Hemodynamic and renal effects of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine in conscious rats.

To evaluate the pattern of hemodynamic responses produced by an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), staurosporine 0.03-0.55 mg/kg was administered intravenously (i.v.) to conscious, normotensive rats chronically instrumented with vascular catheters for direct measurement of blood pressure (BP) and i.v. administration of drugs and either an aortic flow probe for measurement of cardiac output (CO) or miniaturized pulsed Doppler flow probes for measurement of hindquarter, renal, and mesenteric vascular resistances. Staurosporine decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and increased heart rate (HR) in a dose-dependent manner. Because staurosporine decreased resistance in all three vascular beds monitored (hindquarter, renal, and mesenteric), staurosporine is probably a nonselective vasodilator that decreases MAP by decreasing resistance in a number of peripheral vascular beds. Staurosporine produced biphasic effects on CO, dF/dtmax and peak aortic blood flow; these parameters were significantly increased at doses less than 0.3 mg/kg and decreased to levels equal to or significantly less than control values at doses greater than 0.3 mg/kg. In comparison, the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine decreased MAP and TPR and increased HR, CO, dF/dtmax, and peak aortic flow in a dose-dependent manner over the entire dose range (0.01-1 mg/kg i.v.). Staurosporine (0.3 mg/kg) and nitrendipine (1 mg/kg) produced similar changes in MAP (-44 +/- 3 and -33 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively), yet staurosporine affected dF/dtmax to a lesser extent than nitrendipine (-5 +/- 36 and 390 +/- 46 ml/s/s, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Potassium-sparing effect of trilostane in hydrochlorothiazide-treated rats and dogs.

Trilostane, which inhibits three beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and aldosterone synthesis in rats and monkeys, significantly attenuated the oral potassium-wasting effect of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in rats and dogs when coadministered with the diuretic. The steroid reduced the kaliuretic and enhanced the natriuretic (and hyperreninemic) activity of HCTZ in rats, thereby promoting the urinary sodium/potassium ratio. Trilostane completely prevented HCTZ-induced hypokalemia in dogs and tended to reduce the degree of secondary aldosteronism. The combination also promoted hematocrit of dogs by 8% and decreased serum Na+ concentration by 7 meq/liter. When administered alone, trilostane increased canine serum potassium levels slightly and promoted rat urinary Na+/K+ ratio. Results confirm previous reports of antikaliuretic activity of trilostane in diuretic-treated rats. Further, the data indicate that frank hypokalemia induced in dogs by hydrochlorothiazide can be prevented by adjunctive trilostane therapy without eliciting hyperkalemia.