Oa.pdf

Integrative studies of cardiovascular function and salt and water metabolism in cardiovascular and
renal diseases. Pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacological approaches
Senior staff member(s): Position(s): Degrees: Department/institution/address/telephone/fax:Department of Pharmacology, University of CopenhagenThe Panum Institute, bldg. 18/5, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen Tel.: 3532 7600 Characteristics of the research group:The research group combines competances in basic research and clinical medicine. An unique feature isthe combination of integrative research in whole animal models with methods in cellular and molecularbiology. The group has developed and refined a rat model with permanent catheters which allowsrepeated experiments to be performed in the same animal for up to 6 weeks. Animal models includescongestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, hypertension and diabetes insipidus.
Methods for assessment of cardiac function, systemic and renal hemodynamics and tubular function inconscious animals are combined with morphometric and biochemical methods, primarily localization andquantitation of receptors, sodium transporters and aquaporins.
Running projects: Titles and abstracts: Vasopressin escape in experimental heart failure and liver cirrhosis
Decompensated states of congestive heart failure and liver cirrhosis are characterized by high plasma levels of
vasopressin and excessive water retention, and the resulting hyponatremia is a predictor for poor prognosis. The
normal kidney is able to excrete a water load despite high levels of vasopressin, and this phenomenon termed
“Vasopressin escape” is associated with down-regulation of aquaporin 2 in the collecting duct cells. We have
demonstrated that the vasopressin escape phenomenon is intact in our rat model with experimental liver cirrhosis,
whereas not in our rat model with congestive heart failure. The project aims to elucidate the intracellular signal
transduction mechanisms involved in the normal vasopressin escape phenomenon, and further to define the
intracellular site for the tubular dysfunction observed in rats with congestive heart failure. The studies may disclose
important new targets in the treatment of hyponatremia.
Salt reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop in experimental liver cirrhosis and heart
failure
We have demonstrated that the early sodium retention in a rat model with liver cirrhosis induced by ligation of the
bile duct is associated with increased NaCl-reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of Henle´s loop and
hypertrophy of the corresponding renal zone (inner stripe of the outer medulla). The natriuretic response to loop-
diuretics is enhanced by 60% in this model, and similar observations have been made in rat models with congestive
heart failure and hypertension. The project aims to elucidate the factors which regulate salt reabsorption in the
medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) in normal and pathophysiological states, and to assess the physiological
consequences of increased mTAL NaCl-reabsorption. It rats with liver cirrhosis it has been demonstrated that the
cortico-medullary osmotic gradient is enhanced, facilitating tubular water reabsorption, and that the response to
thiazide diuretics is impaired. The studies may disclose new regulatory sites for sodium homeostasis and define
new targets for treatment of sodium retaining states.
Renal mechanism of action of nociceptin analogues - potential new aquaretic drugs
Nociceptin, a peptide discovered in 1995 as a ligand to the orphan receptor ORL-1, affects the CNS as
well as the cardiovascular/renal system. ORL-1 is a 7-TM receptor which inhibits cAMP formation
through interaction with an inhibitory G-protein. In the kidney nociceptin exerts a marked aquaretic
effect and we have shown that ORL-1 is co-localized with aquaporin 2 in principal cells from the innermedullary collecting duct. Our studies aim to elucidate the mechanism underlying this aquaretic action,using a new peptide analogue without effects on the CNS. This potential new aquaretic can be oftherapeutic value in the treatment of water retention and hyponatremia associated with congestive heartfailure Sodium transporters, aquaporins, and pulmonary edema
Drainage of fluid from the pulmonary alveoli to the lymphatic system depends on the epithelial sodium channel
(ENaC) in the alveolar epithelium as well as on aquaporins in the capillary endothelial cells (AQP1) and the
alveoles (AQP5). These transporters are important for the postnatal drainage as well as for the capacity to drain
pulmonary edema in response to an increase in pulmonary capillary pressure. Thus, ENaC(-/-) knock-out mice die
within 40 hours after birth with water filled lungs. The study examines pulmonary osmotic water permeability and
the pulmonary expression of ENaC and AQP1 and 5 in a rat model of congestive heart failure, both in the early
compensated state and in the late decompensated state, where the drainage capacity becomes insufficient to
compensate for the rise in capillary hydrostatic pressure. The project may identify new targets for pharmacological
or genomic treatment of life-threatening pulmary edema.
Mechanisms of thiazide-induced antidiuresis in diabetes insipidus
Thiazide diuretics exert a specific (“paradoxical”) antidiuretic action in diabetes insipidus (DI) and are presently
the only available therapy for nephrogenic DI including lithium-induced polyuria. We have studied the mechanism
of thiazide-induced antidiuresis both in Central and Nephrogenic DI. In both states the major mechanism seems to
be a reduction in the delivery of tubular fluid from the proximal tubules, which is due to a compensatory increase in
proximal tubular fluid reabsorption. However, in CDI thiazides in addition stimulate distal water reabsorption
through an unknown mechanism. The studies aim to elucidate the tubular mechanisms underlying the stimulation
of proximal reabsorption during thiazide treatment, and futher to define the effect of thiazides on water transport in
the distal nephron.
Basic studies on synergism between diuretic drugs
Diuretics inhibit specific sodium transporters in different nephron segments and when different classes of diuretics
are combined they exert synergistic diuretic/natriuretic actions. We have demonstrated that when
bendroflumethiazide is added to chronic furosemide administration the natriuretic response is increased, so-called
supra-additive synergism. Current studies focuses on the question whether the tubular profile of a thiazide (in terms
of effects on the proximal tubules) modifies its synergistic properties when co-administrered with loop diuretics, as
has been repeatedly suggested in the literature.
Novel treatment concepts against ischemia/reperfusion induced organ damage
Recent publications related to the projects described above:Staahltoft, D., S. Nielsen, N. Janjua, S. Christensen, O. Skøtt, Marcussen N. & T.E.N. Jonassen: Chronic losartan treatment normalizes renal water handling in rats with congestive heart failure. Am. J. Physiol. 282, F307-315, 2002.
Janjua, N.R., Jonassen, T.E.N., Johansson S., Thomsen, K. & S. Christensen: Role of sodium depletion for the acute antidiuretic effect of bendroflumethiazide in rats with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 299,
307-313, 2001.
Jonassen, T.E.N., S. Christensen, T.-H. Kwon, S. Johansson, N. Salling & Søren Nielsen: Renal water handling in rats with
decompensated liver cirrhosis. Am. J. Physiol., 279, F1101-F1109, 2000
Jonassen, T.E.N., A.-M. Sørensen, J.S. Petersen, F. Andreasen & S. Christensen: Increased natriuretic efficiency of furosemide in rats with carbon tetrachloride induced liver cirrhosis. Hepathology 31,
1224-1230, 2000
Jonassen, T.E.N., D. Promeneur, S. Christensen, J.S. Petersen & S. Nielsen: Decreased vasopressin-mediated renal water
reabsorption in rats with chronic aldosterone-receptor blockade. Am. J. Physiol. 278, F246-F256, 2000.
Jonassen, T.E.N., S. Christensen, A.-M. Sørensen, N. Marcussen, A. Flyvbjerg, F. Andreasen & J.S. Petersen: Effects of chronic octreotide treatment on renal changes during liver cirrhosis in rats. Hepathology, 29, 1387-1395, 1999.
Jonassen, T.E.N., J.S. Petersen, A.-M. Sørensen, F. Andreasen & S. Christensen: Aldosterone receptor-blockade inhibits furosemide sensitive sodium transport in rats with liver cirrhosis. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 287, 931-936, 1998.
Jonassen, T.E.N., S. Nielsen, S. Christensen & J.S. Petersen: Decreased vasopressin-mediated renal water reabsorption in rats with compensated liver cirrhosis. Am. J. Physiol., 275, F216-F225, 1998.
Shalmi, M., T.E.N. Jonassen, K. Thomsen, J.D. Kibble P. Bie & S. Christensen:
Model explaining the relation between distal nephron Li+ reabsorption and urinary Na+ excretion in the rat. Am. J.
Physiol. 274, F445-F452, 1998.
Grønbeck, L., D. Marples, S. Nielsen & S. Christensen: Mechanism of antidiuresis caused by bendroflumethiazide in rats with
diabetes insipidus. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 123, 737-745, 1998.
Spannow, J., K. Thomsen, J.S. Petersen, K. Haugan & S. Christensen: Influence of renal nerves and sodium balance on the acute antidiuretic effect of bendroflumethiazide diuretics in rats with diabetes insipidus. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 282,
1155-1162, 1997.
Jonassen, T.E.N., N. Marcussen, K. Haugan, H. Skyum, S. Christensen, F. Andreasen & J.S. Petersen: Functional and structural changes in the thick ascending limb of Henle=s loop during liver cirrhosis. Am. J. Physiol. 273, R568-R577,
1997.
Christensen, S., M. Shalmi, A. K. Hansen & N. Marcussen: Effects of perindopril and hydrochlorothiazide on the long-term progression of lithium-induced chronic renal failure in rats. Pharmacology & Toxicology 80, 132-141, 1997.
Jonassen, T.E.N., L. Grønbech, M. Shalmi, J.S. Petersen, F. Andreasen & S. Christensen: Supra-additive synergism of bendroflumethiazide and furosemide in rats. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 275, 558-565, 1995.
Marples, D., S. Christensen, E.I. Christensen, P.D. Ottosen & S. Nielsen: Lithium-induced downregulation of aquaporin-2 water channel expression in rat kidney medulla. J. Clin. Invest. 95, 1838-1843, 1995.
Lunau, H.E., M. Bak, J.S. Petersen, M. Shalmi, N. Marcussen & S. Christensen: Renal adaptations to constant administration of furosemide and bendroflumethiazide in rats. Pharmacology & Toxicology 74, 216-222, 1994.

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