Effects of captopril and hydralazine on progression of adriamycin nephropathy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of captopril and hydralazine on morphologic changes and clinical course of adriamycin nephropathy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were examined. The rats were followed for 18 weeks after adriamycin injections. At week 1 they were randomly assigned to receive no antihypertensive treatment, captopril 60 mg/kg per day or hydralazine 6 mg/kg per day. A control group of SHR not treated with adriamycin was also included in the study. Both antihypertensive agents normalized systemic blood pressure, but failed to prevent proteinuria, mesangial expansion and renal failure progression. At the end of the study all adriamycin-treated groups had the same degree of renal failure irrespective of whether blood pressure was well controlled with captopril or hydralazine or whether hypertension persisted. Nevertheless, antihypertensive therapy slowed down renal function deterioration in the early stage of adriamycin nephropathy. Treatment with captopril also reduced the development of glomerular sclerosis.

[The opioid peptide, beta-endorphin, in spontaneous vaginal delivery and cesarean section]. / Opioidni peptid--beta-endorfin u toku spontanog vaginalnog porodjaja i carskog reza.

The opioid peptide, beta-endorphin, originates from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) under the influence of corticotropin releasing hormone (CHR). It increases the threshold of pain and has a certain influence on the formation of hypophyseal hormones, especially in stress. It is found that beta-endorphin stimulates the secretion of prolactin, a growth hormone, and vasopressin; it inhibates formation of follicle-stimulating and luteinizating hormones, oxytocin and dopamine, and gonadotropin, a releasing hormone. The process of acetylization decreases its activity. The results of experimental trials revealed that acetylisation in the foetal period was absent. The aim of the study was to define beta-endorphin concentration during normal vaginal labor and Cesarean section. Samples of peripheral blood of patients with spontaneous vaginal labor (n = 15) and of those in whom labor was operatively terminated (Cesarean section) (n = 10), were analysed. Values of this opiate were determined in the umbilical cord of newborn infants, in the amniotic fluid and placental compartment. The obtained results were statistically analysed. In intrapartum beta-endorphins were significantly increased reaching the highest level during expulsion (326 pg/ml); in the placental compartment these values were higher (in retroplacental blood 514 pg/ml) reaching the highest value of 917 pg/ml, p less than 0.01 in the placenta. In Cesarean section beta-endorphin values in the peripheral blood showed no significant differences during spontaneous vaginal labor. However, increased values of this natural opiate were observed six hours after surgery. Beta-endorphin concentrations in the placental compartment and the placenta during normal vaginal labor were significantly higher in comparison with labor by Cesarean section (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)