Rapid nongenomic effects of aldosterone on human forearm vasculature

Schmidt, B.M.W., Oehmer, S., Delles, C. , Bratke, R., Schneider, M.P., Klingbeil, A., Fleischmann, E.H. and Schmieder, R.E. (2003) Rapid nongenomic effects of aldosterone on human forearm vasculature. Hypertension, 42(2), pp. 156-160. (doi: 10.1161/​01.HYP.0000083298.23119.16)

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Abstract

The impact of aldosterone in cardiovascular disease and hypertension has recently gained new interest. Aldosterone is now suggested to be a more common cause of hypertension than previously believed and has been linked to myocardial fibrosis, independent of its hypertensive effects. Finally, rapid nongenomic aldosterone effects have been proposed to be important in hypertension, in addition to its genomic effects. Forty-eight healthy male volunteers were examined in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial to elucidate the rapid nongenomic, vascular effects of aldosterone in humans. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. First, aldosterone (500 ng/min) and placebo were infused into the brachial artery for 8 minutes. The volunteers then received ascending doses of acetylcholine, NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA), sodium nitroprusside, or phenylephrine. Aldosterone increased forearm blood flow (P<0.001, ANOVA). The maximum effect was an increase in forearm blood flow with aldosterone of 7.9±2.6% compared with 0.1±1.9% with placebo treatment after 8 minutes. With aldosterone, L-NMMA induced a greater vasoconstriction (P<0.05, ANOVA), sodium nitroprusside induced an attenuated vasoconstriction (P<0.01, ANOVA), and phenylephrine induced an exaggerated vasoconstriction (P<0.01, ANOVA) within minutes as compared with placebo. These data suggest that aldosterone acts through rapid nongenomic effects at the endothelium by increasing NO release and at the vascular smooth muscle cells by promoting vasoconstriction. This is consistent with in vitro data showing an increase in intracellular calcium in both cell types. Disturbances of these aldosterone effects on both levels might be important in promoting hypertension.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Schneider, Dr Markus and Delles, Professor Christian
Authors: Schmidt, B.M.W., Oehmer, S., Delles, C., Bratke, R., Schneider, M.P., Klingbeil, A., Fleischmann, E.H., and Schmieder, R.E.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Hypertension
Publisher:American Heart Association
ISSN:0194-911X
Published Online:14 July 2003

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