Nitric oxide blunts myogenic autoregulation in rat renal but not skeletal muscle circulation via tubuloglomerular feedback

This rat renal blood flow (RBF) study quantified the impact of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition on the myogenic response and the balance of autoregulatory mechanisms in the time domain following a 20 mmHg-step increase or decrease in renal arterial pressure (RAP). When RAP was increased, the myogenic component of renal vascular resistance (RVR) rapidly rose within the initial 7–10 s, exhibiting an ∼5 s time constant and providing ∼36% of perfect autoregulation. A secondary rise between 10 and 40 s brought RVR to 95% total autoregulatory efficiency, reflecting tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) and possibly one or two additional mechanisms. The kinetics were similar after the RAP decrease. Inhibition of NOS (by l -NAME) increased RAP, enhanced the strength (79% autoregulation) and doubled the speed of the myogenic response, and promoted the emergence of RVR oscillations (∼0.2 Hz); the strength (52%) was lower at control RAP. An equi-pressor dose of angiotensin II had no effect on myogenic or total autoregulation. Inhibition of TGF (by furosemide) abolished the l -NAME effect on the myogenic response. RVR responses during furosemide treatment, assuming complete inhibition of TGF, suggest a third mechanism that contributes 10–20% and is independent of TGF, slower than the myogenic response, and abolished by NOS inhibition. The hindlimb circulation displayed a solitary myogenic response similar to the kidney (35% autoregulation) that was not enhanced by l -NAME. We conclude that NO normally restrains the strength and speed of the myogenic response in RBF but not hindlimb autoregulation, an action dependent on TGF, thereby allowing more and slow RAP fluctuations to reach glomerular capillaries.     

Renal blood flow and vasodilatory ability prior to and following release of 24 hours bilateral ureteral obstruction in rats

Increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) is evident after 24 hours of uni- and bilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO and BUO). However, to what extent the RVR increase is due to vascular damage versus functional vasoconstriction, or whether obstructed kidneys possess the ability to reduce RVR in response to vasodilatory stimuli, is not clear. During 24 hours of BUO renal blood flow (RBF), recorded electromagnetically, was reduced to about 70% of control and continued to fall by another 18% during 1/2-1 hour after release of BUO. Infusion of imidazole, a thromboxane A2 synthetase blocker, did not reduce RVR after release of BUO. Whereas RBF autoregulation in response to reduced perfusion pressure was impaired, maximal proportional renal vasodilation induced by acetylcholine was increased, both prior to and after release of BUO, as compared to control and UUO. These different renal vasodilatory responses indicate that the RVR increase during BUO is largely due to a functional vasoconstriction that impairs autoregulatory vasodilation. In contrast, the RVR increase during UUO is probably mainly due to structural damage which does not prevent autoregulation of the RBF level attained.     

Renal effect of meclofenamate in presence and absence of superfusion bioassay.

Systemic blood pressure (SBP), renal blood flow (RBF), renal vascular resistance (RVR), and arterial and renal venous prostaglandin E (PGE) concentrations were determined in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs.The effect of sodium meclofenamate infused into the renal artery was compared under two sets of conditions. In experiments carried out under control conditions, SBP, RBF, and RVR were stable and meclofenamate caused only a slight decrease in RBF (5.4%) and increase in RVR.     

Role of Endothelin ETA Receptor Antagonism in the Post-Transplant Renal Response to Angiotensin II in the Rat

The role of endothelins in the renal damage associated with ischaemic-reperfusion (I-R) injury during organ transplantation was determined by selective blockade of the ET(A) receptors with the receptor antagonist ABT-627. The integrity of kidney function was determined 2 and 8 weeks after transplantation by investigation of the renal response to angiotensin II. Under pentobarbitone anaesthesia (70 mg x kg(-1), I.P.), rats underwent a right nephrectomy. Transplantation of the left kidney was performed after 2 h cold ischaemia without or with ABT-627 treatment. Control animals underwent left renal denervation. The renal response to angiotensin II was measured 2 weeks later following blockade of endogenous production of angiotensin II with captopril. A further transplant group was allowed to recover for 8 weeks before the terminal study. In the control group, angiotensin II reduced renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow rate (UV), and fractional sodium excretion (FE(Na)) by 29 +/- 5 %, 19 +/- 4 %, 25 +/- 4 % and 32 +/- 7 %, respectively. Conversely, in the transplant group, angiotensin II left RBF unchanged and increased GFR (59 +/- 12 %) and UV (93 +/- 8 %). FE(Na) decreased by 24 +/- 9 %. In both the transplant group treated with ABT-627 and the long-term recovery group, the renal response to angiotensin II was normalised. In conclusion, renal transplantation following 2 h cold I-R injury resulted in a temporary abnormal renal response to angiotensin II, which was reversed by ET(A) receptor antagonism at the time of transplantation.     

Renal and nephron hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Renal and nephron hemodynamics were compared between anesthetized, nondiuretic, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Although the mean arterial pressure was higher in SHR than in WKY, 158 VS. 114 mmHg, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF) were similar in both groups. So were intrarenal hydrostatic pressures, single nephron GFR (SNGFR), and single nephron blood flow (SNBF). Accordingly, the increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) in SHR was due to predominant preglomerular vasoconstriction. In a second group of SHR, SHR-AC, the femoral arterial pressure was reduced acutely to 114 mmHg by means of aortic constriction above the renal arteries. The mean values for GFR, RBF, SNGFR, SNBF, and intrarenal hydrostatic pressures resembled those in SHR, whereas RVR was less in SHR-AC. These autoregulatory adjustments of RVR were again largely limited to the preglomerular vasculature. Efferent arteriolar resistance was similar in all three groups. We conclude that the enhanced RVR in 12-wk-old SHR is primarily a consequence of a physiological, autoregulatory response of afferent arteriolar resistance to the elevated arterial pressure. Further, RVR in SHR is not fixed and constant but responds appropriately to reductions in renal perfusion pressure.     

Resetting of the pressure range for blood flow autoregulation in the rat kidney

Both a myogenic response and the tubuloglomerular feedback control mechanism seem to be involved in autoregulation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF). Earlier experiments have shown that clamping of renal arterial perfusion pressure, below the autoregulatory range, reduces single-nephron GFR, and that this low value is maintained during the first 10-15 min after release of the clamp. It was also found that the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism in the early declamp phase was strongly activated to reduce GFR. These findings can not be easily understood with the current knowledge of autoregulation, but would suggest a resetting of RBF and GFR autoregulation to a new level. To test this, left renal arterial perfusion pressure was reduced from 100 to 60 mmHg during 20 min with and without angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (0.5 mg i.v. enalapril). Renal blood flow was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. When arterial perfusion pressure was reduced from 100 to 60 mmHg for 20 min, RBF was reduced to 77% of control and remained at this low level during the first minutes of declamp. In this situation there was an autoregulation to a new level. Renal blood flow was then slowly normalized (16.1 min). In the enalapril-treated animals RBF was only reduced to 85% during the 20 min of clamping and returned immediately to the control level at declamp. Thus, these experiments demonstrate that if renal blood flow is decreased by reducing the perfusion pressure below the normal autoregulatory range the pressure range for blood flow autoregulation resets to a lower level and that this change is mediated via the renin-angiotensin system.     

Mechanisms of K(+) induced renal vasodilation in normo- and hypertensive rats in vivo

Aim: We investigated the mechanisms behind K⁺‐induced renal vasodilation in vivo in normotensive Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Renal blood flow (RBF) was measured utilizing an ultrasonic Doppler flow probe. Renal vascular resistance (RVR) was calculated as the ratio of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and RBF (RVR = MAP/RBF). Test drugs were introduced directly into the renal artery. Inward rectifier K⁺ (K_ir) channels and Na⁺,K⁺‐ATPase were blocked by Ba²⁺ and ouabain (estimated plasma concentrations ～20 and ～7 μm ) respectively. Results: Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated K_ir 2.1 channels in pre‐glomerular vessels of SD and SHR. Ba²⁺ caused a transient (6–13%) increase in baseline RVR in both SD and SHR. Ouabain had a similar effect. Elevated renal plasma [K⁺] (～12 mm ) caused a small and sustained decrease (5–13%) in RVR in both strains. This decrease was significantly larger in SHR than in SD. The K⁺‐induced vasodilation was attenuated by Ba²⁺ in control SD and SHR and by ouabain in SD. Nitric oxide (NO) blockade using l ‐NAME treatment increased MAP and decreased RBF in both rat strains, but did not affect the K⁺‐induced renal vasodilation. Conclusion: K⁺‐induced renal vasodilation is larger in SHR, mediated by K_ir channels in SD and SHR, and in addition, by Na⁺,K⁺‐ATPase in SD. In addition, NO is not essential for K⁺‐induced renal vasodilation.     

Intravenous angiotensin II does not affect dynamic baroreflex characteristics of the neural or peripheral arc

Although the elevation of angiotensin II (Ang II) associated with cardiovascular diseases has been considered to suppress the arterial baroreflex function, how Ang II affects dynamic arterial pressure (AP) regulation remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the acute effects of Ang II on dynamic AP regulation by the arterial baroreflex. In seven anesthetized Japanese white rabbits, we randomly perturbed intra-carotid sinus pressure (CSP) according to a binary white noise sequence while recording renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and AP. We estimated the neural arc transfer function from CSP to RSNA and the peripheral arc transfer function from RSNA to AP before and after 30-min intravenous administration of Ang II (100 ng/kg/min). Ang II increased mean AP from 75.7 +/- 3.1 to 95.5 +/- 5.1 mmHg (p < 0.01), while it did not affect mean RSNA (from 5.9 +/- 1.3 to 5.7 +/- 1.2 a.u.). The neural arc transfer functions did not differ before or after Ang II administration (dynamic gain: -0.94 +/- 0.04 vs. -0.94 +/- 0.13, corner frequency: 0.06 +/- 0.01 vs.0.06 +/- 0.01 Hz, pure delay: 0.16 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.17 +/- 0.02 s). The peripheral arc transfer function did not differ before or after Ang II administration (dynamic gain: 1.18 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.06 +/- 0.11, natural frequency: 0.07 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.01 Hz, damping ratio: 1.19 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.24 +/- 0.19, pure delay: 0.83 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.05 s). Intravenous Ang II hardly affects the dynamic characteristics of neural and peripheral arc around the physiological operating pressure.     

Effects of centrally administered atrial natriuretic polypeptide on sympathetic nerve activity and blood flow to the kidney in conscious rats

Effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) on renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and renal blood flow (RBF) were examined in conscious rats. Administration of ANP had no appreciable effects on baseline RSNA and RBF. The pressor response induced by i.c.v. angiotensin II (AII) was attenuated by prior i.c.v. administration of ANP but no significant effect of ANP was observed on the AII-induced bradycardia and inhibition of RSNA. The result shows that centrally administered ANP has little effect on basal RSNA and RBF but it antagonizes the pressor response caused by AII without affecting induced changes in heart rate and RSNA.     

Systemic and renal hemodynamic effects of the AT1 receptor antagonist, ZD 7155, and the AT2 receptor antagonist, PD 123319, in conscious lambs

Experiments were carried out to investigate age- and dose-dependent effects of the selective AT₁ receptor antagonist, ZD 7155, and the selective AT₂ receptor antagonist, PD 123319, on systemic and renal hemodynamics in conscious, chronically instrumented lambs aged ∼1 and ∼6 weeks of postnatal life. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean venous pressure (MVP), and renal blood flow (RBF) were measured for 10 min before and for 120 min after ZD 7155, PD 123319, or vehicle. In both age groups, administration of ZD 7155 decreased renal vascular resistance (RVR) and increased RBF within 5 min. These responses lasted less than 90 min but were not dose-dependent. MAP decreased by 30 min after administration of ZD 7155 in both age groups at doses ≥400 μg kg⁻¹; the remaining decreased for up to 120 min, depending upon the dose. Pressor responses to angiotensin II (ANG II) were abolished within 5 min of administration of all doses of ZD 7155, at both 1- and 6 weeks. PD 123319 had no detectable effects on systemic or renal hemodynamics or on the pressor responses to ANG II. Therefore, under physiological conditions in conscious newborn animals, ANG II modulates both resting blood pressure and RVR through activation of AT₁ but not AT₂ receptors.     

Nonlinear Analysis of Renal Autoregulation in Rats Using Principal Dynamic Modes

This article presents results of the use of a novel methodology employing principal dynamic modes (PDM) for modeling the nonlinear dynamics of renal autoregulation in rats. The analyzed experimental data are broadband (0–0.5 Hz) blood pressure-flow data generated by pseudorandom forcing and collected in normotensive and hypertensive rats for two levels of pressure forcing (as measured by the standard deviation of the pressure fluctuation). The PDMs are computed from first-order and second-order kernel estimates obtained from the data via the Laguerre expansion technique. The results demonstrate that two PDMs suffice for obtaining a satisfactory nonlinear dynamic model of renal autoregulation under these conditions, for both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Furthermore, the two PDMs appear to correspond to the two main autoregulatory mechanisms: the first to the myogenic and the second to the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. This allows the study of the separate contributions of the two mechanisms to the autoregulatory response dynamics, as well as the effects of the level of pressure forcing and hypertension on the two distinct autoregulatory mechanisms. It is shown that the myogenic mechanism has a larger contribution and is affected only slightly, while the TGF mechanism is affected considerably by increasing pressure forcing or hypertension (the emergence of a second resonant peak and the decreased relative contribution to the response flow signal). © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC99: 8719Uv     

Effect of [Sar1, Ala8]angiotensin II on renal vascular resistance.

Partial occlusion of the renal artery (RAO) was induced in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital or morphine chloralose-urethan. The effect of [Sar1, Ala8]angiotensin II (P-113) was compared before and during RAO on blood flow and vascular resistance of the contralateral kidney. An increase in renin secretion rate was obtained in the ischemic kidney, which was accompanied by an increase in renal vascular resistance (RVR) in the contralateral kidney and a rise in systemic blood pressure. P-113 given intra-arterially to the contralateral kidney consistently increased renal blood flow and decreased RVR during RAO, but did not alter RVR significantly before RAO. The elevation in renin secretion rate decreased between 30 and 122 min after the initiation of RAO in the pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs but not in the chloralose-urethan-anesthetized dogs. These experiments indicate that during RAO release of renin causes, through formation of angiotensin, an increase in RVR in the contralateral kidney and intra-arterial administration of P-113 restores the vascular resistance to a near-normal level.     

The effect of renal perfusion pressure on renal vascular resistance in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Renal hemodynamics and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were measured in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and in the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY). In addition, the autoregulatory response and segmental RVR in the SHR were studied after aortic constriction. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and RVR were higher in the SHR than in the WKY, but renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate were similar in both groups. Measurement of mean afferent arteriolar diameter (AAD) by a microsphere method showed a significantly smaller AAD in SHR (17.7±0.35 m) than in the WKY (19.5±0.20 m). This decrease in AAD could account for a 47% increase in preglomerular resistance. Aortic constriction in the SHR, sufficient to reduce renal perfusion pressure from 152 to 115 mm Hg, did not alter the AAD. Since RBF and glomerular filtration were also well maintained following aortic constriction, these autoregulatory responses suggest that vessels proximal to the afferent arteriole rather than postglomerular vasculature are primarily involved in the changes on intrarenal vascular resistance in SHR.     

Autoregulation of the glomerular filtration rate and the single-nephron glomerular filtration rate despite inhibition of tubuloglomerular feedback in rats chronically volume-expanded by deoxycorticosterone acetate

Tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) function and autoregulation (renal blood flow RBF; glomerular filtration rate, GFR; single-nephron glomerular filtration rate, SNGFR) were examined in rats chronically treated with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and given isotonic saline to drink. DOCA treatment depressed arterial plasma renin activity, expanded plasma volume by 25% and increased arterial blood pressure. Autoregulation of RBF and GFR was maintained in the DOCA animals above 90 mm Hg and 110 mm Hg respectively, whereby both GFR and RBF were lower than in controls. Micropuncture experiments demonstrated the absence of TGF in the DOCA animals. There was no difference between SNGFR values measured in the distal and proximal tubules, nor was there a significant response of SNGFR when loops of Henle were perfused with Ringer's solution at 20 nl/min. Loop perfusion in control rats with tubular fluid collected in DOCA rats elicited a normal TGF response, showing that TGF inhibition in the DOCA animals is due to changes in the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. In contrast to control rats, proximal SNGFR was perfectly autoregulated. These results suggest that TGF is not primarily responsible for autoregulation and that the vasodilatation normally resulting from acute TGF interruption is therefore compensated by some other mechanism such that RBF and GFR are lower than in controls.     

Autoregulation of renal blood flow,glomerular filtration rate and renin release in conscious dogs

The relationship between renal artery pressure (RAP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the renal venous-arterial plasma renin activity difference (PRAD) was studied in 22 chronically instrumented, conscious foxhounds with a daily sodium intake of 6.6 mmol/kg. RAP was reduced in steps and maintained constant for 5 min using an inflatable renal artery cuff and a pressure control system.Between 160 and 81 mm Hg we observed a concomitant autoregulation of GFR and RBF with a high precision. The break off points for GRF- and RBF-autoregulation were sharp and were significantly different from each other (GFR: 80.5±3.5 mm Hg; RBF: 65.6±1.3 mm Hg;P<0.01). In the subautoregulatory range GFR and RBF decreased in a linerar fashion and ceased at 40 and 19 mm Hg, respectively.Between 160 mm Hg and 95 mm Hg (threshold pressure for renin release) PRAD remained unchanged; below threshold pressure PRAD increased steeply (average slope: 0.34 ng AI·ml^–1·h^–1· mm Hg^–1) indicating that resting renin release may be doubled by a fall of RAP by only 3 mm Hg. At the break-off point of RBF-autoregulation (66 mm Hg) renin release was 10-fold higher than the resting level.It is concluded that under physiological conditions (normal sodium diet) GFR and RBF are perfectly autoregulated over a wide pressure range. Renin release remains suppressed until RAP falls below a well defined threshold pressure slightly below the animal's resting systemic pressure. RBF is maintained at significantly lower pressures than GFR, indicating that autoregulation of RBF also involves postglomerular vessels. Our data are in agreement with the myogenic hypothesis as a basic mechanism of autoregulation.This study was supported by the German Research Foundation (FG Niere, Kr. 546/5-1, Projekt 3). A preliminary report of a part of this investigation has been presented to the Vth European Colloquium on Renal Physiology 1985 (Kirchheim et al., Renal Physiol, Basel 9:84, abstract 80, 1986)     

Effect of an angiotensin II antagonist on autoregulation in the isolated dog kidney.

The effect of the specific angiotensin II antagonist (AIIA), [1-sarcosine-8-alanine]angiotensin II, on autoregulation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF) in an isolated dog kidney was examined. Infusing the AIIA into the renal artery at 1.9 mug/min inhibited the renal vasoconstrictor action of angiotension II infused simultaneously at 1.15 mug/min. Under conditions of constant renal arterial pressure the AIIA had no significant effect on sodium excretion, GFR, RBF, cortical blood flow distribution (microsphere method), or renin secretion in non-renin-depleted kidneys. Similarly, no agonist properties were observed when the AIIA was infused into renin-depleted kidneys. This dose of the AIIA did not impair the capacity of the isolated kidney to regulate GFR or RBF when renal arterial pressure was increased from 100 to 150 mmHg. Efficiency of autoregulation of GFR and RBF was 77 and 82% of that predicted for perfect autoregulation. These values are not significantly different from those of the isolated kidney not infused with the antagonist. It is concluded that the angiotensin II antagonist, [1-sarcosine-8-alanine]angiotensin II, has no significant agonist properties, that it antagonizes the renal vascular effects of exogenously administered angiotensin II, but does not impair renal autoregulation. These data provide no support for the hypothesis that the renin-angiotensin system mediates the autoregulation of GFR and RBF.     

Accentuated antagonism in vagal heart rate control mediated through muscarinic potassium channels

Although muscarinic K(+) (K(ACh)) channels contribute to a rapid heart rate (HR) response to vagal stimulation, whether background sympathetic tone affects the HR control via the K(ACh)channels remains to be elucidated. In seven anesthetized rabbits with sinoaortic denervation and vagotomy, we estimated the dynamic transfer function of the HR response by using random binary vagal stimulation (0-10 Hz). Tertiapin, a selective K(ACh) channel blocker, decreased the dynamic gain (to 2.3+/- 0.9 beats.min(-1).Hz(-1), from 4.6+/- 1.1, P < 0.01, mean+/- SD) and the corner frequency (to 0.05+/- 0.01 Hz, from 0.26+/- 0.04, P < 0.01). Under 5 Hz tonic cardiac sympathetic stimulation (CSS), tertiapin decreased the dynamic gain (to 3.6+/- 1.0 beats.min(-1).Hz(-1), from 7.3+/- 1.1, P < 0.01) and the corner frequency (to 0.06+/- 0.02 Hz, from 0.23+/- 0.06, P < 0.01). Two-way analysis of variance indicated significant interaction between the tertiapin and CSS effects on the dynamic gain. In contrast, no significant interactions were observed between the tertiapin and CSS effects on the corner frequency and the lag time. In conclusion, although a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism has been well established, an accentuated antagonism also occurred in the direct effect of ACh via the K(ACh) channels. The rapidity of the HR response obtained by the K(ACh) channel pathway was robust during the accentuated antagonism.     

Effect of furosemide treatment on the central and peripheral pressor responses to cholinergic and adrenergic agonists, angiotensin II, hypertonic solution and vasopressin.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of treatment with furosemide on the pressor response induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of cholinergic (carbachol) and adrenergic (norepinephrine) agonists, angiotensin II (ANGII) and hypertonic saline (HS, 2 M NaCl). The changes induced by furosemide treatment on the pressor response to intravenous (i.v.) norepinephrine, ANGII and arginine vasopressin (AVP) were also studied. Rats with a stainless-steel cannula implanted into the lateral ventricle (LV) were used. Two injections of furosemide (30 mg/kg b.wt. each) were performed 12 and 1 h before the experiments. Treatment with furosemide reduced the pressor response induced by carbachol, norepinephrine and ANGII i.c.v., but no change was observed in the pressor response to i.c.v. 2 M NaCl. The pressor response to i.v. ANGII and norepinephrine, but not AVP, was also reduced after treatment with furosemide. These results show that the treatment with furosemide impairs the pressor responses induced by central or peripheral administration of adrenergic agonist or ANGII, as well as those induced by central cholinergic activation. The results suggest that the treatment with furosemide impairs central and peripheral pressor responses mediated by sympathetic activation and ANGII, but not those produced by AVP.     

Subfornical organ neurons act to enhance the activity of paraventricular vasopressin neurons in response to intravenous angiotensin II

The effects of pretreatment of the angiotensin II (ANGII) antagonist, saralasin (Sar), in the subfornical organ (SFO) on intravenous ANGII-induced responses of the activity of phasically firing paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons (n = 23) antidromically identified as projecting to the posterior pituitary were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The activity of the majority (n = 18) of identified PVN neurons was excited by intravenously administered ANGII, whereas the remaining neurons (n = 5) were not affected. The excitatory responses (n = 13) to ANGII were prevented by pretreatment with Sar, but not by isotonic saline (n = 3), in the SFO. These results suggest that ANGII-sensitive SFO neurons may act to enhance the excitability of putative vasopressin (VP)-secreting neurons in the PVN in response to circulating ANGII.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide attenuates pressor but enhances natriuretic responses to angiotensin II in pregnant conscious goats.

This study was designed to examine the actions of ANP in acute, ANGII-mediated hypertension during pregnancy. Effects on blood pressure, blood volume, and renal Na and K excretion were evaluated in conscious goats (n = 6). ANP (2 micrograms min-1), ANGII (0.5 microgram min-1), or ANGII+ANP (doses the same as for each peptide alone) was infused intravenously for 60 min. The pressor response to ANGII was reduced in pregnant goats. This reduction was seen in systolic, but not in diastolic pressure. ANP decreased pressure by 5-10 mmHg both in pregnancy and in non-pregnancy. When ANGII+ANP was infused, blood pressure initially rose as with ANGII but then declined. ANP suppressed only the elevated systolic pressure. Plasma protein concentration and haematocrit was reduced by ANGII but increased by ANP alone or together with ANGII, thereby implying fluid shift into the vasculature by ANGII and opposite movement by ANP. ANGII increased renal Na excretion to 1500 mumol min-1 in non-pregnancy, but only to half of that in pregnancy. ANP alone caused small natriuresis, but enhanced ANGII-induced natriuresis to near 3000 mumol min-1 in both non-pregnant and pregnant goats. In summary, ANP further attenuated the blunted blood-pressure rise due to ANGII in pregnant goats, and reduced plasma volume, but enhanced renal Na excretion as in non-pregnant goats. This implies that with the present combination ANP and ANGII caused a near maximal natriuretic response that was not modified by the systemic cardiovascular changes occurring in pregnant goats.