Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.23.15 (renin)
 35,795 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The adrenal gland of various mammalian species has been shown to contain all the components of a functional renin-angiotensin system. We investigated the existence of this local system in human adrenal tissues surgically obtained. Eight normal adrenals (cortex and medulla) and 6 aldosterone-producing adenomas (aldosteronomas) were examined. Minced tissues were superfused over 270 min, and 15-min fractions were collected. In the perfusates, active renin was measured by immunoradiometric assay with human anti-renin monoclonal antibodies; immunoreactive angiotensin II/III and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. Adrenal tissues, either normal or pathological, were found concomitantly to release renin, angiotensin II/III and aldosterone. The pattern of this spontaneous release exhibited a pulsatile character. The total amount of renin and angiotensin II/III secreted during superfusion clearly exceeded the tissue content (determined by extraction). Addition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor quinaprilat (4 x 10(-6) mol/l) in the superfusion caused a concomitant decrease of angiotensin II/III and aldosterone secretion by 3 normal tissues, and no change in 2 aldosteronomas. These data provide evidence that the human adrenal gland in vitro generates and releases both renin and angiotensin II/III, and support the hypothesis that locally formed angiotensin II/III may play a role as a paracrine regulator of physiological aldosterone secretion.
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PMID:In vitro evidence for local generation of renin and angiotensin II/III immunoreactivity by the human adrenal gland. 195 Mar 44

Among 436 patients with hypertension unrelated to any renal lesion, renovascular damage, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome or hyperthyroidism, 15 patients had low plasma renin activity (PRA) and elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations in the upright position and resultant high aldosterone/PRA ratios: 8 with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA; group 1) and 7 with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA; group 2). Thirty-nine patients had suppressed PRA in the presence of normal plasma aldosterone levels and moderately elevated aldosterone/PRA ratios (group 3). Thirty of them had elevated plasma 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) concentrations (group 3a) and 9 of them had normal levels of those mineralocorticoids (group 3b). The rest of them (382 patients) had low aldosterone/PRA ratios (group 4). Adrenal scintigraphy with dexamethasone pretreatment revealed [13I]-cholesterol accumulation not only in patients with APA (unilateral) or IHA (bilateral), but also in patients of group 3a (bilateral). In patients in groups 3a and 3b adrenal size (especially thickness), as measured by computed tomography (CT scan), was enlarged, as in patients with IHA (group 2), and was significantly greater than in patients of group 4 (p less than 0.001). Spironolactone reduced blood pressure in all tested patients of group 3a, and the removal of adrenal tumor or hyperplastic tissue normalized blood pressure in patients of groups 1, 2 and 3a. Excised adrenal glands exhibited cortical hyperplasia with or without nodular hyperplasia in patients of group 3a. Good agreement was found between the actual size of the excised tissue and the measurement obtained by CT scan. Since beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin were depressed in patients of group 3a, it is suggested that an unknown pituitary substance stimulates the adrenal cortex to release too large amounts of DOC and 18-OH-DOC and inappropriate secretion of aldosterone.
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PMID:Inappropriate elevation of the aldosterone/plasma renin activity ratio in hypertensive patients with increases of 11-deoxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone: a subtype of essential hypertension? 207 Mar 75

We examined the effect of angiotensin I (AI), without the effect of angiotensin II (AII) converted from AI, on the weight of the adrenal glands, adrenal corticosterone (B) and adrenal aldosterone under conditions where the renin-angiotensin system was suppressed, since a reduction in the size of the adrenal glands is often observed in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats. Sixty male Wistar rats fed on a 1% NaCl solution were divided into 6 groups as follows: a) Salt group: received sesame oil and vehicle, b) Salt + C group: received sesame oil and MK422 (0.14 mg/day), an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI), c) DOCA group: received DOCA (30 mg/week) and vehicle, d) DOCA + A group: received DOCA and AI (0.5 mg/kg/day), e) DOCA + A + C group: received DOCA and AI with MK422, and f) DOCA + C group: received DOCA and MK422. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed to sample their blood and remove their adrenal glands. There was no significant difference in adrenal B among the groups apart from the DOCA + C group. Adrenal aldosterone was lower in the groups of DOCA/salt hypertensive rats than in the Salt group and Salt + C group. Furthermore, the DOCA + A + C group and DOCA + C group had lower adrenal aldosterone levels than the DOCA group and DOCA + A group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Preventive effect of angiotensin I on weight reduction in the adrenal glands of DOCA/salt hypertensive rats. 208 30

Prolactin (PRL) responds to several stimuli that elicit release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), but does not increase in response to hemorrhage in fetal animals. To determine whether PRL increases after hemorrhage in older animals, 11 immature female swine were prepared chronically under halothane and conditioned behaviorally to lie in a sling. They were bled 14 ml/kg over 5 min. PRL, ACTH, cortisol (F), lysine vasopressin (LVP), and pressure renin activity (PRA) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Arterial PRL increased at 0.75 and 1 h (P less than 0.01) and paralleled ACTH and F that peaked at 0.75 h (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively). All three hormones recovered significantly by 4 h. In contrast, PRA and LVP peaked transiently at 0.25 h after hemorrhage and recovered by 1.5 h (P less than 0.05, in each case). EPI and NE did not change significantly. In individual pigs, ACTH and F each showed correlations (Spearman) with PRL that were positive in 10 pigs and significant in six and five pigs, respectively. The pig with the smallest ACTH change (8.4 pg/ml peak) showed no increase in PRL. Peaks in PRL were simultaneous with (five pigs) or delayed by 15 min (four pigs) or 30 min (one pig) from peaks in ACTH. Significant correlations of PRL with PRA and with LVP occurred in only two pigs and in one pig, respectively. A common pathway may contribute to other independent mechanisms controlling the release of ACTH and PRL after hemorrhage.
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PMID:Response of prolactin to hemorrhage is similar to that of adrenocorticotropin in swine. 215 59

Adrenal imaging using radiopharmaceuticals is a functional test that can contribute significantly to surgical management and follow-up of patients with either benign or malignant conditions of the adrenal cortex and medulla. Imaging of the cortex is achieved by iodine-131-labeled iodomethyl nor-cholesterol (NP-59), while adrenal medulla imaging can be successfully accomplished by 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), which localizes in the adrenergic nerve terminal with norepinephrine. Both tests carry high sensitivity and specificity for functional tumors and hyperplasia, and often better than CT scanning. This article reviews the current status and clinical utility of nuclear imaging of the adrenal cortex in congenital hyperplasia, low renin hypertension and aldosteronism, and Cushing's syndrome. Adrenal medulla imaging is reviewed in light of our experience at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and other neuroectodermal tumors. Investigation of 131I-MIBG therapy of metastatic tumors of neuroectodermal origin potentially offers a means of at least controlling symptoms of hormonal secretion in these patients.
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PMID:Role of adrenal imaging in surgical management. 217 29

The aim of the study was to examine regional changes in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and baroreceptor function and arterial plasma catecholamines, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and plasma renin activity during morphine withdrawal in chloralose-anesthetized rats. Dependence was induced by s.c. morphine base pellets. Adrenal, renal and splanchnic SNA and SNA from the lumbar sympathetic chain were recorded before and after i.v. injections of naloxone. Baroreceptor function was examined with phenylephrine-induced increases in mean arterial pressure. In separate experiments, arterial plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, plasma renin activity and AVP were measured before and after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Naloxone administration elicited an increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. Although renal SNA was inhibited by approximately 50%, adrenal SNA and lumbar SNA increased by approximately 400 and 80%, respectively. Splanchnic SNA did not change significantly. The baroreceptor-mediated inhibition of adrenal SNA was facilitated while that for renal SNA was attenuated. The arterial plasma level of norepinephrine was doubled and epinephrine increased almost 20-fold. AVP increased about 15-fold, whereas plasma renin activity showed only a minor increase after naloxone. This study shows that a marked differentiation of the SNA response occurs during morphine withdrawal in rats, which suggests an interaction between opioid receptors and the control of regional sympathetic output. Furthermore, large amounts of AVP and epinephrine are released, which probably contribute to the cardiovascular changes seen in the withdrawal phase.
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PMID:Regional changes in sympathetic nerve activity and baroreceptor reflex function and arterial plasma levels of catecholamines, renin and vasopressin during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in rats. 218 76

A 64-year-old female with hypertension, hypokalemia visited our hospital. Endocrinological examinations showed a low level of plasma renin activity and high level of plasma aldosterone. Circadian rhythmicity of plasma aldosterone level was recognized. No change in the plasma level of aldosterone was observed after loading of standing and administration of furosemide. Adrenal scintigraphy, adrenal venous aldosterone assay and CT scan revealed two tumors in the left adrenal. The diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by left adrenal tumors was made from the above findings. A left adrenalectomy was performed and pathological findings showed two adenomas, which had no capsule either and were surrounded by normal adrenocortical tissue. Blood pressure normalized after surgery and the plasma levels of aldosterone and plasma renin activity were normalized.
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PMID:[A case of primary aldosteronism due to unilateral multiple adrenal adenomas]. 223 79

To assess the rate of activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and enhancement of adrenal responsiveness to angiotensin II (Ang II) with restriction of sodium intake, 16 healthy male subjects were placed initially on a 200 meq daily sodium intake; adrenal responsiveness to Ang II was assessed, and then daily sodium intake was reduced abruptly to 10 meq. Adrenal responses to Ang II were assessed again during the non-steady state interval 24 and 48 hours later, and after balance was achieved in 5-7 days. Renin-angiotensin system activation was evident within 24 hours after sodium intake was restricted. The increase in basal plasma aldosterone concentration and enhancement of the adrenal response to Ang II, on the other hand, tended to lag. Within 24 hours of restricting sodium intake, despite a significant increase in both plasma renin activity (1.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.7 ng/ml/hr, p less than 0.01) and Ang II concentration (22.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 29.5 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, p less than 0.05), there was no increase in basal plasma aldosterone concentration (10.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 11.7 +/- 1.2 ng/dl). At 48 hours, despite little further change in plasma renin activity or plasma Ang II concentration, there was a sharp increase in basal plasma aldosterone concentration (22.5 +/- 3.6 ng/dl, p less than 0.01). The adrenal response to Ang II was increased significantly at 24 hours, evident at only a 10 ng/kg/min dose, but showed progressive further enhancement with time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Time course of enhanced adrenal responsiveness to angiotensin on a low salt diet. 231 19

In confirmation of previous studies, the amount of epinephrine released into blood during electrical stimulation of the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord in pithed rats on a low-sodium diet (0.01% sodium by weight of diet for 1 mo) was significantly greater than that observed in rats on a normal sodium diet (0.3% sodium by weight of diet). The present work assessed the extent to which endogenously formed angiotensin II influences this neurally mediated adrenal epinephrine release. The augmented release of epinephrine in rats maintained on the low-sodium diet appeared to depend on circulating angiotensin II because blockade of angiotensin II receptors with saralasin decreased the epinephrine release in these animals but not in rats maintained on the normal diet. Similar results were obtained when the renin-angiotensin system was blocked with the converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril. Adrenal epinephrine content was not affected by the dietary sodium intake; however, the catecholamine synthetic capacity was augmented as indicated by a significant induction of tyrosine hydroxylase. In addition, the adrenal medullary angiotensin II receptor density was significantly elevated in animals on the low-sodium diet. These results demonstrate that endogenous angiotensin II is capable of providing a positive modulatory influence on neurally mediated release of adrenal epinephrine, an effect that may require a chronic activation of the renin-angiotensin system as occurs naturally with restricted dietary sodium intake.
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PMID:Angiotensin augments epinephrine release in pithed rats fed a low-sodium diet. 240 15

Zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF/M) poly(A)+ RNA were isolated from the adrenals of bilaterally nephrectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats and hybridized to a full-length 32P-labeled 1423-base pair (bp) renin cDNA as well as a 698-bp renin cDNA KpnI segment (corresponding to amino acids 92-325) by the dot blot procedure using Bio-Rad Zeta Probe membranes. Extensive hybridization was observed with ZG mRNA, and only slight binding was seen with ZF/M mRNA. These results extend earlier reports from this laboratory indicating that the enzymic activity for renin is predominantly localized in ZG cells. Hence, high message levels account for the high enzymic activity. Adrenal ZG poly(A)+ RNA was also isolated from rats maintained on normal and sodium-deplete diets for 15 days and was hybridized to the radiolabeled 698-bp renin probe. Essentially twice the amount of probe was bound to the message from salt-deplete ZG tissue compared to message from normal ZG per microgram mRNA. Hybridization was proportional to the amount of poly(A)+ RNA employed over the range of 0-1 microgram, suggesting the applicability of this procedure for approximate quantitation purposes. The membranes were freed from the 32P-labeled renin cDNA and subsequently rehybridized with a 32P-radiolabeled 1200-bp beta-actin cDNA probe. It was observed that ZF/M poly(A)+ RNA contained more beta-actin message than ZG poly(A)+ RNA, indicating a greater transcription rate for beta-actin in ZF/M tissue in contrast to transcription of the renin gene.
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PMID:Regulation of adrenal renin messenger ribonucleic acid by dietary sodium chloride. 247 May 83


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