Effect of Urocortins in Patients With Heart Failure

"After a 20-min infusion of intra-arterial saline, ascending doses of Urocortin 2 (3.6, 12 and 36 pmol/min \[15, 50 and 150 ng/min\] to achieve estimated end-organ concentrations of 0.6, 2 and 6 µg/L, respectively), Urocortin 3 1200, 3600 and 12000 pmol/min (5, 15 and 50 micrograms/min) \[to achieve estimated end-organ concentrations of 199, 600 and 2000 micrograms/L respectively\] and substance P (a control endothelium-dependent vasodilator that evokes endogenous t-PA release \[2, 4 and 8 pmol/min\]) will be administered intra-arterially.~Baseline blood samples will be taken at the start of the study for full blood count, cholesterol, glucose, renal function Bilateral venous blood samples will be taken at baseline, immediately before the start of Ucn2/Ucn3 infusion and at the end of each dose of Ucn2/Ucn3 for subsequent measurement of plasma Ucn 2 and 3 concentrations and other hormones."