title: Simulated microgravity impairs aldosterone secretion in rats: possible involvement of adrenomedullin.
abstract: The prolonged exposure to microgravity (MG) or simulated MG (SMG) has been reported to cause hypotension, mainly due to reduced vascular contractility, and dysregulation of fluid and electrolyte balance. However, the mechanism(s) involved in these MG- or SMG-induced effects is not yet completely elucidated. Hence, we investigated in the rat the effect of prolonged (15 day) SMG, in the form of hindlimb unweighting, on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), as well as on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and adrenomedullin (ADM), two hypotensive peptides that play a major role in the regulation of RAAS activity by inhibiting adrenal aldosterone secretion. SMG caused a mild hypotension in rats, associated with the blockade of body weight gain. Plasma aldosterone concentration and basal and agonist-stimulated in vitro aldosterone secretion from adrenal slices were decreased, and plasma renin activity was moderately increased. Neither Na(+) and K(+) serum concentrations nor ACTH and corticosterone blood levels were significantly affected. Plasma ANP concentration did not display significant alterations, while ADM blood concentration underwent a marked rise. The administration of the ADM-receptor antagonist ADM-(22-52) during the last 3 days of hindlimb unweighting reversed the SMG-induced hypotension and hypoaldosteronism. Collectively, these findings allow us to suggest that prolonged SMG impairs RAAS activity in rats, through a mechanism probably involving upregulation of the ADM system. Both hypoaldosteronism and increased ADM secretion may contribute to the development of hypotension during prolonged exposure to SMG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Padua, I-35121 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.forename: Ludwik K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Malendowicz
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.forename: Gastone G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nussdorfer
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000450:Aldosterone; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone