Fernando R. Ibarra

Binding of Losartan to Angiotensin AT1 Receptors Increases Dopamine D1 Receptor Activation

Signaling through both angiotensin AT1 receptors (AT1R) and dopamine D1 receptors (D1R) modulates renal sodium excretion and arterial BP. AT1R and D1R form heterodimers, but whether treatment with AT1R antagonists functionally modifies D1R via allosterism is unknown. In this study, the AT1R antagonist losartan strengthened the interaction between AT1R and D1R and increased expression of D1R on the plasma membrane in vitro. In rat proximal tubule cells that express endogenous AT1R and D1R, losartan increased cAMP generation. Losartan increased cAMP in HEK 293a cells transfected with both AT1R and D1R, but it did not increase cAMP in cells transfected with either receptor alone, suggesting that losartan induces D1R activation. Furthermore, losartan did not increase cAMP in HEK 293a cells expressing AT1R and mutant S397/S398A D1R, which disrupts the physical interaction between AT1R and D1R. In vivo, administration of a D1R antagonist significantly attenuated the antihypertensive effect of losartan in rats with renal hypertension. Taken together, these data imply that losartan might exert its antihypertensive effect both by inhibiting AT1R signaling and by enhancing D1R signaling.

Prolactin and dopamine 1-like receptor interaction in renal proximal tubular cells

Prolactin is a natriuretic hormone and acts by inhibiting the activity of renal tubular Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. These effects require an intact renal dopamine system. Here, we have studied by which mechanism prolactin and dopamine interact in Sprague-Dawley rat renal tissue. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was measured as ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis in microdissected renal proximal tubular segments. Intracellular signaling pathways were studied by a variety of different techniques, including Western blotting using phosphospecific antibodies, immunoprecipitation, and biotinylation assays. We found that dopamine and prolactin regulated Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity via similar signaling pathways, including protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation. The cross talk between prolactin and dopamine 1-like receptors was explained by a heterologous recruitment of dopamine 1-like receptors to the plasma membrane in renal proximal tubular cells. Prolactin had no effect on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats, a rat strain with a blunted response to dopamine. These results further emphasize the central role of the renal dopamine system in the interactive regulation of renal tubular salt balance.

Effect of glucocorticoids on renal dopamine production.

This study assess the effects of glucocorticoids on dopamine excretion and evaluates the participation of renal dopamine in the effects of glucocorticoids on renal function and Na+ excretion. Dexamethasone (i.m.; 0.5 mg/kg) was administered to male Wistar rats on day 2 or on days 2 and 5. Daily urinary excretions of Na+, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were determined from day 1 to day 7. Renal function was evaluated 8 h after dexamethasone administration in a separate group. The first dose of dexamethasone increased about 100% diuresis and natriuresis, increased urinary DOPA and renal plasma flow, and did not affect urinary dopamine or the other parameters evaluated. These effects were not affected by previous administration of haloperidol. The second dexamethasone dose increased about 200% diuresis and natriuresis, increased urinary dopamine, DOPA, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, Uosm x V and both glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. Carbidopa administered before the second dexamethasone dose blunted both the diuretic and the natriuretic response whereas haloperidol abolished or blunted all the effects of the second dexamethasone dose. These results show that modifications in renal dopamine production produced by corticoids may contribute to the effects of these hormones on Na+ balance and diuresis and suggest that regardless the factor that promotes an increase in renal perfusion and glomerular filtration rate during long term administration of glucocorticoids, a dopaminergic mechanism is actively involved in the maintenance of these hemodynamic changes.

Gonadectomy influences blood pressure through the kallikrein-kinin system.

The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) appears to be involved in blood pressure regulation. We showed that ovariectomy (oVx) stimulates urinary kallikrein activity (UKa). So, we test whether gonadectomy (Gx) would affect blood pressure through an increase in KKS activity and which mechanism(s) were involved. We studied adult Wistar rats of either sex, with and without Gx. At baseline all groups were normotensive although the oVx mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lower than female MAP (p < 0.05). KKS blockade by aprotinin increased MAP (p < 0.05) exclusively in the oVx group. The probably mechanism(s) involved in KKS regulation (synthesis, renal content and UKa) were also studied. Previous Gx, kallikrein content (nkat/g kidney weight) and UKa (nkat/g kidney weight/day) were higher in female than in male rats: 12 ± 1.1 versus 6 ± 0.7 and 40 ± 6.8 versus 26 ± 3.4, respectively. After Gx, kallikrein content increased significantly in both orchiectomized (oRx) and oVx rats, and UKa showed a similar tendency (NS). Kallikrein synthesis did not show gender difference in non-Gx rats, but an increase after oVx was observed. KKS was found to be involved in blood pressure regulation in oVx animals. oVx may trigger the increase in kallikrein synthesis and content and UKa to act upon blood pressure.

Changes in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow in cirrhotic rats during converting enzyme inhibition

During the development of cirrhosis ascites-edema, peripheral vasodilatation, hypotension and an increase of the plasma concentration of several neurohormones are frequently observed. Such complex changes in the hormonal profile hinders the assessment of the relative role of each in the pathophysiology of this disease. The purpose of this work was to evaluate in a rat model of experimental cirrhosis (phenobarbital/CCl4) the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the pre-ascitic stage of the disease using the converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. Cirrhotic rats showed diminished renal and hepatic perfusion. Compared to normal rats, glomerular filtration rate in cirrhotic rats was reduced from 0.75 +/- 0.11 to 0.42 +/- 0.06 mL/min/100 g BW, and renal plasma flow was reduced from 2.37 +/- 0.28 to 1.58 +/- 0.16 mL/min/100 g BW; the indocyanine green slope changed from -0.095 +/- 0.028 to -0.057 +/- 0.01; the plasma sodium concentration fell from 144 +/- 1.5 to 131 +/- 5.40 mEq/L (all < .05). The mean arterial pressure was not reduced in the cirrhotic rats. There was no ascites. Both the acute (25 mg i.v.) and chronic (25 mg i.p. daily plus 25 mg/L in drinking water) administration of captopril to cirrhotic rats induced an increase in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow along with a steeper slope in indocyanine green decay (p < .05 for all three parameters) when compared to non-treated cirrhotic animals. No changes were observed in controls. In the balance studies, an increase in urinary volume along with a decrease in urinary osmolality was recorded in cirrhotic rats on chronic captopril treatment. In conclusion, our results show an activation of the renin-angiotensin system in these rats, as disclosed by the inhibition of the converting enzyme, as well as a possible interaction with ADH.

Mechanisms of PKC-Dependent Na+ K+ ATPase Phosphorylation in the Rat Kidney with Chronic Renal Failure

The present work was designed to study Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) in comparison with normal rats. Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation degree was measured by binding the McK-1 antibody to dephosphorylated Ser-23 in microdissected medullary thick ascending limb of Henle (mTAL) segments. In addition, the total Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit expression and activity were also measured in the outer renal medulla homogenates and membranes. CRF rats showed a higher Na+ K+ ATPase activity, as compared with control rats (18.95 ± 2.4 vs. 11.21 ± 1.5 μmol Pi/mg prot/h, p < 0.05), accompanied by a higher total Na+ K+ ATPase expression (0.54 ± 0.04 vs. 0.27 ± 0.02 normalized arbitrary units (NU), p < 0.05). When McK-1 antibody was used, a higher immunosignal in mTAL of CRF rats was observed, as compared with controls (6.3 ± 0.35 vs.4.1 ± 0.33 NU, p < 0.05). The ratio Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation / total Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit expression per μg protein showed a non-significant difference between CRF and control rats in microdissected mTAL segments (2.11 ± 0.12 vs.2.26 ± 0.18 NU, p = NS). The PKC inhibitor RO-318220 10−6M increased immunosignal (lower phosphorylation degree) in mTAL of CRF rats to 128.43 ± 7.08% (p < 0.05) but did not alter McK1 binding in control rats. Both phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) 10−6M and dopamine 10−6M decreased immunosignal in CRF rats, corresponding to a higher Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation degree at Ser-23 (55.26 ± 11.17% and 53.27 ± 7.12% compared with basal, p < 0.05). In mTAL of CRF rats, the calcineurin inhibitor FK-506 10−6M did not modify phosphorylation degree at Ser-23 of Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit (100.21 ± 3.00% compared with basal CRF). In control rats, FK 506 10−6M decreased the immunosignal, which corresponds to a higher Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation degree at Ser-23. The data suggest that the regulation of basal Na+ K+ ATPase α1-subunit phosphorylation degree at Ser-23 in mTAL segments of CRF rats was primarily dependent on PKC activation rather than calcineurin dependent mechanisms.

Urinary Kallikrein and Blood Pressure – Gender-Different Response to Potassium Supplementation in SHR

Aims: To test whether blood pressure is affected by potassium supplementation which modifies urinary kallikrein (UK) in SHR of either sex, and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. Design: In SHR and WKY blood pressure, renal function and hormonal profile were studied after 1% oral potassium supplementation starting at 4 weeks of age and throughout until 12 weeks of age. Results were compared with those of untreated SHR and WKY of either sex. Results: Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) started to rise in SHR and was significantly different at 6–8 weeks of age: 153.5 ± 7.9 versus 100 ± 5.6 in female and 157 ± 7.7 versus 98.4 ± 6.8 in male rats (p < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure increased progressively in female and male rats reaching 164.5 ± 4.8 and 204.5 ± 7.6, respectively, at 12 weeks of age. At this time systolic blood pressure was higher in male than in female SHR (p < 0.01) and UK activity (UKa; nkat/day/100 g body weight) was slightly lower in male SHR. After 1% oral potassium supplementation administered from 4 to 12 weeks of age, a decrease in systolic blood pressure was seen in male SHR: 204.5 ± 7.6 versus 173.5 ± 7.9 (p < 0.05); and 164.5 ± 4.8 versus 156.8 ± 5.5 in female rats (NS) at 12 weeks of age, concomitant with an increase in UKa, particularly in male rats (29.35 ± 1.92 versus 36.54 ± 2.61, p < 0.05). As expected, plasma aldosterone (pg/ml), increased markedly after potassium treatment from 129 ± 31.4 in untreated female and male SHR and WKY to 528 ± 180.7 in SHR and 473 ± 88.4 in WKY (p < 0.05 in both cases). After potassium supplementation, potassium excretion was significantly correlated with both aldosterone levels and UKa (p < 0.001 in both cases). No significantly concurrent changes in plasma renin activity were observed, but instead a significant decrease was seen in SHR (p < 0.01). The potassium blood pressure-lowering effect was blunted by aldosterone receptor antagonist treatment that also decreased UKa from 36.5 ± 2.61 to 19.5 ± 1.9, particularly in male SHR. No attempt was made in this experimental setting to block kallikrein or kinin receptors. Conclusions: UKa increases as a consequence of aldosterone stimulation by potassium load since an aldosterone receptor blockade abolishes UKa increment and blood pressure fall. These results further support the hypothesis that the kallikrein kinin system plays a role in blood pressure regulation and they also show a gender different response to potassium load in relation to UKa and blood pressure.

Defective renal dopamine function and sodium-sensitive hypertension in adult ovariectomized Wistar rats: role of the cytochrome P-450 pathway.

We have previously shown that ovariectomy in adult Wistar rats under normal sodium (NS) intake results in an overexpression of the total Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (NKA) α1-subunit (Di Ciano LA, Azurmendi PJ, Toledo JE, Oddo EM, Zotta E, Ochoa F, Arrizurieta EE, Ibarra FR. Clin Exp Hypertens 35: 475-483, 2013). Upon high sodium (HS) intake, ovariectomized (oVx) rats developed defective NKA phosphorylation, a decrease in sodium excretion, and an increment in mean blood pressure (MBP). Since NKA phosphorylation is modulated by dopamine (DA), the aim of this study was to compare the intracellular response of the renal DA system leading to NKA phosphorylation upon sodium challenge in intact female (IF) and oVx rats. In IF rats, HS caused an increase in urinary DA and sodium, in NKA phosphorylation state, in cytochrome P-4504A (CYP4A) expression, and in 20-HETE production, while MBP kept normal. Blockade of the D1 receptor (D1R) with the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 in IFHS rats shifted NKA into a more dephosphorylated state, decreased sodium excretion by 50%, and increased MBP. In oVxNS rats, D1R expression was reduced and D3R expression was increased, and under HS intake sodium excretion was lower and MBP higher than in IFHS rats (both P < 0.05), NKA was more dephosphorylated than in IFHS, and CYP4A expression or 20-HETE production did not change. Blockade of D1R in oVxHS rats changed neither NKA phosphorylation state nor sodium excretion or MBP. D2R and PKCα expression did not vary among groups. The alteration of the renal DA system produced by ovariectomy could account for the defective NKA phosphorylation, the inefficient excretion of sodium load, and the development of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Ovariectomy Causes Overexpression of Renal Na+,K+-ATPase and Sodium-Sensitive Hypertension in Adult Wistar Rats

We investigated the effect of ovariectomy(oVx) on renal and systemic hemodynamic, electrolyte excretion and total and dephosphorylated Na+,K+-ATPase α1 subunit (t-d-NKA) in normotensive Wistar rats under a normal sodium (NS, 0.24%) or high sodium (HS, 1%) intake versus intact female (IF). On NS intake, t-d-NKA was higher in oVx rats and overexpressed in the thick ascending limbs (P < .01 vs. IF) and renal plasma flow was increased. On HS intake, oVx rats maintained a greater dephosphorylated NKA, excreted less sodium, and developed arterial hypertension (134 ± 4 vs. IF 112 ± 5 mm Hg, P < .05). Sodium load caused salt-sensitive hypertension in oVx Wistar rats.

Effect of prepuberal gonadectomy upon aldosterone levels in female and male SHR: interaction between blood pressure and kallikrein kinin system.

It has been suggested that an abnormal activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal axis may be implicated in the pathogenesis of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) blood pressure hypertension. However, it is widely known that the kallikrein-kinin system plays a role in blood pressure regulation in this strain, because an inverse relation between blood pressure and urinary kallikrein excretion has been reported. It was of our interest to study how early suppression of sexual hormones affected blood pressure regulation in SHR and urinary kallikrein excretion and to elucidate the involved mechanisms. For these purpose, SH and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats blood pressure, renal function, and hormonal profile were studied after prepuberal gonadectomy starting at 4 weeks of age throughout until the 12th week of age. Results were compared with those of untreated SH and WKY rats of either sex. The response to blocking agents against aldosterone and kallikrein-kinin system also were evaluated. Systolic blood pressure increased progressively in male and female SHR 12 weeks of age. Systolic blood pressure was higher in male than in female SHR, but urinary kallikrein was lower in male SHR. Prepuberal gonadectomy induced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in male and in female SHR at 12 weeks of age, accompanied by an increase in urinary kallikrein in male and in female SHR. Plasma aldosterone increased markedly in female and male SHR after gonadectomy. No concurrent changes in plasma renin activity or corticosterone levels were observed. The aldosterone receptor antagonist and the kallikrein inhibitor treatment blunted the blood pressure lowering effect of gonadectomy and diminished urinary kallikrein excretion. Results support the existence of a sexual dimorphism related to hypertension and urinary kallikrein and suggest an interaction among the kallikrein-kinin system, sexual hormones, and mineralocorticoids in the neonatal programming of hypertension.