Effect of clonidine on renal sodium handling in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Up-regulation of kidney α2-adrenoceptor expression has been implicated in the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study was carried out to evaluate renal sodium excretion in response to clonidine administration in SHR and control normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. SHR and WKY rats (12-week-old) were placed in metabolic cages for 4 days: the first 2 days in control conditions and the following 2 days under oral clonidine treatment (100 μg/kg body weight). Clonidine produced a similar reduction in systolic blood pressure values in SHR and WKY rats, although SHR remained hypertensive. At the end of the study SHR and WKY rats presented similar noradrenaline plasma levels. However, noradrenaline kidney tissue levels were significantly higher in SHR compared to WKY rats. Under control conditions, SHR presented lower urine flow compared to WKY rats. Clonidine produced a significant decrease in urine flow in WKY rats but not in SHR. Furthermore, clonidine also produced a significant reduction in urinary sodium, potassium, and creatinine excretion in WKY rats, but had no effect in SHR. In conclusion, in SHR the reduction in systolic blood pressure and sympathetic activity produced by clonidine was not accompanied by a decrease in urine volume and sodium excretion.