Effects of Urocortins on Forearm Arterial Blood Flow in Healthy Volunteers

November 15, 2010 updated by: University of Edinburgh

Impairment of the heart's pumping capacity (heart failure) remains a major clinical problem with a poor prognosis and the search for novel treatments remains an important area of research.

Urocortins are proteins that appear to increase blood flow and heart pumping activity. There has been particular interest in the role of Urocortins 2 & 3 (subtypes of Urocortins) in heart failure.

In this study, we will examine the effects and mechanisms of Urocortins 2 & 3 and the Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone Receptor Type 2 (CRH-R2) receptor (through which urocortins act) on forearm blood flow and release of natural blood clot dissolving factors in the forearm circulation of healthy volunteers.

In this study, we will look at the role of the lining of the blood vessel (endothelium) in response to urocortin types 2 and 3. We hypothesise that urocortins 2 & 3 act via the endothelium to cause dilatation of the blood vessels and release of tissue-plasminogen activating factor (blood clot dissolving factor). We also hypothesise that urocortins have a role in maintaining the normal baseline level of blood flow in forearm arteries. In addition to the above, we will also look at the effect of temporarily blocking the effect of urocortins, using a specially designed blocker drug (Astressin 2B).

Utilising the well-established technique of 'forearm venous occlusion plethysmography', we will be able to focus on the local effects of urocortins on arterial blood flow in forearm vessels, without affecting this system in the body as a whole.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

6

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
    • Mid Lothian
      • Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, United Kingdom, EH16 4SA
        • Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy male volunteers between 18 - 65 years (inclusive)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of informed consent
  • Age <18 years > 65 years
  • Current involvement in a clinical trial
  • Severe or significant co-morbidity including bleeding diathesis, renal or hepatic failure
  • Smoker
  • History of anaemia
  • Recent infective/inflammatory condition
  • Recent blood donation (prior 3 months)
  • Positive baseline urine test for drugs of abuse (including cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
  • Allocation: NA
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: SINGLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Astressin 2B
Healthy volunteers will receive incremental doses of intra arterial Astressin 2B (a selective and potent Urocortin 2 & 3 antagonist). This serves as a dose finding Protocol for Astressin 2B, which will be used in subsequent protocols.
Drug: Astressin 2B
After an initial saline washout, increasing doses of Astressin 2B (at 0.032, 0.32, 3.2, 32, 320 and 3200 pmol/min) will be infused, for 10 minutes at each dose,intra arterially using forearm venous occlusion plethysmography. Forearm blood flow will be measured with each incremental dose of Astressin 2B.
Other Names:
  • Forearm vascular study

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in forearm blood flow
Time Frame: 3 hours
Absolute change in forearm blood flow with respect to baseline forearm blood flow resulting from infusion of the study drugs, using forearm venous occlusion plethysmography
3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Principle safety assessment, heart rate and blood pressure
Time Frame: 3 hours
3 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2010

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

July 1, 2010

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

July 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 12, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 13, 2010

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

January 14, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

November 16, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 15, 2010

Last Verified

November 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SV.Protocol1

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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