Medullectomized Rats Research Articles

Sound Stress–Induced Long-Term Enhancement of Mechanical Hyperalgesia in Rats Is Maintained by Sympathoadrenal Catecholamines

Although stress plays an important role in chronic widespread pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. We have recently demonstrated, in a model of chronic widespread pain, that prolonged enhancement of immune mediator hyperalgesia, induced by unpredictable sound stress, requires a contribution of both the sympathoadrenal (epinephrine) and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (corticosterone) neuroendocrine stress axes. Because this stress protocol produced sustained elevation of plasma epinephrine, in the current study we tested the hypothesis that the sympathoadrenal axis also plays a role in maintenance of symptoms in this model of chronic widespread pain. After establishment, adrenal medullectomy abolished the enhancement of epinephrine-induced cutaneous and muscle hyperalgesia. Administration of stress levels of epinephrine to adrenal medullectomized rats reconstituted the pain phenotype. These observations suggest that the sympathoadrenal stress axis plays a major role in the induction as well as maintenance of stress-induced enhancement of mechanical hyperalgesia, mediated by prolonged elevation of circulating epinephrine. We present data showing mechanical hyperalgesia persisting for up to 28 days after exposure to sound stress, with evidence that the sympathoadrenal axis mediator epinephrine plays a major role. These findings could have clinical implications with regard to novel potential treatments for chronic widespread pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia.

Osmoregulation of natriuretic peptide receptors in bromoethylamine-treated rat kidney

Extracellular osmolarity is known as an important factor for the regulation of natriuretic peptide receptors (NPRs). We investigated the intra-renal osmoregulation of NPRs using renal medullectomized rats with bromoethylamine hydrobromide (BEA, 200 mg/kg). The administration of BEA caused the decreased food intake and body weight. Water intake was decreased on the first day and then increased from the second day. Urine volume was persistently increased from the first day and free water clearance was also increased from the second day. Urinary excretions of sodium and potassium were decreased on the second day and then recovered to control level. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) in BEA-treated rats were not different from control rats. The inactive renin was increased. The maximum binding capacities of 125I-ANP as well as 125I-DNP decreased in glomeruli and medulla of BEA-treated rat kidneys but the binding affinity was not changed. In renal cortex, the gene expressions of ANP, NPR-A, and NPR-B were not changed but that of NPR-C decreased. In renal medulla, the gene expressions of NPR-A, -B, and -C decreased without change in ANP mRNA. Both renal medullary osmolarity and sodium concentration by BEA treatment were lower than those in control kidney. The cGMP concentrations in renal medulla and urine in BEA-treated rats were higher than those in control rats. These results suggest that the increased cGMP production may be partly involved in the decrease in NPRs mRNA expression and their binding capacities by BEA-induced medullectomy.

Effects of the ET(A)/ET(B) antagonist, TAK-044, on blood pressure and renal excretory function after unclipping of conscious one-kidney-one-clip hypertensive rats.

Restoring renal perfusion pressure (unclipping) of one-kidney-one-clip renal hypertensive (1 K1C) rats normalizes mean arterial pressure (MAP) rapidly. This has been attributed to salt/volume losses or release of the putative renal medullary depressor hormone (RMDH). To investigate the effects of endothelin receptor A and B (ET(A)/ET(B)) antagonism on unclipping. Telemetric devices were implanted in male Wistar 1K1C rats for measurement of conscious MAP. Hypertension was reversed by unclipping with the animal under brief anaesthesia. Seven rats were treated with the ET(A)/ET(B) antagonist, TAK-044 (two doses of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally in 24 h), and eight rats received its vehicle. In order to investigate whether endothelin receptor antagonism could release RMDH under resting conditions, TAK-044 was administered to telemetered non-clipped intact and chemically renal medullectomized rats (BEA treatment). TAK-044 did not affect resting MAP, urine flow or sodium excretion in 1K1C rats. However, after unclipping, the TAK-044-treated group showed a more marked reduction in MAP during the first 24 h after unclipping (P< 0.01). TAK-044 also reduced urine flow and sodium excretion during the first 8 h after unclipping (P< 0.05). TAK-044 reduced resting MAP (P< 0.05) to a similar extent in intact and BEA rats. TAK-044 potentiated the reduction in MAP after unclipping, independently of changes in urine flow and sodium excretion. It also reduced MAP in normotensive rats--an effect that was not dependent on an intact renal medulla. Potentiation of the depressor response to unclipping by TAK-044 could be the result of an interaction of endogenous endothelin receptors with renal depressor mechanisms--possibly, the release, actions, or both, of the putative RMDH.

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated antisecretory effect of hypoxia in conscious rats.

Gastric acid secretion is suppressed, resulting in a significant rise in gastric pH, when conscious rats are exposed to hypoxia (Yamaji et al., 1996). When adrenal medullectomized rats were exposed to moderate (10.5% O2) hypoxia for 3 h, gastric acid secretion was restored to nearly the level in normoxia by the adrenal medullectomy. In severe (7.6% O2) hypoxia, the operation also caused an increase in the level of gastric acid output, although the extent was lower than that under 10.5% O2 hypoxic conditions. Gastric pH was normalized by the operation even with 7.6% O2 hypoxia. Similar results were obtained when reserpine, which causes an adrenergic discharge, was administered. When an alpha 2-adrenoceptor blocking agent, yohimbine, was administered, the inhibitory effect of 10.5% and 7.6% O2 hypoxia on gastric acid secretion was almost completely removed. However, neither prazosin (an alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker) nor propranolol (a beta-adrenoceptor blocker) showed any significant effects on gastric acid output in hypoxia. These results indicate that acute hypoxia stimulated the adrenergic response from the adrenal medulla, and that gastric acid secretion was consequently suppressed through alpha 2-adrenoceptor.

Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation increases neuropeptide Y release from sympathetic nerves in intact rats

This study was undertaken to assess in conscious normotensive rats the effects of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation on plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels. Wistar rats were subjected to adrenal demedullation on the right side and were either adrenalectomized or sham-operated on the left side. Eleven days later, the conscious rats were infused i.v. for 30 min with either isoproterenol (10 ng/min) or its vehicle. Plasma NPY levels were significantly lower (23.8 ± 2.6 pM, means ± S.E.M., n = 12, P < 0.01) in vehicle-treated medullectomized rats than in corresponding sham-operated controls (36.7 ± 4.1 pM, n = 12). The medullectomized rats infused with isoproterenol showed plasma NPY levels (36.7 ± 3.3 pM, n = 11) comparable to those of sham-operated rats having received the vehicle. These data therefore demonstrate that plasma NPY levels are lower in rats without adrenal medulla and that in these animals isoproterenol increases NPY release, most likely by activating pre-synaptic beta-adrenoceptors.

Mechanisms of the pressor response to intravenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the rat.

1. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of the sympatho-adrenomedullary system to the blood pressure response to an intravenous bolus of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in conscious medullectomized and sham-operated rats. 2. The peak pressor effect of 0.5 mg TRH was significantly increased in rats having no adrenal medulla (+24.2 +/- 1.6 mmHg, mean +/- s.e.m., P < 0.01) as compared to sham-operated animals (+12.2 +/- 3.0 mmHg). 3. Blockade of alpha-adrenergic receptors with phentolamine abolished the pressor effect of TRH in control rats (+2.1 +/- 1.9 mmHg) but did not attenuate the blood pressure response of medullectomized rats (+21.5 +/- 4.7 mmHg). In contrast, beta-blockade with propranolol blunted the blood pressure responsiveness of rats subjected to adrenal medullectomy (+12.4 +/- 2.6 mmHg) but did not modify the effect of TRH in sham-operated controls (+10.9 +/- 2.9 mmHg). 4. The direct in vitro effect of TRH on isolated mesenteric rat arteries was also evaluated. TRH did not induce contractions of isolated arteries. 5. These results suggest that in rats with intact adrenals, the pressor effect of intravenous TRH is mediated primarily by a stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors. Adrenal medullectomy appears to enhance the blood pressure response to intravenous TRH. Activation of cardiac beta-adrenoceptors seems to contribute to the blood pressure increasing effect of intravenous TRH in medullectomized animals.

Chemical renal medullectomy and arterial pressure response to sinoaortic denervation.

We investigated in conscious Wistar-Kyoto rats the effect of chemical renal medullectomy on the responses of mean arterial pressure, arterial pressure lability, and heart rate to sinoaortic deafferentation (SAD). Chemical medullectomy was obtained by the intravenous administration of 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (2-BEA) 2-3 weeks before SAD or sham SAD. Chemically medullectomized rats were compared with control rats treated with saline. In control rats, the increase in mean arterial pressure elicited by SAD was not significantly greater than that produced by sham SAD. In medullectomized rats, SAD significantly increased mean arterial pressure compared with sham SAD. No direct relation was observed between the response of mean arterial pressure to SAD and the grade (1, 2, or 3) of lesion of the renal papilla. In control rats, SAD increased significantly arterial pressure lability. Chemical medullectomy did not affect basal lability or the increased lability after SAD. No direct relation was observed between increased arterial pressure lability due to SAD and the grade of lesion of the renal papilla. SAD produced a conspicuous tachycardia in control rats. Chemical medullectomy did not affect basal heart rate or the tachycardia produced by SAD. No direct relation was observed between the extent of this tachycardia and the grade of lesion of the renal papilla. These data indicate that lesions of the renal papilla lead to a significant increase in mean arterial pressure after SAD, without affecting basal pressure or heart rate. In addition, SAD per se did not increase significantly the mean arterial pressure in control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Physiological Effects of the Humoral Renomeaullary Antihypertensive System

In experiments on rats, the physiological effects of the antihypertensive humoral system of the renal medulla were explored. We studied the parameters of blood pressure, heart rate, efferent sympathetic nervous activity to the splanchnic region, diuresis and natriuresis. The experimental situations included studies on normotensive rats, injected with extracted renomedullary lipids (medullipin), and normotensive rats extracorporally cross-perfusing an isolated kidney at increased pressure levels, to explore the release of renomedullary depressor substances. Spontaneously hyperactive rat (SHR) kidneys were also cross-perfused to study whether the renomedullary mechanism was reset upwards in this type of primary hypertension. Finally, the acute pressure reductions caused by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors were studied in intact and chemically medullectomized (2-bromo-ethylamine hydrobromide) rats to explore whether they were at least in part dependent on an intact renal medulla. In normal kidneys the renomedullary depressor system was initiated already at physiological pressure levels (at or above 100 mm Hg), causing the following humorally induced response pattern: the blood pressure fall was associated with decreases in both heart rate and sympathetic activity, while diuresis and natriuresis increased. In SHR kidneys, perfusion pressure had to be raised between 200 and 250 mm Hg before this depressor pattern was activated, revealing an "upward renomedullary resetting" well beyond the prevailing SHR blood pressure. The acute blood pressure decrease initiated in normotensive rats by an ACE-inhibitor (enalaprilat) was abolished in medullectomized rats, indicating an interaction between the renin-angiotensin and the renomedullary antihypertensive systems.

Modulation of vasopressin antidiuretic action by renal alpha 2-adrenoceptors

It has been almost 40 years since the diuretic effect of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists was first demonstrated. Two possible mechanisms were proposed: inhibition of vasopressin secretion and antagonism of the cellular hydrosmotic actions of vasopressin. The debate could not be settled then for the lack of appropriate experimental models and pharmacological tools. Advances made in adrenoceptor pharmacology in the 1970s such as 1) subdivision of alpha-adrenoceptors into alpha 1- and alpha 2-subtypes; 2) development of selective agonists and antagonists; and 3) localization of both adrenoceptor subtypes in the kidney, including the proximal and collecting tubules, stimulated new research. With regard to renal adrenoceptors, selective alpha 2-agonists have been shown to induce diuresis in dogs and rats. Whereas in the dog the increase in urine flow results mostly from an increase in osmolal clearance, in the rat the diuresis results in large part from an increase in the excretion of solute-free water. In vitro studies on isolated collecting tubules from rats and rabbits (none from dogs) have shown that alpha 2-agonists inhibit vasopressin-induced adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate formation and that this effect is mediated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein and abolished by pertussis toxin treatment. In vivo evidence in support of such a mechanism was presented from conscious Brattleboro homozygous rats in which a selective alpha 2-agonist inhibited the antidiuretic effect of exogenous vasopressin, and this effect was abolished by pertussis toxin. The physiological importance of renal alpha 2-adrenoceptors was identified by use of adrenal medullectomized rats and the alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Origin of dopamine in the rat adrenal cortex

The hypothesis that dopamine (DA) is involved in the control of aldosterone secretion is given some support by the finding of DA in the adrenal cortex of several species, but the source of this DA is not known. This study showed that the administration of L-dopa to intact rats or medullectomized rats caused a significant DA increase in the adrenal cortex. The DA increase in the cortex was more pronounced than in the medulla, coincident with higher L-dopa uptake by the cortical tissue. Tyrosine administration raised DA levels only in the medulla. Sympathectomy of the rat by 6-hydroxydopamine treatment did not affect DA basal levels in the cortex or the DA increase in this tissue after L-dopa injection. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) is detectable in the adrenal cortex but not in the adrenal medulla, and DOPAC levels increased significantly after L-dopa, which indicates monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity within the adrenal cortex. Because 6-hydroxydopamine pretreatment did not alter DOPAC levels, cortical MAO may be located outside catecholaminergic neurons. The results established circulating L-dopa as a precursor for DA in the adrenal cortex of the rat. They also showed that tyrosine hydroxylase activity is absent from the adrenal cortex of this species.

Epinephrine exacerbates arthritis by an action at presynaptic b 2-adrenoceptors

Sympathetic efferents contribute to the severity of joint injury in experimental arthritis in the rat, [Levine J. D. et al. (1986) J. Neurosci. 6, 3423–3429] and beta 2-adrenergic receptor antagonists suppress the disease [Levine J. D. et al. (1988) Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 4553–4556]. The present study was directed at determining the endogenous ligand for, and target of, the beta 2-receptor contribution to arthritis. We report that adrenal medullectomy significantly reduced joint injury in experimental arthritis, but that severe joint injury was re-established in adrenal medullectomized rats chronically treated with epinephrine or the beta 2-agonist, salbutamol. The ability of these two drugs to enhance joint injury in adrenal medullectomized rats was blocked by sympathectomy. These data suggest that adrenal medulla-derived epinephrine acts at beta 2-adrenoceptors on sympathetic efferent nerve terminals, to contribute to the severity of experimental arthritis.

Evidence for a decreased noradrenaline sensitivity in mesenteric resistance vessels from rats with chemical renal medullectomy.

1. Chemical renal medullectomy was performed in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (200 mg/kg body weight). The effect of this treatment upon blood pressure and mesenteric vascular reactivity and morphology was studied 3 weeks after treatment. 2. Blood pressure was significantly raised in medullectomized rats. The indirect systolic pressures (means +/- SEM) were 112 +/- 2.4 mmHg (14.9 +/- 0.32 kPa) and 123 +/- 3.5 mmHg (16.4 +/- 0.5 kPa) (P less than 0.02) for control (n = 12) and medullectomized (n = 12) rats, respectively. However, there were no significant changes in the morphology of the mesenteric resistance vessels. 3. Maximum pressor responses and Ca2+ sensitivities were unchanged in these vessels compared with controls, but the sensitivity to noradrenaline was significantly reduced. Noradrenaline pD2 (= -log ED50) values (means +/- SEM) were 5.87 +/- 0.03 and 5.69 +/- 0.08 (P less than 0.05) for control (n = 12) and medullectomized (n = 12) rats, respectively. 4. This study demonstrates that in this model of hypertension the noradrenaline sensitivity is reduced in mesenteric resistance vessels, but there are no detectable morphological changes associated with the rise in blood pressure.

The influence of adrenal medullectomy on the development of ethanol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed in adrenal medullectomized and sham control rats given ethanol in a liquid diet mixture, intragastrically, in severely intoxicating doses at 8-h intervals for 48 and 96 h. The ethanol treatments produced increases of some 20% in wet and dry proportional heart weights in the control animals, but this rapid development of hypertrophy was less apparent in the medullectomized rats. Hearts of the medullectomized animals given ethanol were heavier than those of pair-matched controls given isocaloric maltose-dextrin in the diet mix. These increases were not statistically significant. The ethanol treatments produced, in addition, equivalent increases in the weight of the adrenal glands of both medullectomized and control animals. Medullectomy was evaluated by analysis of adrenal glands and urine samples for catecholamines. The majority of adrenals from the demedullated group had nondetectable amounts of catecholamines and minimal quantities were found in the remainder. Adrenaline was not detected generally in urine samples from this group. The adrenaline contents of adrenals from sham controls given ethanol were markedly reduced by the ethanol treatments, whereas the quantities in urine were many times greater than those from rats given maltose-dextrin. Urinary noradrenaline levels were increased in both control and medullectomized rats given ethanol. The results of this study identify that adrenal medullary catecholamines participate in the rapid development of cardiac hypertrophy that results from severe, continuing ethanol intoxication in the rat.

Fluid volumes and hemodynamics in hypertension produced by chemical renal medullectomy.

We have investigated the mechanisms by which chemical renal medullectomy with 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (200 mg/kg body wt) produces hypertension in rats. Groups of chemically medullectomized rats were compared with normal rats and rats that had been partially nephrectomized to produce an equivalent fall in glomerular filtration rate. Mean arterial pressure was elevated in the medullectomized (142 +/- 6 mmHg) compared with normal rats (124 +/- 3). In the medullectomized animals this was associated with significant tachycardia (483 +/- 15 vs. 450 +/- 6 beats/min) and an increase in cardiac output (61.1 +/- 5.0 vs. 49.9 +/- 2.2 ml X min-1 X 100 g body wt-1). Plasma volume was significantly reduced in medullectomized rats (2.16 +/- 0.15 vs 3.29 +/- 0.20 ml/100 g body wt), whereas exchangeable sodium was unchanged (39.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 39.7 +/- 0.5 meq/kg body wt). By contrast, both plasma volume and exchangeable sodium were increased in partially nephrectomized rats. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that chemical medullectomy produces hypertension by increased selective sympathetic efferent activity, raising cardiac output and postcapillary venular resistance. This may be the consequence of reducing the secretion of a renomedullary humoral substance that normally inhibits such activity.

Chemical Renal Medullectomy; Effect upon Reversal of Two-Kidney, One-Clip Hypertension in the Rat

1. Chemical renal medullectomy was produced in rats by injection of 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide. Plasma creatinine and blood pressure were unchanged although urine volume was increased fourfold. 2. Left renal artery constriction resulted in similar degrees of hypertension in both intact and medullectomized rats. This was associated with a significantly smaller rise in plasma renin concentration in the latter. 3. Blood pressure in conscious intact hypertensive rats became normal within 24 h of unclipping whereas blood pressure of medullectomized rats remained significantly elevated. 4. The presence of an intact renal medulla is essential to the complete reversal of two-kidney, one-clip hypertension in the rat. This may reflect the loss of a medullary vasodepressor system.

Effect of sympathetic blocking agents on the uterine response to estrogen.

A uterine response to estrogen, increase in water imbibition (uterine weight— UWT) was studied in immature rats and mature spayed rats after chemical blockade of the sympathetic nervous system. Reserpine completely blocked the estradiol benzoate (EB)-induced increase in UWT, while the effect of estradiol-17β (E) was only partially blocked. The response to EB or E was blocked only when it was injected during a critical period after reserpine (0–4 hr in immature rats, 16–20 hr in mature spayed rats). Syrosingopine pretreatment blocked partially the uterine response to both estrogens, whereas guanethidine was ineffective. In adrenalectomized rats, reserpine, syrosingopine and guanethidine completely blocked the EB- and E-inducedinduced increase in UWT. In the presence of functional cortical tissue (intact or medullectomized rats) guanethidine did not block the uterine response to estrogen. Tyramine did not alter the uterine response to estrogen in intact or in adrenalectomized rats. Pretreatment of adrenalec...

Water metabolism of adrenal medullectomized rats.

1. Medullectomized rats showed a diminished diuretic response to ingested water.2. Subcutaneous injection of adrenaline in a small dose, which failed to increase urine output in normal rats, caused an increase in the water excretion rate of medullectomized rats. Treatments with adrenaline, 2 hours prior to water load or successively for 3 to 4 weeks, restored the lowered diuretic response of medul lectomized rats to normal level.3. Pitressin was more effective to elicit antidiuresis in medullectomized rats than in normal ones.4. Vasopressin inactivating capacity of liver tissue was reduced after medullec tomy. The reduced inactivation restored to normal level after treatments with adrenaline. In vitro addition of adrenaline into incubation medium of liver homogenate did not affect the inactivating system.5. Serum from medullectomized rats contained more antidiuretic activity than that from normal rats. The accumulation of antidiuretic material in serum in the absence of adrenal medulla could be prevented by chronic treatments with adrenaline.

DISTURBANCES OF WATER BALANCE IN THE RAT ON REMOVAL OF THE ADRENAL MEDULLA

In an investigation on hair loss in medullectomized animals [Stein & Wertheimer, 1941] skin disturbances which suggested some interference in the water metabolism were noted. Changes in water balance, related in part to disturbances in the mineral balance, are well known after adrenalectomy. The question whether absence of the adrenal medulla contributes to the disturbance of the water balance remained open. In the present investigation the water balance of medullectomized rats is investigated by (1) water diuresis tests, (2) water intoxication experiments, and (3) normal drinking tests. ANIMAL MATERIAL Male albino rats of laboratory rearing were employed for the experiments. Their average weight was 200 g. (160–250 g.). METHOD OF MEDULLECTOMY Medullectomy was effected by the methods of Evans [1935] and Ingle & Higgins [1938] under ether narcosis. In a small number of cases, the adrenal capsule was torn open with a fine-toothed forceps and then bluntly enucleated. In sham-operated