Arild Vikse

Enhancement of Renal Prostaglandin E2 and Renin Release by Autoregulatory Dilation of Preglomerular Vessels in Dogs

To examine the PGE2 and renin release during autoregulatory dilation of preglomerular vessels, experiments were performed in three groups of anesthetized dogs. By reducing the arterial perfusion pressure from 113 +/- 3 to 78 +/- 3 mm Hg, renin release rose to 20 +/- 50% and PGE2 release to 74 +/- 12% of the maximal values attained at two perfusion pressures below the range of autoregulation. During ureteral occlusion, PGE2 and renin release rose to maximal values already at control blood pressure and remained unaltered as the arterial perfusion pressure was reduced from 124 +/- 7 to 68 +/- 2 mm Hg. Renal blood flow fell in proportion to the perfusion pressure indicating abolished autoregulation. At a perfusion pressure below the range of autoregulation, saline infusion restored sodium excretion and reduced renin release but did not alter PGE2 release. We conclude that PGE2 release is raised by autoregulatory dilation of preglomerular arteries. Prostaglandins enhance renin release when afferent arterioles are dilated. Renin release mediated by a macula densa mechanism is not PGE2 dependent.

Ouabain inhibits renin release by a direct renal haemodynamic effect

The effect of intrarenal infusion of ouabain (90 micrograms/kg) on renin release was examined in the anaesthetized dog. Ouabain reduced cortical Na-K-ATPase activity to 23% and outer medullary activity to 18% of the control level. During renal arterial constriction to a perfusion pressure below the autoregulatory range, renin release rose from 1.2 +/- 0.4 to 47.4 +/- 6.9 micrograms/min (P less than 0.001). This response was abolished by ouabain. When superimposed on renal arterial constriction, beta-adrenergic stimulation enhanced renin release from 25.6 +/- 10.7 to 56.9 +/- 9.5 micrograms/min (P = 0.02) at a urinary sodium excretion of 2 +/- 1 mumol/min. After ouabain, the corresponding increment substantially decreased since release rose from 5.6 +/- 2.0 to 19.9 +/- 5.3 micrograms/min only (P = 0.02), at a urinary sodium excretion of 140 +/- 67 mumol/min. When glomerular filtration was reduced to zero by ureteral occlusion in one series, renin release increased to 22.6 +/- 5.1 but was reduced (P less than 0.05) by ouabain to 13.5 +/- 5.5 micrograms/min and superimposed isoproterenol had no effect. According to these observations, ouabain inhibits renin release by a direct effect on the afferent arteriole through constriction of the autoregulating renin-secreting segment.

Glomerulotubular Balance and Prostaglandin Synthesis

We have tested a hypothesis proposed to explain glomerulotubular balance (GTB) as a consequence of variations in prostaglandin synthesis. Arachidonic acid (40 micrograms x kg-1 x min-1) infused into the renal artery of anesthetized dogs raised renal blood flow (RBF) by 41 +/- 5% in hydropenic and by 24 +/- 11% in volume-expanded dogs, but the absolute changes were similar. The infusion of arachidonic acid after the administration of indomethacin (10 mg x kg-1) had no effect on RBF. Arachidonic acid infusion increased the excretion of sodium and chloride in hydropenic dogs but not after the administration of ethacrynic acid in volume-expanded dogs. During continued infusion of ethacrynic acid, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was lowered by suprarenal aortic constriction and raised by carotid constriction. A linear relationship between electrolyte reabsorption and GFR (GTB) was observed when GFR was varied between 20 and 110% of control. GTB and tubular reabsorption at comparable GFR were not significantly altered during arachidonic acid infusion or after indomethacin administration. In all experimental settings, bicarbonate, chloride, and sodium reabsorption were altered in molar ratios of 1:2:3 during variations in GFR. We conclude that GTB is independent of variations in prostaglandin synthesis.