The estimation of whole blood serotonin and the related substances and analysis of the haemodynamic effects in serotonin administration were made in man and dog. In cardiac patients with pulmonary hypertension, notwithstanding their elevated reactivity of pulmonary circulation to serotonin, whole blood serotonin levels were markedly lowered. Prominent decrease of whole blood serotonin and blood platelet, increase of urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and the rise of the pulmonary arterial pressure were noted in the experimental pulmonary embolism with auto-clot in dogs. Active serotonin seemed to be released from the circulating blood platelet to play some roles in the pulmonary circulatory disturbances.

View full abstract

Effect of angiotensin II on the renal hemodynamics and electrolytes excretion were studied with a clearance method in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of angiotensin II reduced RPF and GFR. The hemodynamic effect of angiotensin II was disappeared following adrenalectomy, and partially restored DOC or cortisone. Angiotensin II increased a urine flow and an excretion of Na with slight de-crease In an excretion of K. But, It showed no such effect in adrenalectomized rats. DOC or cortisone restored the action of angiotensin II on the excretion of electrolytes in adrenalectomized rats. Adrenal cortex hormone may play an important role on the action of angiotensin II on the renal hemodynamics and renal tublar cells in rats.

View full abstract

1. Angiotensinase activity was the highest in the supernatant fraction among the liver cell subfractions from normal rabbits. 2. Comparison of angiotensinase activity in the supernatant fraction of liver cells and in plasma from a normal rabbit was made by means of horizontal starch block electrophoresis. The patterns from both sources were very similar, that is, the activity was demonstrated in the albumin zone. 3. The in vivo pressor response of angiotensin injected through the portal system was markedly reduced compared with that via the auricular vein or the femoral vein in normal rabbits. However, no significat difference between the pressor response of renin preparation via the portal vein and via the auricular vein was obtained.

View full abstract

Two familial of cardiomegaly are reported. In the first family, seven unexpected cardiacdeaths were observed. The most striking feature of these deaths occurred in three siblings with heavy consanguinity. Three siblings died around a week after a brief episode of common cold at their age of a little over ten. Autopsy finding of one of the siblings indicated scattered fibrosis mixed with hypertrophy of the heart muscle without demonstrating etiologically significant extracardiac anomaly. In the second family, six possible cardiac deaths were noted. Among these, three female siblings died quite similary to the above mentioned siblings at their age of thirty. Literal review was made, but the genetic from of transmission of the disease is thought to be non -sex-linked and not dominant type. Etiology and symptomatology of the disease are discussed.

View full abstract

The excitation process within the septal myocardium has been described by many investigators. However, some of details of the process have been left as problems to be discussed. It is also the purpose of this study to investigate the details of the process. Method : Hearts of 11 adult mongrel dogs were used in situ. Flexible multipolar electrodes were inserted across the ventricular septum through the right ventricular free wall. A 3-channel oscillograph was used for recording. In normal sinus excitation, in RBBB, and in extrasystole, the arrival time of excitation was measured on direct lead ECGS which were led from many points in the septal myocardium. Reference electrode was set in the apical free wall. To produce BBB, right or left bundle branch was cut. To provoke extrasystole, electrical stimulation was put on the right or left ventricular free wall with a set delay after previous QRS complex. Results : A) In normal sinus excitation 1. On the septal surface, the excitation spread from apex to base. The mean conduction velocity of excitation was 620 cm/sec on left endocardial surface and 180 cm/sec on right endocardial surface. 2. Through the septum, the excitation spread from both (left and right) surface to medial layer of the septum in 15 of 21 electrodes. In other 6 electrodes, one-way (from left to right) excitation was observed. The mean conduction velocity was 31 cm/sec (right to left) and 33 cm/sec (left to right). 3. In 18 of 21 electrodes, excitation appeard on the left endocardium before on the right endocardium. B) In BBB, the septum excited from the non blocked side to the blocked side. The mean conduction velocity was 29 cm/sec (LBBB) and 26 cm/sec (RBBB). C) In extrasystole, the septal excitation spread from the stimulated side to the other side. The mean conduction velocity was 38 cm/sec (L-stimulation) and 51 cm/sec (R-stimulation).

View full abstract

During the past thirty years various functions have been proposed for the renin-angio-tensin-aldosterone system ; even today, however, its role in homeostasis and in disease is unclear. The destruction of angiotensin in the body is rapidly accompanied through the action of angiotensinase. Extracts that enzymatically destroy angiotensin have been pre-pared from plasma, erythrocytes and many tissues. Recent works suggest of an abnormal metabolism of angiotensin in hypertension and diseases of the liver. The purposes of this investigation are, therefore, (1) to measure the degradation of the pressor activity of angiotensin II by serum from patients with hypertension, edema, diseases of the liver and normal subjects; (2) to evaluate the effect of sodium balance on serum angiotensinase activity (SAA) ; (3) to evaluate certain factors associated with hepatic disorders which may influence SAA. Methods: SAA was determined by the method of HICK-LER and co-workers. The percentage of destruction of angiotensin II (Hypertensin, Ciba) in 15 minutes was calculated and used as index of SAA. Results: (1) No significant difference was found in the following cases : hypertension in younger adult, essential hypertension, renal hyper-tension, normal pregnancy, acute hepatitis (convalescent stage), chronic hepatitis, Iiver cirrhosis without ascites, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, and normal subjects. (2) A moderate elevation was found both in hypertensives in younger adult and in normotensives, when they have hypertensive disposition. (3) A significant elevation was found in the following cases: secondary aldosteronism, acute hepatitis (acute stage), hepatic malignancy, cholecystitis, gallstone, acute pancreatitis, adrenal medullary hyperplasia, and toxemia of pregnancy.

View full abstract

Since BING's description of the coronary venous catheterization technique in 1949, studies on myocardial carbohydrate metabolism mainly in patients with cardiopathy have been reported by GOODALE, MIKAMO, KOBAYASHI, and, from our Department, by HAYASHI et al. WUHRMANN reported that non-inflammatory myocardial disturbance is elicited in association with protein metabolic disturbance in hepatopathy. NANGU in our Department, made clear the relation between electrocardiographic findings and dysproteinemia quantitatively, and YAJIMA described the disturbance of coronary circulation and myocardial oxygen metabolism in relation to the S-T deviation of liver cirrhosis. However, the metabolism of the energy source of the myocardium in liver cirrhosis has not been explained. In this paper, the actualities of disturbance of myocardial carbohydrate metabolism in liver cirrhosis is clarified by means of coronary catheterization in room air and under 10 per cent oxygen gas inhalation, and it will be compared with HAYASHI'S data of our Department which is studied mainly in patients with compensatory cardiopathy, in order to contribute to the pathophysiology of liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods Fifteen patients who apparently had no primary cardiovascular lesion but had a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis established by general clinical laboratory examinations, laparoscopy, and liver biopsy were subjected to coronary venous catheterization, and their myocardial carbohydrate metabolic values were determined in room air respiration and subsequently in 10 per cent oxygen gas inhalation for 20 minutes. Results and Discussion I. Myocardial carbohydrate metabolism in room air respiration (a) Glucose : Ten of the 15 cases showed myocardial uptake of glucose, 2 showed no coronary arteriovenous difference, and 5 showed glucose release. The incidence of glucose release was higher in the above series than in normal subjects. At the arterial carbohydrate level of about 100 mg%, no case exhibited glucose release. At lower levels of arterial carbohydrate, cases of glucose release were also noted, and were found to be about fifty-fifty with the cases showing glucose uptake. Myocardial glucose uptake in liver cirrhosis did not show a significant correlationship to the arterial glucose levels, and the amount of its uptake was less than known in other diseases.

View full abstract

Since BING's description of the coronary venous catheterization technique in 1949, studies on myocardial carbohydrate metabolism mainly in patients with cardiopathy have been reported by GOODALE, MIKAMO, KOBAYASHI, and, from our Department, by HAYASHI et al. WUHRMANN reported that non-inflammatory myocardial disturbance is elicited in association with protein metabolic disturbance in hepatopathy. NANGU in our Department, made clear the relation between electrocardiographic findings and dysproteinemia quantitatively, and YAJIMA described the disturbance of coronary circulation and myocardial oxygen metabolism in relation to the S-T deviation of liver cirrhosis. However, the metabolism of the energy source of the myocardium in liver cirrhosis has not been explained. In this paper, the actualities of disturbance of myocardial carbohydrate metabolism in liver cirrhosis is clarified by means of coronary catheterization in room air and under 10 per cent oxygen gas inhalation, and it will be compared with HAYASHI'S data of our Department which is studied mainly in patients with compensatory cardiopathy, in order to contribute to the pathophysiology of liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods Fifteen patients who apparently had no primary cardiovascular lesion but had a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis established by general clinical laboratory examinations, laparoscopy, and liver biopsy were subjected to coronary venous catheterization, and their myocardial carbohydrate metabolic values were determined in room air respiration and subsequently in 10 per cent oxygen gas inhalation for 20 minutes. Results and Discussion I. Myocardial carbohydrate metabolism in room air respiration (a) Glucose : Ten of the 15 cases showed myocardial uptake of glucose, 2 showed no coronary arteriovenous difference, and 5 showed glucose release. The incidence of glucose release was higher in the above series than in normal subjects. At the arterial carbohydrate level of about 100 mg%, no case exhibited glucose release. At lower levels of arterial carbohydrate, cases of glucose release were also noted, and were found to be about fifty-fifty with the cases showing glucose uptake. Myocardial glucose uptake in liver cirrhosis did not show a significant correlationship to the arterial glucose levels, and the amount of its uptake was less than known in other diseases.

View full abstract