Khraibi, Ali A.

Systemic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) increases renal perfusion pressure (RPP) and urinary sodium excretion. Increased RPP has been proposed as one of the mechanisms for the natriuresis caused by intravenous infusion of L-NMMA. We tested the hypothesis that increases in renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) are required for the natriuresis of L-NMMA infusion. Experiments were performed in four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats in which partial aortic clamping and/or bilateral renal decapsulation was performed to control RPP and RIHP. Infusion of L-NMMA (15 mg/kg bolus + 500 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 continuous infusion) increased RPP (delta+ 14 +/- 1 mmHg), RIHP (delta+ 3.6 +/- 0.7 mmHg), and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa; delta 2.4 +/- 0.6%, P < 0.005). When RPP was prevented from increasing by controlling RPP with an adjustable clamp around the suprarenal aorta, RIHP and FENa did not significantly change. When only RIHP was held constant by bilateral renal decapsulation, FENa was not significantly increased (delta+ 0.68 +/- 0.36%, not significant), despite a significant rise in RPP (delta+ 18 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.001). Control of both RPP and RIHP prevented the increase in FENa. Thus, when renal interstitial pressure was controlled, the infusion of L-NMMA did not result in an increase in FENa. These results demonstrate that an increase in RIHP is a necessary component in the natriuresis due to systemic infusion of L-NMMA.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the renal nerves in the natriuresis and diuresis that is observed with the systemic infusion of a high dose of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) to inhibit nitric oxide synthesis in the Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat. All rats in this study underwent a unilateral nephrectomy approximately 2 wk prior to the acute experiment. On the day of the acute experiment, renal denervation of the remaining left kidney was performed in one group of SHR (n = 6) and one group of WKY rats (n = 9). Another group of SHR (n = 6) and WKY rats (n = 10) had an innervated kidney. A control clearance period was taken, and then an L-NMMA (15 mg/kg bolus followed by 500 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 continuous infusion) infusion period followed in all four groups of rats. In the innervated SHR and WKY rats, the increases in fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) were 5.11 +/- 0.70 and 3.58 +/- 0.38%, respectively, with the infusion of L-NMMA and were associated with significant increases in fractional excretions of phosphate (FEPi; 18.18 +/- 5.33 and 6.34 +/- 2.29%, respectively), suggesting a reduction in proximal tubule reabsorption. In the SHRs with acute renal denervation, FENa was significantly increased by L-NMMA; however, FENa was significantly reduced (2.03 +/- 0.70%; P < 0.05) in comparison with innervated SHRs and was associated with no increase in FEPi (FEPi = -0.72 +/- 1.23%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that changes in renal perfusion pressure may be transmitted to the renal interstitium and cause alterations in renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure and sodium excretion. A method that utilizes a chronically implanted polyethylene matrix that allows for direct continuous measurement of renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure, and agrees well with subcapsular measurement in rats, was developed. Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure, fractional excretion of sodium, and urine flow rate were 3.0 +/- 0.3 mmHg, 0.35 +/- 0.13%, and 19.44 +/- 3.00 microliter/min, respectively, when renal perfusion pressure was 101 +/- 0.8 mmHg. When renal perfusion pressure was increased to 123 +/- 0.9 mmHg renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure, fractional excretion of sodium, and urine flow rate increased significantly to 5.8 +/- 0.6 mmHg, 1.29 +/- 0.29%, and 50.76 +/- 8.83 microliter/min, respectively, in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. These changes occur despite a well-autoregulated glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. In conclusion, increasing renal perfusion pressure caused a significant increase in renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure as measured directly by the implanted polyethylene matrix method and was associated with a significant increase in sodium excretion.

In Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), elevated arterial blood pressure is not transmitted to the renal interstitium, and therefore pressure natriuretic and diuretic responses are attenuated. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) by direct renal interstitial volume expansion (DRIVE) on natriuresis and diuresis of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Unilateral nephrectomy and implantation of two polyethylene (PE) matrices were performed 3-4 wk before the acute experiment. Four groups of rats, two experimental and two time control, were used. A control clearance period was taken in all groups. In experimental groups and at the beginning and middle of the second period DRIVE was accomplished by bolus injection of a solution of 2.5% human albumin in saline directly into interstitium through one of the PE matrices. In time-control groups saline was infused in renal interstitium at the beginning of the second period. The second PE matrix was used to continuously measure RIHP in all groups. In experimental groups, DRIVE produced a significant increase in RIHP from 3.8 +/- 0.4 to 5.7 +/- 0.8 mmHg (P less than 0.05) in SHR and 4.3 +/- 0.4 to 7.1 +/- 0.5 mmHg (P less than 0.05) in WKY. In both groups the significant increase in RIHP was associated with significant increases in urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and urine flow rate (V).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The objective of these experiments was to study pressure natriuresis in the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) during acute bilateral renal decapsulation, a maneuver that partially blocks the increase in renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP). In control WKY rats (n = 7), at renal perfusion pressure (RPP) of 105 +/- 0.7 and 125 +/- 1.1 mmHg, RIHP increased from 4.4 +/- 0.4 to 7.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg (P less than 0.05) and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) increased from 0.23 +/- 0.05 to 1.32 +/- 0.14% (P less than 0.05). Acute bilateral renal decapsulation (n = 6) blunted the increase in RIHP observed when RPP was increased in control WKY rats and abolished the pressure natriuretic and diuretic response. When RPP was allowed to increase from 106 +/- 0.8 to 130 +/- 2.2 mmHg in the WKY rats with decapsulated kidneys, RIHP increased from 3.8 +/- 0.5 to 4.3 +/- 0.4 mmHg but FENa did not significantly change (0.31 +/- 0.12 to 0.43 +/- 0.13%). In control SHRs (n = 7), at RPPs of 135 +/- 0.8 and 163 +/- 3.0 mmHg, RIHP was 4.4 +/- 0.4 and 5.0 +/- 0.6 mmHg (NS) and FENa was 0.41 +/- 0.10 and 0.82 +/- 0.17% (P less than 0.05). Renal decapsulation in the SHR did not affect the blunted relationships between RPP, RIHP, and FENa; at RPPs of 135 +/- 0.3 and 162 +/- 2.9 mmHg (n = 7), RIHP was 4.4 +/- 0.6 and 4.7 +/- 0.5 mmHg (NS) and FENa was 0.43 +/- 0.10 and 0.95 +/- 0.22% (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

During normal pregnancy, a gradual plasma volume expansion (VE) occurs and reaches a maximum level at late term. Pressure natriuresis and renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) responses are attenuated in pregnant rats. Also, basal RIHP is lower in pregnant rats, suggesting an increase in renal interstitial compliance during pregnancy. This adaptation may contribute to the increase in plasma volume that is required for a normal pregnancy, because increases in RIHP have been consistently shown to produce natriuresis and diuresis. Acute saline VE (5% body wt/30 min) has been shown to increase RIHP in normal nonpregnant rats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine RIHP, natriuretic, and diuretic responses to VE in nonpregnant ( n = 7), midterm pregnant ( n = 8), and late-term pregnant ( n = 8) Sprague-Dawley rats. Although VE significantly increased RIHP, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and urine flow rate (V˙) in all groups, ΔRIHP was highest for nonpregnant (3.0 ± 0.3 mmHg) compared with midterm pregnant (1.6 ± 0.1 mmHg; P < 0.05 vs. nonpregnant) and late-term pregnant rats (1.2 ± 0.1 mmHg; P < 0.05 vs. both midterm pregnant and nonpregnant rats). ΔFENaand ΔV˙ were similar in all groups: 5.8 ± 1.0% and 231 ± 27 μl/min for nonpregnant, 6.8 ± 1.3% and 173 ± 16 μl/min for midterm pregnant, and 7.6 ± 1.2% and 203 ± 10 μl/min for late-term pregnant rats, respectively. In conclusion, basal RIHP and the increase in RIHP during VE were attenuated during pregnancy; however, the natriuretic and diuretic responses to VE remain intact during the course of pregnancy.

The present study determined circulating concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and also investigated the vasorelaxing action of ANP and CNP on isolated contracted aorta. We also defined the vasorelaxing action of a novel and newly synthesized 27-amino acid chimera of ANP and CNP termed vasonatrin peptide (VNP), which we compared with ANP and CNP in WKY rats and SHR. Plasma and urinary cyclic GMP and sodium excretion were also investigated. Plasma ANP was increased in SHR in contrast to no change in circulating CNP. Plasma and urinary cyclic GMP and sodium excretion were no different between WKY rats and SHR. In WKY rats maximal relaxations to VNP in aortic rings without endothelium were greater than those to ANP and CNP. In SHR aortic rings the potency of VNP relaxation was preserved, the actions of ANP were enhanced, and the actions of CNP were markedly impaired. In association with these vasorelaxing actions, these data suggest that (1) circulating CNP is not different in SHR and WKY rats, but the aortic relaxing action of CNP is markedly impaired in SHR; (2) endogenous plasma ANP is significantly increased in SHR without associated increases in plasma or urinary cyclic GMP; (3) there is an increase in aortic relaxation to exogenous ANP in SHR; and (4) VNP has a potent endothelium-independent aortic relaxing action in both WKY rats and SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)