or rmACE2in vitro. In contrast to rhACE2, rm ACE2 is substantially less potent in transformation of Ang 1–10 to Ang 1–9.


1985 ◽  
Vol 248 (2) ◽  
pp. R157-R160 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Balment ◽  
S. Carrick

High rates of drinking in seawater-adapted, compared with freshwater (FW)-adapted, flounder were associated with raised plasma chloride and osmotic concentrations. Hypotension in FW-adapted fish, after papaverine administration, gave rise to greatly elevated rates of drinking. This dipsogenic response apparently relied on activation of the endogenous renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and was abolished by simultaneous administration of the converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Exogenous angiotensin II was shown to be dipsogenic and vasopressor in the FW-adapted fish. The physiological importance of the activation of the RAS in the control of drinking behavior in euryhaline fish is discussed.


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