Intrarenal site of action of calcium on renin secretion in dogs. (1/269)

We studied the effects of intrarenal calcium infusion on renin secretion in sodium-depleted dogs in an attempt to elucidate the major site of calcium-induced inhibition of renin release. Both calcium chloride and calcium gluconate reduced renal blood flow and renin secretion while renal perfusion pressure was unchanged. These data indicate that calcium inhibition of renin secretion did not occur primarily at the renal vascular receptor; decreased renal blood flow is usually associated with increased renin secretion. Calcium chloride infusion increased urinary chloride excretion without affecting sodium excretion, and calcium gluconate failed to increase either sodium or chloride excretion. Also, the filtered loads of sodium and chloride were unchanged during the calcium infusions. These results give no indication that calcium inhibited renin secretion by increasing the sodium or chloride load at the macula densa. The effects of intrarenal calcium infusion on renin release were also assessed in dogs with a nonfiltering kidney in which renal tubular mechanisms could not influence renin secretion. The observation that calcium still suppressed renin release in these dogs provides additional evidence that the the major effect of calcium involved nontubular mechanisms. Thus, it appears likely that calcium acted directly on the juxtaglomerular cells to inhibit renin secretion.  (+info)

Direct demonstration of exocytosis and endocytosis in single mouse juxtaglomerular cells. (2/269)

The rate of renin secretion from renal juxtaglomerular (JG) cells is the major determinant of the activity of the renin-angiotensin system. However, the mechanisms involved in the excretion and turnover of secretory granules in the JG cells remain obscure. Therefore, in the present study, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was applied to single JG cells from the mouse kidney to measure changes in cell membrane capacitance (Cm) as an index of secretory activity. Resting JG cell Cm was stable, on average 3. 13+/-0.13 pF (SEM, n=106). In isotonic solutions, Cm was unaffected by [Cl-]i. Cm was consistently increased (7.0+/-1.3% and 7.2+/-3.1%) by intracellular cAMP (1 to 10 micromol/L). This effect was mimicked by extracellular application of the beta-agonist isoproterenol to the JG cells (9.4+/-3.1%). At 100 micromol/L, cAMP induced a paradoxical decrease in Cm of +info)

Tubuloglomerular feedback in ACE-deficient mice. (3/269)

In these experiments, we used a strain of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) germline null mutant mice, generated by J. H. Krege and co-workers (J. H. Krege, S. W. M. John, L. L. Langenbach, J. B. Hodgin, J. R. Hagaman, E. S. Bachman, J. C. Jennette, D. A. O'Brien, and O. Smithies. Nature 375: 146-148, 1995), to examine the effect of chronic ACE deficiency on the magnitude of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responses. The genotype was determined by PCR on DNA extracted from the tail and was verified after each experiment by assessment of the blood pressure response to an injection of ANG I. To assess TGF responsiveness, we determined the change in stop-flow pressure (PSF) caused by increasing NaCl concentration at the macula densa by using micropuncture techniques. When loop of Henle flow rate was increased from 0 to 40 nl/min, PSF fell from a mean of 42.3 +/- 1.95 to 33.6 +/- 2.09 mmHg (n = 6, P = 0.005) in wild-type mice (+/+), fell from 40.6 +/- 2.35 to 38.6 +/- 1.93 mmHg in heterozygous (+/-) mice (n = 7, P = 0.014), and did not change in homozygous ACE (-/-) mice [36.7 +/- 2.02 mmHg vs. 36.4 +/- 2.01 mmHg; n = 4, P = not significant (NS)]. During an infusion of ANG II at a dose that did not significantly elevate blood pressure (70 ng. kg-1. min-1), TGF response magnitude (PSF 0 - PSF 40) increased from 6.5 +/- 1.4 to 9.8 +/- 1.19 mmHg in +/+ (P = 0.006), from 1.14 +/- 0.42 to 4.6 +/- 1.3 mmHg in +/- (P = 0.016), and from 0.42 +/- 0.25 to 4.02 +/- 1.06 in -/- mice (P = 0.05). Absence of TGF responses in ACE null mutant mice and restoration of near-normal responses during an acute infusion of ANG II supports previous conclusions that ANG II is an essential component in the signal transmission pathway that links the macula densa with the glomerular vascular pole.  (+info)

Thromboxane A2 contributes to the enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback activity in young SHR. (4/269)

We performed micropuncture studies to determine the role of thromboxane A2 in the exaggerated tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) activity in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Glomerular function was assessed by changes in proximal tubular stop-flow pressure (SFP) produced by different rates of orthograde perfusion through Henle's loop. Seven-week-old SHR exhibited an exaggerated TGF activity compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) during euvolemia, confirming earlier studies. During control periods, the feedback-induced maximal SFP response (DeltaSFP) was greater in SHR (18-19 vs. 12-13 mmHg in WKY), whereas basal SFP and proximal tubular free-flow pressure were similar in both strains. In one series, the thromboxane A2 agonist U-46619 was added to the tubular perfusate for a final concentration of 10(-6) M. In WKY, DeltaSFP was increased by 100% to 26 mmHg. In contrast, DeltaSFP in young SHR was unaffected by the thromboxane A2 agonist. In other animals, the thromboxane synthase inhibitor pirmagrel (50 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to inhibit thromboxane production. In SHR, pirmagrel decreased DeltaSFP by 8.5 mmHg and reduced reactivity. Less attenuation was observed in WKY; DeltaSFP was reduced by 3 mmHg, whereas reactivity was unchanged. In other studies, tubular perfusion with the thromboxane receptor inhibitor SQ-29548 (10(-6) M) reduced DeltaSFP more in SHR (7 vs. 3 mmHg in WKY) and also decreased reactivity more in SHR (2.3 vs. 0.5 mmHg. nl-1. min-1). Coperfusion of SQ-29548 and U-46619 resulted in an 85% block of the effect of U-46619 on DeltaSFP. Tubular perfusion with the agonist U-46619 during thromboxane synthase inhibition markedly enhanced DeltaSFP in both strains, with a greater effect in WKY. These results suggest that elevated levels of thromboxane A2 in young SHR contribute to the exaggerated TGF control of glomerular function in SHR during the developmental phase of hypertension.  (+info)

Experimental model of renovascular hypertension. (5/269)

OBJECTIVE: To establish a model of renovascular hypertension. METHODS: A 4/0 resorbable chromic catgut ligature was used to ligate subtotally the renal arteries of 18 dogs, forming experimental renovascular hypertension steadily. Blood pressure, plasma renin activity, the ultrastructural changes of juxtaglomerular apparatus and renal artery wall were studied after the constriction. RESULTS: It was reasonable that renal blood flow measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter was reduced by 30% after the constriction. The pathological changes of the induced renal artery stenosis were similar to those of fibromuscular dysphasia. CONCLUSION: The findings provide valuable evidence for the treatment of renovascular hypertension.  (+info)

Transmural pressure inhibits prorenin processing in juxtaglomerular cell. (6/269)

Pressure control of renin secretion involves a complex integration of shear stress, stretch, and transmural pressure (TP). This study was designed to delineate TP control of renin secretion with minimal influence of shear stress or stretch and to determine its mechanism. Rat juxtaglomerular (JG) cells were applied to a TP-loading apparatus for 12 h. In cells conditioned with atmospheric pressure or atmospheric pressure + 40 mmHg, renin secretion rate (RSR) averaged 29.6 +/- 3.7 and 14.5 +/- 3.3% (P < 0.05, n = 8 cultures), respectively, and active renin content (ARC) averaged 47.3 +/- 4.6 and 38.4 +/- 3.4 ng of ANG I. h(-1). million cells(-1) (P < 0.05, n = 10 cultures), respectively. Total renin content and renin mRNA levels were unaffected by TP. The TP-induced decrease in RSR was prevented by Ca(2+)-free medium and the Ca(2+) channel blocker verapamil and was attenuated by thapsigargin and caffeine, which deplete intracellular Ca(2+) stores. Thapsigargin and caffeine, but not Ca(2+)-free medium or verapamil, prevented TP-induced decreases in ARC. The adenylate cyclase activator forskolin did not modulate TP-induced decreases in RSR or ARC. These findings suggest that TP not only stimulates Ca(2+) influx but also inhibits prorenin processing through an intracellular Ca(2+) store-dependent mechanism and thus inhibits active renin secretion by JG cells.  (+info)

Differential regulation of renal prostaglandin receptor mRNAs by dietary salt intake in the rat. (7/269)

BACKGROUND: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that prostaglandin (PG) receptor expression in the rat kidney is subject to physiological regulation by dietary salt intake. METHODS: Rats were fed diets with 0.02 or 4% NaCl for two weeks. PG receptor expression was assayed in kidney regions and cells by ribonuclease protection assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Functional correlates were studied by measurement of PGE2-induced cAMP formation and renin secretion in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells isolated from animals on various salt intakes. RESULTS: EP1 and EP3 receptors were predominantly expressed, and the EP2 receptor was exclusively expressed in the rat kidney medulla. The EP4 receptor was strongly expressed in glomeruli and in renin-secreting JG granular cells. IP receptor transcripts were found mainly in cortex. Maintaining rats on a low- or high-NaCl diet did not affect the expression of EP1 or IP receptors, whereas EP4 transcripts in glomeruli were increased twofold by salt deprivation. Consistent with this, we found that PGE2-evoked cAMP production and renin secretion by JG cells from salt-deprived animals were significantly higher compared with cells obtained from salt-loaded animals. In the outer medulla, EP3 transcripts correlated directly with salt intake, and mRNA abundance was increased twofold by a high-NaCl diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that subtype-specific, regional changes in PG receptor expression are involved in the renal adaptation to changes in salt intake. The results are in accord with the general concept that renocortical PGE2 stimulates renin secretion and maintains renal blood flow during low-salt states, whereas medullary PGE2 promotes salt excretion in response to a high salt intake.  (+info)

Regulation of in vitro renin secretion by ANG II feedback manipulation in vivo in the ovine fetus. (8/269)

The renin-angiotensin system is critically important to fetal cardiovascular function and organ development. The feedback regulation of renin secretion by ANG II develops early in gestation yet does not linearly progress from fetal life to adulthood. Renin secretion is elevated in late gestation compared with earlier or postnatal time periods, which suggests that some component of the negative feedback regulation of renin secretion is less sensitive in late gestation. We examined in fetal sheep the age-related consequence of chronic in vivo manipulation of ANG II on renal renin secretion measured in vitro. Immature (101-103 days of gestation) and mature (130-133 days of gestation) fetuses were treated for 72 h with enalaprilat, ANG II or vehicle. Content and basal and isoproterenol-stimulated secretion of prorenin (PR) and active renin (AR) from fetal kidney cortical slices were determined. Enalaprilat pretreatment in vivo increased renal renin content and basal and stimulated secretion of PR and AR in vitro even in immature animals. Immunohistochemical localization showed that enalaprilat treatment caused an age-related recruitment of renin-containing juxtaglomerular cells. Conversely, ANG II pretreatment decreased basal and stimulated PR and AR secretion from immature fetal kidneys, but only inhibited PR secretion from mature kidneys. It also caused an age-related decrease in the percentage of renin-containing juxtaglomerular cells. These results suggest that ANG II feedback modulates not only the synthesis and content of renin, but the sensitivity of the coupling between stimulus and secretion. A critical observation of our study is that the higher renal tissue concentrations of prorenin and active renin in late gestation may be a consequence of reduced sensitivity to ANG II feedback; this is consistent with the increased plasma concentrations of renin found in near-term mammals.  (+info)