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Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A disease is an inherited sensorimotor neuropathy that is most often associated with a duplication of chromosome 17p11.2. This region contains the gene of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), which is responsible by a gene dosage effect for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A phenotype with 17p11.2 duplication. We performed a clinical, electrophysiological, and genetic study of a consanguinous Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A family with 4 affected siblings, 3 of whom were homozygous for the 17p11.2 duplication, the other a heterozygote. Comparison of phenotypes showed that the severity of the disease was variable among the homozygotes, one of whom was no more severely affected than the heterozygous sibling who was paucisymptomatic. These results suggest that the severity of the disease is not determined solely by the number of copies of the PMP22 gene.

The central and peripheral cardiovascular effects of endothelin (ET)-1 and ET-3 were investigated in conscious rainbow trout. Both intracerebroventricular and intra-arterial injections of ET-1 (6.25–25 pmol) but not ET-3 (25 pmol) caused a dose-dependent increase in mean dorsal aortic blood pressure and a concomitant decrease in heart rate. The hypertensive effects induced by intra-arterial and intracerebroventricular injection of ET-1 were associated with a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in systemic vascular resistance. Intracerebroventricular injection of ET-1 induced a twofold higher pressor response than that caused by intra-arterial injection of ET-1 and provoked a barostatic gain that was reduced by 2.5- to 3-fold compared with that calculated after intra-arterial administration of the peptide. The ET receptor antagonist bosentan significantly ( P< 0.05) attenuated these responses regardless of the route of administration. Finally, intra-arterial injection of ET-1 did not significantly modify plasma cortisol level. The present data demonstrate that intracerebroventricular and intra-arterial administration of very low doses of ET-1 produces hypertension in conscious trout. The lack of effect of ET-3 indicates that the hemodynamic actions of ET-1 are mediated both centrally and peripherally through ETAreceptors.

Carotid sinus hypersensitivity and chronic denervation is a common finding in individuals older than 50 years of age. These two entities are significantly related, suggesting a pathophysiological relation of one to the other.

This study strongly suggests that the neuromuscular structures surrounding the carotid mechanoreceptors are involved in the carotid sinus syndrome; however, the exact mechanism remains speculative.

The cardiovascular effects of centrally and peripherally administered synthetic trout urotensin (U)-I, a member of the corticotropin-releasing hormone family of neuroendocrine peptides, were investigated in unanesthetized rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Intracerebroventricular injections of U-I (5.0 and 12.5 pmol) produced a sustained increase in mean dorsal aortic blood pressure (P(DA)) without significant change in heart rate (HR). This elevation in P(DA) was associated with an increase in cardiac output, but systemic vascular resistance did not change. Intra-arterial injection of U-I (12.5-500 pmol) evoked a dose-dependent increase in P(DA), but in contrast to the hemodynamic effects of centrally administered U-I, the hypertensive effect was associated with an increase in systemic vascular resistance and an initial fall in cardiac output. HR did not change or underwent a delayed increase. Pretreatment of trout with prazosin, an alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonist, completely abolished the rise in arterial blood pressure after intra-arterial administration of U-I, which was replaced by a sustained hypotension and tachycardia. Trout U-I produced a dose-dependent (pD(2) = 7.74 +/- 0.08) relaxation of preconstricted rings of isolated trout arterial vascular smooth muscle, suggesting that the primary action of the peptide in the periphery is vasorelaxation that is rapidly reversed by release of catecholamines. Our results suggest that U-I may regulate blood pressure in trout by acting centrally as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator and peripherally as a neurohormone functioning either as a locally acting vasodilator or as a potent secretagogue of catecholamines.