E-selectin, but not P-selectin, is required for development of adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules E- and P-selectin in the development and severity of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in the rat.

METHODS

Lewis rats were immunized subcutaneously with Mycobacterium butyricum (Mb), and blocking monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to rat E- and P-selectin were administered. Clinical score, radiolabeled (51Cr and 111In) blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) and monocyte migration to joints, and histologic features were monitored.

RESULTS

When mAb treatment was started on day 5 postimmunization with Mb (preclinical stage), development of AIA was significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited by mAb to E- but not to P-selectin (mean score on day 14 control 10.2, anti-E 2.8, anti-P 9.1). This was associated with markedly decreased migration (by 66-94%) of PMN and monocytes to arthritic joints and diminished cartilage degradation. When treatment was delayed until animals showed signs of arthritis (day 10 postimmunization), only a marginal and variable effect was observed as compared with blockade during the preclinical (day 5) stage. E-selectin blockade on day 5 and day 7 postimmunization resulted in inhibition of antigen-dependent T cell-mediated inflammation, since it decreased T cell migration to sites of dermal-delayed hypersensitivity induced by Mb without affecting migration to concanavalin A or cytokines. The proliferative response of T cells to Mb in vitro was not altered.

CONCLUSION

E-selectin plays an important role early in the development of AIA. This adhesion molecule may contribute to the migration of antigen-reactive T cells to peripheral tissues, including the joints where T cells initiate the arthritis.

The effects of enalapril on the natriuretic response evoked by an oral sodium load in sodium deprived normotensive and hypertensive rats

Previous studies have shown that an oral sodium load during sodium deprivation is excreted faster than an intravenous load. We wanted to study whether the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system might be associated with this phenomenon and therefore the influence of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril was investigated. The experiments were performed on four strains of rat: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, inbred hypertension-prone (SS/Jr) and hypertension-resistant (SR/Jr) Dahl rats. In SHR and WKY rats pretreated with enalapril it was observed that an intravenous sodium load induced a renal sodium excretion which was between two and five times larger than that seen after an oral load. In SR/Jr and SS/Jr rats the sodium excretion was the same regardless of the route of administration. In SS/Jr rats sodium excretion increased three- to fourfold upon sodium repletion, whereas no significant increase was observed in SR/Jr rats. Thus, the present results indicate that an intact renin-angiotensin system is necessary for the interplay between the gastrointestinal tract and kidney.

The intestinal tract and the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension: an experimental study on Dahl rats

Salt depleted rabbits and humans excrete an oral sodium load more quickly via the kidneys than an intravenous one. This has been ascribed to the presence of a sodium sensor in the gastrointestinal tract which in some way can influence renal function. The purpose of this study was to investigate this response in the Dahl rats. Renal and faecal sodium excretion was followed in the two strains of rats (normotensive, saltresistant (SR/Jr) and hypertensive, saltsensitive (SS/Jr) rats). After 4 days on a low salt diet they were given NaCl (1.5 mmol k(-1) body wt) either by gavage or intravenously. SR/Jr rats showed an increased renal sodium excretion both after oral and intravenous sodium repletion. The excretion was 2-3 times greater after th oral than after the intravenous administration. The SS/Jr rats augmented their renal sodium excretion only after the oral load, although the sodium excretion was significantly less than in SR/Jr rats. In fact, during the first 8 h after giving sodium orally the renal excretion of sodium was on an average eight times larger in the SR/Jr than in the SS/Jr rats. Renal excretion of sodium was similar in the two strains after intravenous administration. We conclude that the hypertensive SS/Jr rats have great difficulties in excreting an oral sodium load, a phenomenon that may be of importance in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension in this strain of rats.

The small intestine, salt intake and arterial hypertension

The possibility that the small intestine is of importance for the development of arterial hypertension is discussed in relation to the presence of an intestinal sodium sensor and an intestinal natriuretic factor. We propose that an intestinal sodium sensor upon activation releases a factor that evokes renal excretion of sodium. Based on observations made in the Dahl strain of hypertensive rats it is suggested that an attenuation of this mechanism may contribute to the development of arterial hypertension.

Partial purification of a factor from the feline small intestine causing natriuresis in vivo and inhibiting rubidium uptake into renal cells in vitro

Small intestine of cat was homogenized under denaturing condition (6.0 M guanidinium chloride) in the presence of protease inhibitors and molecules in the 500 to 10,000 Da mass range were obtained by sequential ultrafiltrations. This material was separated by gel chromatography (Sephadex G-25), where fractions eluted in the mass range of 500-1000 Da inhibited 86Rb uptake into kidney slices in vitro. Furthermore, the same fractions exhibited a natriuretic effect when given intravenously to anesthetized rats. The gel chromatography fractions were further purified by cation exchange chromatography (CM-Sephadex C-25). Fractions eluted with a NaCl solution of around 250 mM inhibited 86Rb uptake into renal cortical tissue in vitro and showed natriuretic activity when tested in vivo in rats. It is proposed that intestine contains a water soluble natriuretic factor with an apparent molecular mass of 500-1000 Da. This material evokes a natriuresis in vivo and inhibits 86Rb uptake in vitro.

Renal sodium excretion after oral or intravenous sodium loading in sodium-deprived normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats that had been on a low sodium diet for 3 days were given 1.5 mmol sodium chloride kg-1 body weight either orally or intravenously. The rats receiving an oral sodium load showed a greater natriuresis than those receiving the same saline load intravenously. No increase of renal sodium excretion was observed when the rats received a hypertonic mannitol solution orally. The cumulative sodium excretion during the 8 h following oral loading was two to three times larger in SHR than in WKY, whereas no difference between strains could be demonstrated after giving saline intravenously. Furthermore, after switching from normal to low sodium diet the rate of decrease of renal sodium excretion was greater in SHR than in WKY rats. It is proposed that there exists a gastrointestinal sensory mechanism for sodium controlling the renal sodium excretion. Furthermore, it is suggested that the function of this mechanism differs between SHR and WKY.

An intestinal natriuretic factor

In 1975, reports were published that suggested that the gastrointestinal tract can "taste" the intake of sodium and in some unknown way influence the kidneys to increase sodium excretion. To test whether the intestine contained a natriuretic factor, intestinal tissue from cats was homogenized and fractionated by ultrafiltration to a molecular range of approximately 500-10,000 Da and separated by gel chromatography (Sephadex G25). The fractions were pooled into four large fractions that were assayed for "natriuretic" activity on anesthetized rats. The fraction containing the material with an apparent molecular mass of 500-1,000 Da augmented renal excretion of sodium and water, whereas the other pooled fractions did not exhibit any consistent natriuretic effect. The "natriuretic" fractions from gel filtration were further purified by ion exchange chromatography using a cation exchanger. The natriuretic activity was eluted from the ion exchange chromatography column at a NaCl concentration of 250 mM. Preliminary experiments on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) suggest that the intestinal influence on renal sodium excretion is more pronounced in SHR than in WKY rats.

The distribution of beta-adrenergic receptors in guinea pig lungs and their changes in experimental allergic asthma

In this paper, the distribution of pulmonary beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-receptors) in normal and experimental allergic asthmatic guinea pigs was determined using autoradiographic method. The results showed that the distribution of beta-receptors in the lung sections was widespread. There was a significant decrease of beta-receptor density in several tissue structures of asthmatic guinea pig lungs compared with the controls, a 23.73% decrease in beta-receptor binding sites in bronchiolar smooth muscles and a 18.65% decrease in bronchial smooth muscles; a 23.53%, a 14.23% and a 17.16% decrease in bronchiolar epithelium, in bronchial epithelium and in alveolar epithelium respectively. The results indicated that the beta-receptor decrease in smooth muscles in experimental asthmatic guinea pig lungs might be one of the important factors which made the tension of smooth muscles increase. The relationship between the beta-receptor decrease of other sites and bronchial asthma needs to be studied further.

Sustained-release theophylline-uniphyllin in nocturnal asthmatics

For a period of six months, we collected 12 cases of nocturnal asthmatics (7 males, 5 females); their ages ranged from 20 to 66 (the average age is 49). We found that administration of Uniphyllin (10 mg/kg) once a day at 6 PM could maintain the blood level of theophylline within therapeutic range at least 12 to 24 hrs. The peak expiratory flow rate of the 6 cases we collected, were significantly improved. The result of pharmokinetic parameters: 1) The average of a single dose (12 cases) is AUC (ug. hr/ml) 275.1 +/- 62. k; Kel (hr-1) 0.068 +/- 0.019; Ka (hr-1) 0.33 +/- 0.07); Tmax (hr) 6.3 +/- 1.4; T 1/2 (hr) 11.2 +/- 4.4; Clearance/F (ml/kg/hr) 37.9 +/- 9.0.2). The average of steady state (12 cases) is Css (mg/L) 5. 7 +/- 2.6; Cmax-Cmin (mg/L) 10.09 +/- 1.46.3). The average of relative bioavailability (3 cases) is 82%, 83%, 102%. However, the extent of absorption data is available for only 3 subjects. There are too few subjects to draw any meaningful conclusions about this relative bioavailability. Four cases show slight symptoms, including 1 case of dizziness, 2 cases of nausea, and 1 case gaseousness. It is suggested that the drug be administered at about 6-8 PM to coincide peak levels in the early morning in nocturnal asthmatics.

Probenecid in CSF and plasma of rabbits and dogs measured by radioimmunoassay

Probenecid (P) in CSF of rabbits and dogs was investigated using a new radioimmunoassay technique. In rabbits, under steady-state conditions, CSF/free plasma concentration ratios of P were found to be similar to those reported in man. The ratios were concentration dependent and less than 0.5 suggesting an inhibition of transport of the drug in CNS. Under nonsteady-state conditions, no clear evidence of a transport system was found in dogs.

Determination of plasma and tissue levels of tyramine by radioimmunoassay

Antibodies were prepared against tyramine. The antigen was prepared as follows: p-Aminohippuric acid was coupled to mBSA using a carbodiimide reagent. The amino group was diazotized an attached to the aromatif ring of TYR. The immunogen in Freund's complete adjuvant was injected into rabbits. The specificity of the resulting antibody was determined by radioimmunoassay. Using random-labeled TYR-3H, TYR, its metabolites, phenethylamine analogs, catecholamines, and certain amino acids were evaluated by a competitive binding assay method. With this technique 4 ng of TYR inhibited the binding of TYR-3H by 50%. The radioimmunoassay of TYR was used to measure the plasma, urine, and tissue levels of TYR in rabbits. The plasma disappearance curve of TYR revealed a biphasic pattern with t1/2 of 2 min and 54 min. The highest concentration of TYR was found in adrenals and spleen. The factthat the major metabolites of TYR and a series of pharmacologically important sympathomimetics and catecholamines did not interfere, makes the radioimmunoassay of TYR a useful, simple, sensitive, and spedific method for the direct analysis of TYR in biological meterials.

Studies of the disposition and metabolism of mefloquine HCl (WR 142,490), a quinolinemethanol antimalarial, in the rat. Limited studies with an analog, WR 30,090

The overall fate of the quinolinemethanol antimalarial, mefloquine-HCl [WR 142,490, erythro-DL-alpha-(2-piperidyl)-2,9-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinemethanol hydrochloride] was investigated in the rat with 14C-labeled drug. Despite its extensive binding to plasma proteins, high tissue/plasma concentration ratios were found. Fecal excretion accounted for most of the drug and metabolites. This fate was rationalized on the basis of physical properties of mefloquine (and its metabolites) and extensive biliary and gastric secretion, followed by reabsorption. Evidence was obtained for the formation of several metabolites. Limited studies were carried out in rats, dogs, and one human subject with another quinolinemethanol, WR 30,090-14C [DL-6,8-dichloro-2-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-alpha-(di-n-butylaminomethyl)-4-quinolinemethanol hydrochloride]. Its general fate and physical properties were similar to mefloquine. The disposition of the two quinoline compounds studied was compared to that of quinine and quinidine reported in the literature. This revealed that modification of the quinine molecule resulted in new drugs which were more highly bound and exhibited longer half-lives than quinine.