The mechanical and biochemical effects of pentoxifylline on the perfused rat heart

Summary Perfusion of the isolated rat heart at constant heart rate and coronary flow with the inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, pentoxifylline (10^–4 moles/l), produced no significant effect on the maximum rate and the peak of contraction, but increased the maximum rate of relaxation. cAMP level and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity were increased in the absence of changes in cGMP. The results were identical in hearts of reserpinized rats.This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas and the Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Buenos Aires, Argentina.We thank Hoechst Laboratories for the partial support and Mrs Alicia R. Ramirez and María Prinzo for the excellent technical assistance.     

Atrial natriuretic factor in hypovolemic tachycardia

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is released in response to many stimuli which increase right atrial pressure. Following hemorrhage pigs lowered their atrial pressures, developed a tachycardia and increased ANF levels. Electrical pacing increased heart rate and ANF levels. There is a stimulus to ANF release other than atrial stretch, probably heart rate.     

Atrial natriuretic factor in hypovolemic tachycardia

Summary Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is released in response to many stimuli which increase right atrial pressure. Following hemorrhage pigs lowered their atrial pressures, developed a tachycardia and increased ANF levels. Electrical pacing increased heart rate and ANF levels. There is a stimulus to ANF release other than atrial stretch, probably heart rate.     

Differences in the content and turnover of noradrenaline in rat heart atria and ventricles and circadian-phase-dependency

In light-dark-synchronized male rats the levels of noradrenaline in heart atria were about 3 times that found in heart ventricles. Noradrenaline turnover rate which were about 8-9 fold greater for the atria than for the ventricles displayed a circadian-phase-dependency with increased rates in the dark period in both parts of the rat heart.     

Transmural pressure as a determinant of basic intrinsic heart rate

Summary It was observed the heart rate was minimum at zero transmural pressure. The mean heart rate at zero transmural pressure was 23±5/min. This mean heart rate increased from 23±5/min to a peak value of 40±6/min (74% acceleratin) when the transmural pressure was raised from 0 to +4 mm Hg and to a similar peak value of 36±8/min (56% acceleration) when the transmural pressure was lowered from 0 to –4 mm Hg. The peak values attained at ±4 mm Hg were higly significant (p<0.001). It is concluded that the heart rate at zero transmural pressure represents the basic intrinsic pacemaker frequency independent of neural, humoral, thermal and haemodynamically induced mechanical influences.     

Effect of cold exposure on electrophysiological properties of rat heart

Male rats exposed to the cold (4°C) for five or ten days exhibited modifications in their thyroid state, as documented by increases in serum thyroid hormone levels, to which differently graded modifications of heart weight/body weight ratio, heart rate, and resting metabolic rate were associated. The values of the above mentioned thyroid state indicators returned to those of the control when the animals, kept at cold for ten days, were re-exposed to room temperature (24°C) for an additional 10 days. The configuration of action potentials, recorded in vitro at 26°C from fibres of anterior papillary muscles, was different in control rats of different age and was affected by prolonged cold exposure. In fact, the action potential duration (APD) increased after ten days of cold exposure. In the re-exposed group the APD was not different from that of the controls. Such a pattern was not significantly modified when the stimulation frequency increased from 1 Hz to 5 Hz. The above results suggest that in cold exposure, as in experimental hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone might exert a cardiac chronotropic effect by modifying heart electrophysiological properties. Thus thyroid hormone should play a basic role during the exposure to cold environment, stimulating the body metabolism and increasing heart rate as a response to the requirement for greater tissue perfusion.     

Effect of insulin in vivo on the synthesis of free fatty acids (FFA) in chicken heart and skeletal muscle

Summary The effect of insulin on the synthesis of free fatty acids from glucose in the skeletal and heart muscles of chicken is examined. 10 min after glucose-(U-¹⁴C) administration, labeled free fatty acids (FFA) appeared in both skeletal and heart muscles. 0.75 IU of insulin kg^–1 b. wt significantly increased the labeled FFA at the 30, 60 and 120 min intervals, with a maximum at 60 min.     

Lack of pressor effect of dopamine in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat

The blood pressure and heart rate responses to intravenous dopamine infusion at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 micrograms.min-1 X 100 g-1 were studied in conscious and pentobarbital-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. In the conscious rats, dopamine caused a significant dose-related increase in the mean arterial blood pressure which was abolished in the anesthetized rats. The heart rate increased significantly only at the highest dose infused. The responses to equipressor doses of noradrenaline (40 ng.min-1 X 100 g-1) and phenylephrine (1.0 micrograms.min-1 X 100 g-1) were also suppressed in the anesthetized rats. The results suggest that pentobarbital anesthesia depresses the blood pressure response to dopamine infusion in the rat through a depression of activation of alpha-adrenoceptors.     

Eine Dressurmethode für wahrnehmungsphysiologische Untersuchungen und ihre Anwendung in Orientierungsversuchen mit Vögeln

Summary A conditioning method for the investigation of bird orientation is described: A duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is attached to a slowly rotating turntable, and its heart rate is recorded (Figure 1). When facing a certain direction, the animal gets a weak electrical shock. If the bird is able to determine this direction, its heart rate increases in anticipation of the shock, and there is a maximum at this angle even if no shock at all is applied (Figure 2). By this means it is possible to show whether a certain stimulus situation is appropriate to establish a conditioned reaction of this kind (Figure 3). It is assumed that this method can easily be adapted to investigate other problems of perception and learning.

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Mit Unterstützung der Stiftung Volkswagenwerk.     

Antidiuretic and thermogenic effects of intracerebroventricular prostaglandin H2 in ethanol-anaesthetized rats

Summary When PGH₂ was administered intracerebroventricularly at doses of 5 and 15 nmoles in ethanol-anaesthetized rats, alcohol diuresis was inhibited and rectal temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were all significantly increased.     

Acute effects of tolamolol on renal function in hypertensive patients.

The renal heamodynamic effects of a single i.v. administration of tolamolol were studied in 9 hypertensive subjects. No change of GFR and ERPF was observed after tolamolol, while urine output decreased and urine creatinine concentration increased. A reduction of the heart rate was confirmed. Blood pressure was unchanged.     

Acute effects of tolamolol on renal function in hypertensive patients

The renal haemodynamic effects of a single i.v. administration of tolamolol were studied in 9 hypertensive subjects. No change of GFR and ERPF was observed after tolamolol, while urine output decreased and urine creatinine concentration increased. A reduction of the heart rate was confirmed. Blood pressure was unchanged.     

Phoenixin-14: detection and novel physiological implications in cardiac modulation and cardioprotection

Phoenixin-14 (PNX) is a newly identified peptide co-expressed in the hypothalamus with the anorexic and cardioactive Nesfatin-1. Like Nesfatin-1, PNX is able to cross the blood–brain barrier and this suggests a role in peripheral modulation. Preliminary mass spectrography data indicate that, in addition to the hypothalamus, PNX is present in the mammalian heart. This study aimed to quantify PNX expression in the rat heart, and to evaluate whether the peptide influences the myocardial function under basal condition and in the presence of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). By ELISA the presence of PNX was detected in both hypothalamus and heart. In plasma of normal, but not of obese rats, the peptide concentrations increased after meal. Exposure of the isolated and Langendorff perfused rat heart to exogenous PNX induces a reduction of contractility and relaxation, without effects on coronary pressure and heart rate. As revealed by immunoblotting, these effects were accompanied by an increase of Erk1/2, Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. PNX (EC₅₀ dose), administered after ischemia, induced post-conditioning-like cardioprotection. This was revealed by a smaller infarct size and a better systolic recovery with respect to those detected on hearts exposed to I/R alone. The peptide also activates the cardioprotective RISK and SAFE cascades and inhibits apoptosis. These effects were also observed in the heart of obese rats. Our data provide a first evidence on the peripheral activity of PNX and on its direct cardiomodulatory and cardioprotective role under both normal conditions and in the presence of metabolic disorders.     

A sensorory input inhibiting heart rate in an insect,Rhodnius prolixus

The dorsal vessel of the blood feeding insect,Rhodnius prolixus, was found to increase or decrease its rate of contraction in response to a number of different stimuli. Handling increased contraction rates whereas tactile stimulation of the ventral abdominal cuticle inhibited contraction. Injection of very low concentrations of serotonin or of high concentrations of octopamine enhanced the inhibitory effect, apparently by acting via the nervous system. Higher concentrations of serotonin increased heart rate by acting directly on the myocardium. The inhibitory response is suggested to be one facet of a generalised thigmotactic response.     

2006～2010年革兰阴性菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药性分析

目的调查分析我院20ff6～2010年临床分离的革兰阴性菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素的耐药性。方法采用纸片扩散法进行抗菌药物敏感实验,采用WHONET5．4软件及SPSS13．0软件进行数据分析。结果大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率呈上升趋势,但最高不超过4．5％。铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南的耐药率2006年和2007年监测显示为21．3％和41％。2008年达到44．8％,在2009年下降为12．4％,但2010年爽迅速增加到30．1％。鲍曼不动杆菌对亚胺培南耐药率的逐年上升更为显著,从2006年9．1％上升到2010年的68％,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素天然耐药,2006年对亚胺培南耐药率为30％,但自2007年起就增加到80．8％,最高达100％。结论肠杆菌科细菌对碳青霉烯类敏感性高,近年耐药率有上升趋势。铜绿假单胞菌和鲍曼不动杆菌对碳青霉烯类耐药率高,尤其是鲍曼不动杆菌的分离率逐年增加,耐药形势严峻。临床应合理使用抗生素,减少多重耐药株的产生。     

Cardiac activation and inhibition involved in molting behavior of a spiny lobster

To study the molting behavior of the spiny lobster, electrical activity of the heart, stomach and skeletal muscles was recorded using in-dwelling electrodes. For 1–2 h before molting the heart rate gradually increases. At the same time shorter trains of stomach burst discharges frequently occur. The heart rate then declines and burst discharges of skeletal muscles begin. The skeletal bursts are regularly spaced (10–15 s intervals). A peristalsis pattern of short and long bursts continues for 10–20 min and is terminated by a few bursts corresponding to abdominal flips. The short skeletal burst is followed by a drop in heart rate. Bioassay using the isolated heart suggests that at the final stage of molting the blood contains some substance(s) which inhibit heart beat.     

Variations in alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport during in vitro differentiation of cultured myocardial cells from newborn rats]

The transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid has been studied as a function of age in heart cell cultures derived from new-born Rats. The specific rate of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport decreased slightly once confluency had been reached and then, from day 8 on, increased abruptly. This last phase may be related to the expression of specialized functions encountered in older cultures.     

GlideScope视频喉镜用于经口与经鼻气管插管的临床观察

目的 观察GlideScope视频喉镜经口气管插管和经鼻气管插管的声门暴露情况、插管时间和血流动力学变化. 方法 在全身麻醉下行择期手术的患者200例,ASA Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,分为经口气管插管组和经鼻气管插管组.观察记录两组患者喉部显露分级、气管插管时间、气管插管前后的心率、血压,计算各时间点的收缩压-心率乘积（RPP）. 结果 使用GlideScope视频喉镜喉部显露分级为Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级的比例高达98%;经口插管组和经鼻插管组的插管时间分别为（43.3±9.8）s和（57.9±13.3）S,两组比较有显著差异;经口插管组的患者在气管插管时和气管插管后1～2 min内的心率、血压和RPP较麻醉诱导前显著升高,经鼻插管组的患者在气管插管后1 min时的心率和RPP较麻醉诱导前显著升高. 结论 使用GlideScope视频喉镜可改善喉部显露分级,经口气管插管所需的时间少于经鼻气管插管,而血流动力学变化强于经鼻气管插管.     

Lack of pressor effect of dopamine in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat

Summary The blood pressure and heart rate responses to intravenous dopamine infusion at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 g·min^–1·100 g^–1 were studied in conscious and pentobarbital-anesthetized Sprague — Dawley rats. In the conscious rats, dopamine caused a significant dose-related increase in the mean arterial blood pressure which was abolished in the anesthetized rats. The heart rate increased significantly only at the highest dose infused. The responses to equipressor doses of noradrenaline (40 ng·min^–1·100 g^–1) and phenylephrine (1.0 g·min^–1·100 g^–1) were also suppressed in the anesthetized rats. The results suggest that pentobarbital anesthesia depresses the blood pressure response to dopamine infusion in the rat through a depression of activation of alpha-adrenoceptors.16 June 1986     

The effect of sleep deprivation upon variations in heart rate and respiration rate

Summary Variations in heart rate and respiration rate were found to be responsive to total sleep deprivation, particularly under experimental conditions more realistic to everyday life.