Promoting prosthetics in the Latino community.

This article describes an effective approach to informing the Latino community about prosthetics. Unlike English, little information on this subject is available in Spanish. The process of obtaining, fabricating, and wearing a prosthesis was interwoven into the teleplay "Milagros." The story concept, video production, and the Latino population's cultural characteristics are discussed. The audience welcomed the opportunity to share the information with others.

Characterization of kinin binding sites: identity of B2 receptors in the epithelium and the smooth muscle of the guinea pig ileum.

Binding of [125I-Tyr8]bradykinin (BK) was measured in homogenates of epithelial and smooth muscle layers of the guinea pig ileum. Binding assays were performed at 4 degrees C for 40 min (smooth muscle) or 90 min (epithelium) in 25 mM PIPES buffer at pH 6.8 in the presence of 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline, 140 micrograms/mL bacitracin, 1 mM captopril, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Specific binding of [125I-Tyr8]BK (0.32 nM) to epithelial and smooth muscle cell membranes was linearly related to protein concentration between 0.05 and 0.5 mg/mL. Equilibrium experiments showed that specific binding of [125I-Tyr8]BK was saturable and Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of a high affinity site with a Kd value of 1.6 nM and a Bmax of 156 fmol/mg of protein in the epithelial cell membranes. In smooth muscle membranes, Kd was 1.8 nM and the maximum number of binding sites was 58 fmol/mg of protein. Unlabelled peptides, namely bradykinin, [Tyr8]BK, [Hyp3]BK, D-Arg[Hyp3]BK, [Hyp3,Tyr(Me8)]BK, and kallidin displaced [125I-Tyr8]BK binding while other peptides, angiotensin II and substance P, had no effect. A series of B2-receptor antagonists displaced [125I-Tyr8]BK from specific binding sites with IC50 values ranging from 16 to 152 nM on epithelial cell membranes; similar values were obtained from smooth muscle cell membranes. These findings suggest that the binding sites in both preparations are of the B2 type. B1-receptor agonists and antagonists were found to be inactive at concentrations up to 10(-4) M. Results obtained in the two preparations were compared and a positive highly significant correlation was demonstrated between the two sets of data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A micromethod for the determination of the activities of kininases in rat plasma. Kinetics and inhibitory characteristics.

Kininase II (EC 3.4.15.1) (KII) and kininase I (KI) (EC 3.4.12.7) activities of rat plasma were characterized by the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL), hippuryl-L-arginine (HLA) [expressed as carboxypeptidase N1 (CN1) activity] and hippuryl-L-lysine (HLL) [expressed as carboxypeptidase N2 (CN2) activity]. Using a spectrophotometric assay, biochemical characteristics of the three enzymes were investigated. The Michaelis-Menten constants were as follows: KII: Km 2.55 +/- 0.22 mM, Vmax 0.357 +/- 0.017 mumol/min/mL; CN1: Km 6.93 +/- 0.32 mM, Vmax 0.748 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/mL; and CN2: Km 35.8 +/- 1.52 mM, Vmax 13.11 +/- 0.40 mumol/min/mL. EDTA and O-phenanthroline inhibited the three enzyme assays at the same Ki, whereas captopril and 2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid (MERGETPA), allowed for the demonstration of the specificity of each assay. Furthermore, Ki values of MERGETPA against both CN1 (4.75 microM) and CN2 (2.36 microM) activities do not support the hypothesis that KI activity may be accounted for by the presence of isoenzymes in rat plasma.

Carbamylcholine- and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction in rat isolated airways: inhibition by calcitonin gene-related peptide.

1. The effects of rat and human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (alpha-CGRP) were investigated in isolated smooth muscle preparations obtained from three levels of the rat respiratory tract. 2. Neither peptide (10(-10)-10(-6) M) had any effect on resting tension or on carbamylcholine (10(-6) M)-induced tone of trachea or main bronchus. In contrast, CGRP sometimes reduced spontaneous or carbamylcholine-induced tone of lung parenchymal strips. 3. CGRP produced a significant rightward shift of the log concentration-response curves to carbamylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the main bronchus. A rightward shift was also seen in trachea and parenchymal strips but this did not achieve the level of significance. The maximal response to 5-HT was reduced in the main bronchus and lung parenchyma whereas the maximal contraction to carbamylcholine was decreased in parenchymal strip only. 4. In all three airway preparations, CGRP caused concentration-dependent inhibition of responses elicited by challenges with 10(-7) M carbamylcholine or 5 x 10(-7) M 5-HT. The inhibitory effect of the peptide was inversely related to the size of the airways: the smaller the calibre, the greater the inhibition. 5. The inhibitory action of CGRP was not modified by pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M), propranolol (10(-6) M) or indomethacin (10(-6) M). 6. The results strongly suggest that (a) CGRP has a nonspecific inhibitory action on airway smooth muscle cells, (b) CGRP may act as a potent inhibitor of responses elicited by bronchoconstrictor substances and (c) its inhibitory activity may be most powerfully expressed in peripheral regions of the respiratory tract.

[Activity of plasma kininase I and kininase II in hypertensive rats]. / Activité des kininase I et kininase II plasmatiques chez le rat hypertendu.

This study was undertaken to verify the activity of plasma kininases in hypertension. Male Wistar rats (WIS) were used and three models of experimental hypertension were studied: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), renal hypertensive rats, made according to the method of Goldblatt, DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Normal Wistar rats, nephrectomized rats and sodium-loaded rats were used as control groups. Plasma from these animals was used to evaluate the kininase activities: kininase II activity (KII) was measured by the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL); kininase I activity (KI) was measured by the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-arginine (HLA) (CN1 activity) and of hippuryl-L-lysine (HLL) (CN2 activity). The three enzyme activities were characterized by their kinetic constants and the inhibitory pattern of various inhibitors. In normal WIS rats, hydrolysis of HHL proceeds with a Km of 2.55 +/- 0.22 mM and at a Vmax of 0.357 +/- 0.017 mumol/min/ml; the enzyme is inhibited by EDTA, 0-phenanthroline and captopril. HLA has a Km of 6.93 +/- 0.32 mM and a Vmax of 0.748 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/ml while the Km and Vmax values of HLL are 35.8 +/- 1.52 mM and 13.11 +/- 0.40 mumol/min/ml. The hydrolysis of both substrates is inhibited by EDTA, 0-phenanthroline and MERGETPA. KII activity is decreased in WKY and SHR rats (Vmax = 0.241 +/- 0.014 and 0.262 +/- 0.011 mumol/min/ml, respectively). In renal hypertensive rats and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the KII activity remained unchanged. CN1 activity was increased in 1K, 1C hypertensive animals (Vmax = 0.866 +/- 0.221 mumol/min/ml) and in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats (Vmax = 1.119 +/- 0.049 mumol/min/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Receptors for kinins in isolated arterial vessels of dogs.

A variety of kinin peptides, agonists and antagonists were tested with dog carotid and renal arteries in order to characterize kinin receptor types and functions. The dog carotid artery responds to bradykinin with concentration-dependent relaxation only when the endothelium is intact but des-Arg9-bradykinin is practically inactive. The effect of bradykinin is blocked by B2 receptor antagonists, suggesting that the dog carotid artery has B2 receptors in the endothelium. These receptors mediate relaxation of the arterial smooth muscles by promoting the release of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor whose action is prevented by methylene blue. Kinins relax the dog renal artery with or without endothelium. Methylene blue prevents the effect of bradykinin only, suggesting that B2 receptors, promoting the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, are present in the endothelium of the dog renal artery. Moreover, the dog renal artery appears to have both B2 and B1 receptors mediating relaxation of the arterial smooth muscle. The presence of the two receptor types has been demonstrated by means of specific agonists and antagonists. Indomethacin blocks the effects of both bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin on the dog renal artery without endothelium, suggesting that muscular B1 and B2 receptors act by promoting the release of prostaglandins. Captopril, a kininase II inhibitor, potentiates the effect of bradykinin on the dog carotid artery more than on the dog renal artery.

Cellulose sulfate increases blood concentration of kinins in rats.

Intravenous injection of cellulose sulfate (CS) in rats induced a dose-dependent decrease of blood pressure accompanied by a concomitant increase of circulating levels of immunoreactive bradykinin (BK) from a level of 52 pg/mL of blood in control animals to 400 pg/mL in the group injected with 3.0 mg/kg of CS. An increase of desArg9BK was also observed while the blood concentration of BK(1-7) remained constant. Kinins contents in acidic extracts of lungs increased slightly while renal kinins from the same animals showed a slight decrease. The results suggest that plasma kallikrein-kinin system mediates CS-induced hypotension and that glandular kallikreins do not participate to the hypotensive action of CS.

Influence of sodium balance on urinary excretion of immunoreactive kinins in rats.

Antibodies against bradykinin (BK) and its metabolites, namely des-Arg9-BK and des-Phe8,Arg9-BK were raised in rabbits, and specific radioimmunoassays (RIA) for these peptides were developed. Specificity studies showed that each RIA was specific for its antigen, since the cross-reactivities of various kinin-related peptides were less than 1.5%. The lowest concentration of peptide that could be measured in these assays was approximately 60 pg/ml. The antibodies were used to measure concentrations of BK and its metabolites in urine and kidneys of rats maintained on different sodium balance for 5 wk. The results showed that normal rats excrete low quantities of BK (63.78 +/- 2.98 ng/day, 88 determinations). The urinary excretion of des-Arg9-BK averaged 77.69 +/- 5.53 ng/day, whereas the amount of des-Phe8,Arg9-BK is equal to 7.13 +/- 0.42 ng/day. Sodium loading brings about a small decrease in the concentration of BK (45.57 +/- 2.36 ng/day, 76 determinations), whereas sodium depletion significantly increased the excretion of BK (94.23 +/- 5.50, 102 determinations, P less than 0.01) accompanied by no modification of the excretion of metabolites. Regression analysis of the results showed a positive correlation between urinary volume and BK in control and sodium-loaded animals and urinary BK and sodium in the sodium-loaded group. In kidney homogenates, sodium depletion increased not only the concentration of BK (10-fold) but also that of des-Arg9-BK and des-Phe8,Arg9-BK by a factor of four and two, respectively, when compared with normal and sodium-loaded animals. These results support the hypothesis that the renal kallikrein-kinin system may be regulated by corticosteroids.

Increased blood concentration of des-Arg9-bradykinin in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a delayed cell-mediated autoimmune reaction to myelin basic protein. The neuropathology of this acute inflammatory process is characterized by cellular infiltration of the perivascular nervous parenchyma which increases the blood-brain barrier permeability. There is good evidence for an activation of the kallikrein-kinin system during inflammation. In order to assess blood concentrations of kinins in a group of 21 New Zealand rabbits in the acute phase of EAE and a group of 12 normal controls, we performed a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. All subjects in the encephalomyelitic group were inoculated with 0.05 ml of an antigenic preparation. They all developed neurological deficits on average 30 days later and within 4 days 10 ml of arterial blood were withdrawn for radioimmunoassay of kinins. On the same days their central nervous system was dissected and prepared for staining and histological study. We demonstrated a significant difference in bradykinin blood concentration between the encephalomyelitic (170.6 pg/ml) and the control (245.8 pg/ml) groups. There is also a significant difference in des-Arg9-bradykinin blood concentration between the encephalomyelitic (168.0 pg/ml) and the control (96.1 pg/ml) groups. These results suggest an activation of circulating carboxypeptidases involved in the transformation of bradykinin into des-Arg9-bradykinin during EAE.

Epicardial application of bradykinin elicits pressor effects and tachycardia in guinea pigs. Possible mechanisms.

Topical application of bradykinin (BK) to the surface of the left ventricle (epicardial application) of anesthetized guinea pigs elicited dose-dependent pressor effects and tachycardia. The pressor effect of epicardial BK was reduced by prior systemic treatment of animals with pentolinium or a combination of phentolamine and propranolol, but it was not affected by acute bilateral vagotomy or systemic administration of atropine, indomethacin, naloxone or a combination of mepyramine and cimetidine. The tachycardia caused by epicardial BK was not affected by any of the aforementioned drugs or by section of the vagi. Both the pressor effect and tachycardia evoked by epicardial BK were abolished by prior epicardial application of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, or by chronic systemic capsaicin treatment. These results suggest that the pressor effect of epicardial BK is partially reflex in nature and likely to result from the stimulation by BK of cardiac sympathetic, capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents, whereas the tachycardia caused by epicardial BK could be mediated by an intracardiac release of (a) cardioaccelerating substance(s) from cardiac, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve fibers and/or terminals.

Epicardial application of capsaicin causes tachycardia and pressor effect in guinea pigs.

Topical application of picomoles of capsaicin (CAP) to the surface of the left ventricle (epicardial application) of anesthetized guinea pigs evoked dose-dependent increases of heart rate and of mean arterial blood pressure. The pressor responses to epicardial application of CAP were inhibited by systemic administration of pentolinium or a mixture of phentolamine and propranolol whereas only the mixture of phentolamine and propranolol attenuated the tachycardia. The pressor and heart rate responses to epicardial CAP were not modified by acute bilateral vagotomy or prior systemic treatment of animals with atropine, indomethacin, naloxone or a mixture of mepyramine and cimetidine, but both responses were markedly reduced by prior chronic treatment of guinea pigs with CAP or by prior epicardial application of lidocaine. Altogether these results suggest that the pressor effects caused by epicardial application of CAP in anesthetized guinea pigs are reflex in nature and likely to be due to stimulation by CAP of cardiac, sympathetic, CAP-sensitive, sensory nerve endings, whereas the tachycardia caused by epicardial CAP might be mediated by local noradrenaline release (and subsequent cardiac beta adrenoceptor activation) from cardiac, sympathetic, postganglionic nerve fibers and/or terminals.

Blood levels of kinins in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

The pathology of acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is characterized by perivascular cellular infiltrates in the central nervous system. Our hypothesis is that this immuno-pharmacological process can activate the circulating and tissular kallikrein-kinin systems. We studied 21 New Zealand rabbits inoculated with a homogenate of guinea-pig spinal cord in complete Freund's adjuvant. Each animal underwent radioimmunoassay for arterial blood bradykinin, des-Arg9-bradykinin and des-Phe8-des-Arg9-bradykinin during the acute or subacute clinical phase of encephalomyelitis. Immediately after blood sampling, all animals had their complete central nervous system dissected out and prepared for staining and histological study. The number of hematoxylin-eosin-stained perivascular cellular infiltrates was counted at eight levels of the central nervous system, from the hypothalamic to sacral spinal segments. We demonstrated a positive significant (P less than or equal to 0.02) correlation (r = 0.55) between the number of perivascular cellular infiltrates and blood level of the biologically active kinin bradykinin.

The cardiovascular response to epicardial application of neurotensin in guinea pigs.

Topical application of picomoles of neurotensin (NT) on the surface of the left ventricle (epicardial application) of anesthetized guinea pigs evoked dose-dependent pressor effects and tachycardia. The pressor response to epicardial NT was attenuated by pentolinium, a mixture of phentolamine and propranolol, or by guanethidine. However it was not affected by indomethacin, atropine or by a mixture of mepyramine and cimetidine. The tachycardia caused by epicardial NT was not modified by any of the aforementioned drugs. Both the pressor effects and tachycardia elicited by epicardial application of NT were markedly inhibited by chronic treatment of guinea pigs with capsaicin, and by topical application of lidocaine or tetrodotoxin to the surface of the left ventricle. Epicardial application of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) or capsaicin also elicited tachycardia and either a decrease (CGRP and SP) or increase of blood pressure (capsaicin) in anesthetized guinea pigs. Epicardial application of NT, CGRP, or capsaicin in isolated, perfused hearts of guinea pigs also caused tachycardia. Together, these results suggest that the pressor responses to topical application of NT on the surface of the left ventricle in anesthetized guinea pigs are partially reflex in nature and likely to result from the stimulation by NT of cardiac sympathetic, capsaicin-sensitive, sensory nerve endings, whereas the tachycardia caused by epicardial NT appears to be due both to direct and indirect effects of NT on ventricular muscle cells. The possible participation of CGRP and/or SP in the chronotropic effect of NT applied on the epicardium, and their putative role as neurotransmitter of cardiac, capsaicin-sensitive, sensory neurons are discussed.

Conversion of kinins and their antagonists into B1 receptor activators and blockers in isolated vessels.

A carboxypeptidase inhibitor (DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidoethylthiopropranoic acid) (mergetpa) was used to block the conversion of kinins and B2 receptor antagonists into metabolites devoid of the C-terminal Arg. Experiments were carried out on rabbit isolated aortae (a B1 receptor system) or rabbit jugular veins and dog carotid arteries (two B2 receptor systems). The contractile effect of bradykinin in the rabbit aorta was significantly reduced by mergetpa while that of desArg9-BK was not modified. pA2 values of B2 receptor antagonists, [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]kallidin were markedly reduced by mergetpa. The apparent affinity (pA2) of a B1 receptor antagonist, [Leu9]desArg10-kallidin was not affected. Carboxypeptidases inhibition did not modify the activities of bradykinin or the affinities of B2 receptor antagonists in the rabbit jugular vein and the dog carotid artery. An inhibitor of kininase II (D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropranoyl-L-proline (S,S] (captopril) reduced the contractile effects of angiotensin I in the three preparations and potentiated the stimulatory or inhibitory effects of bradykinin: captopril did not have effect on the affinities of B2 receptor antagonists and did not modify the effects of angiotensin II. Comparative experiments performed in tissues with or without endothelium gave the same results with both mergetpa and captopril. The present findings suggest that bradykinin and B2 receptor antagonists are converted by carboxypeptidases into biologically active B1 receptor agonist or antagonists. This is the reason why B2 receptor antagonists are not selective.

The actions of kinin antagonists on B1 and B2 receptor systems.

The newly discovered bradykinin antagonist [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin, supplied by J.-M. Stewart and three other compounds, [D-Phe7]BK, [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]Kallidin synthesized in our laboratory, were tested for their ability to antagonize bradykinin in four B2 receptor systems, the guinea-pig ileum, the rabbit jugular vein, the dog carotid artery and the dog urinary bladder as well as against desArg9-bradykinin in the rabbit aorta (a B1 receptor system). [D-Phe7]Bradykinin is a partial agonist, while [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]Bradykinin and [Thi6,9,D-Phe8]Kallidin are pure antagonists, the second one showing little BK-like activity on three of the four preparations. The kallidin analogue is more potent in all preparations than the bradykinin one. The two [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK (that supplied by J.-M. Stewart and that prepared in our laboratory) show very similar affinities in all preparations. The bradykinin analogue as well as the kallidin one are also active against desArg9-bradykinin in the rabbit aorta, at concentrations similar to those active on B2 receptor systems. The kinin antagonists are however specific for the kinins, since they do not interfere with the myotropic effects of angiotensin or substance P (SP) in the various preparations.

New agonist and antagonist analogues of bradykinin.

Three new analogues of bradykinin (BK) have been tested for their agonistic and antagonistic actions on the rabbit jugular vein and the guinea pig ileum (B2 receptors), and six were studied on rabbit aorta strips (B1 receptors). Substitution of Gly4, Phe5, and Phe8 in BK with D-Trp gives analogues with a relative affinity lower than 1.0% as compared with BK. These analogues have no antagonistic properties on the rabbit jugular vein and on guinea pig ileum (B2 receptors). Substitution of Pro7 in des-Arg9-BK by Gly and by D-Ala give compounds that antagonise the effects of kinins on the rabbit aorta strips (B1-receptor system). These new antagonists are fairly potent with a pA2 value of 6.03 to 7.29 and seem competitive because the pA2--pA10 values approximate 0.95. These results suggest that the orientation of Phe8 is critical for the activation of B1 receptors by kinins.

Evidence for the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system in experimental asbestosis.

Immunoreactive bradykinin (BK) and its metabolites, namely des-Arg9-BK and des (Phe8,Arg9)-BK, were measured in acidic extracts of lungs from normal and asbestos-treated guinea pigs. The development of experimental asbestosis did not change the levels of BK (0.67 ng/mg and 0.72 ng/mg) while the levels of des-Arg9-BK increased from 0.06 to 0.57 ng/mg (P less than 0.01) and those of des (Phe8,Arg9)-BK, from 0.09 to 1.48 ng/mg (P less than 0.01). These increases in the amount of the BK metabolites suggest the participation of the kallikrein-kinin system in the inflammatory reaction induced by the intratracheal administration of asbestos into guinea pigs.