Niranjan Parekh

Role of Podocytes for Reversal of Glomerulosclerosis and Proteinuria in the Aging Kidney After Endothelin Inhibition

The cause of focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis as a consequence of physiological aging, which is believed to be inexorable, is unknown. This study investigated whether inhibition of endothelin-1, a growth-promoting peptide contributing to renal injury in hypertension and diabetes, affects established glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria in the aged kidney. We also determined the role of endothelin receptors for podocyte injury in vivo and in vitro. Aged Wistar rats, a model of spontaneous age-dependent glomerulosclerosis, were treated with the orally active endothelin subtype A (ETA) receptor antagonist darusentan, and evaluation of renal histology, renal function studies, and expression analyses were performed. In vitro experiments using puromycin aminonucleoside to induce podocyte injury investigated the role of ETA receptor signaling for apoptosis, cytoskeletal injury, and DNA synthesis. In aged Wistar rats, established glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria were reduced by >50% after 4 weeks of darusentan treatment, whereas blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, or tubulo-interstitial renal injury remained unaffected. Improvement of structural injury in glomeruli and podocytes was accompanied by a reduction of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and p21Cip1/WAF1. In vitro experiments blocking ETA receptors using specific antagonists or RNA interference prevented apoptosis and structural damage to podocytes induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. In conclusion, these results support the hypothesis that endogenous endothelin contributes to glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria in the aging kidney. The results further suggest that age-dependent glomerulosclerosis is not merely a “degenerative” but a reversible process locally confined to the glomerulus involving recovery of podocytes from previous injury.

Rho-Kinase Inhibition Blunts Renal Vasoconstriction Induced by Distinct Signaling Pathways In Vivo

In addition to intracellular calcium, which activates myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, MLC phosphorylation and hence contraction is importantly regulated by MLC phosphatase (MLCP). Recent evidence suggests that distinct signaling cascades of vasoactive hormones interact with the Rho/Rho kinase (ROK) pathway, affecting the activity of MLCP. The present study measured the impact of ROK inhibition on vascular F-actin distribution and on vasoconstriction induced by activation/inhibition of distinct signaling pathways in vivo in the microcirculation of the split hydronephrotic rat kidney. Local application of the ROK inhibitors Y-27632 or HA-1077 induced marked dilation of pre- and postglomerular vessels. Activation of phospholipase C with the endothelin ET B agonist IRL 1620, inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), or inhibition of adenylyl cyclase with the adenosine A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) reduced glomerular blood flow (GBF) by about 50% through vasoconstriction at different vascular levels. ROK inhibition with Y-27632 or HA-1077, but not protein kinase C inhibition with Ro 31-8220, blunted ET B-induced vasoconstriction. Furthermore, the reduction of GBF and of vascular diameters in response to ODQ or CPA were abolished by pretreatment with Y-27632. ROK inhibitors prevented constriction of preglomerular vessels and of efferent arterioles with equal effectiveness. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Y-27632 did not change F-actin content and distribution in renal vessels. The results suggest that ROK inhibition might be considered as a potent treatment of renal vasoconstriction, because it interferes with constriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in renal vessels without affecting F-actin structure.

Effect of intrarenally infused parathyroid hormone‐related protein on renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate in the anaesthetized rat

1 Parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) is expressed in the kidney and acts on vascular PTH/PTHrP receptors to vasodilate the isolated kidney and to stimulate renin release. However, effects of PTHrP on renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in vivo have not been assessed in the absence of its cardiac, peripheral and central effects. We investigated the renal effects of PTH and PTHrP infused into the left renal artery of anaesthetized rats. 2 Intrarenal infusions, adjusted to generate increasing concentrations of human PTHrP(1–34) and rat PTH(1–34) in renal plasma (2 × 10−11 to 6 × 10−9 m) produced a comparable dose‐dependent increase in RBF. The rise was 4% at the lowest and 34% at the highest concentrations of peptides. Up to a concentration of 2 × 10−9 m, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were not affected, but at 6 × 10−9 m, intrarenally infused peptides reached the peripheral circulation, and caused a fall in MAP within a few minutes. While MAP returned to basal value after the last peptide infusion, RBF remained more than 10% above control for at least 30 min. 3 Two competitive PTH/PTHrP receptor antagonists, [Nle8,18, Tyr34]‐bPTH(3–34)amide and [Leu11, D‐Trp12]‐hPTHrP(7–34)amide (2 × 10−8 m) were devoid of agonist activity, but markedly antagonized the dose‐dependent increase in RBF elicited by PTHrP. 4 GFR and urine flow were measured in left PTHrP‐infused experimental kidney and right control kidney. Renal PTHrP concentration of 10−10 m elevated left RBF by 10%, and GFR by 20% without significantly increasing filtration fraction, and increased urine flow by 57%. In the right control kidney GFR and diuresis did not change. 5 The results indicate that PTHrP has similar renal haemodynamic effects as PTH and increases RBF, GFR and diuresis in anaesthetized rats.

Interaction between adenosine and angiotensin II in renal microcirculation

In order to examine the possibility of an interaction between adenosine and angiotensin II (A II) in the control of the renal microcirculation, we studied the effects of agonists and antagonists of both substances by means of in vivo microscopy in the split hydronephrotic rat kidney. In a first series of experiments (n = 6), local application of the A II receptor antagonist saralasin (10(-6) mol.liter-1 abolished the vasoconstriction and the reduction of glomerular blood flow induced by the A1-adenosine receptor agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, local concentration 10(-7) mol.liter-1). Without saralasin (second series, n = 6), CHA reduced glomerular blood flow and decreased vessel diameters as previously reported from our laboratory. In a third series of experiments (n = 6), A II significantly reduced vessel diameters and glomerular blood flow both alone and during blockage of the A1-adenosine receptor by the selective antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, 10(-5) mol.liter-1). In additional experiments, we excluded nonspecific receptor effects of saralasin and confirmed the inhibitory action of DPCPX on the adenosine-induced vasoconstriction. We suppose that adenosine needs a functioning A II receptor system for its vasoconstrictor action, whereas A II can induce a nonadenosine-dependent vasoconstriction.

Electrically induced vasomotor responses and their propagation in rat renal vessels In vivo

1 Vasomotor responses (VMR) induced by local electrical stimulation were studied in the vasculature of the split hydronephrotic rat kidney by in vivo microscopy. 2 Unipolar pulses, which were applied by a micropipette positioned close to the vessel wall, elicited local and propagated VMR. Depolarizing and hyperpolarizing currents caused vaso‐constriction and vasodilatation, respectively. 3 The magnitude of VMR could be controlled within seconds by variation of pulse frequency, pulse width and voltage. VMR were abolished by slight retraction of the stimulating micro‐pipette. Repetitive electrical stimulation resulted in reproducibly uniform VMR. 4 Propagated VMR decayed with increasing distance from the stimulation site. They decayed more rapidly in the upstream than in the downstream flow direction in interlobular arteries. The longitudinal decay was well approximated by an exponential function with significantly different length constants of 150 ± 40 μm (upstream, n= 5) and 420 ± 90 μm (downstream, n=8). 5 Our results show that vasomotor responses, which are initiated by changes in membrane potential, are propagated over distances of potential physiological importance in interlobular arteries.

Renal test dyes. I

SummaryFluorescence intensities on the renal cortex of Wistar-Furth rats were measured photometrically after an i.v. injection of FITC-dextrans with a molecular weight of 3400, 19000, 26000, 41000 or 153000. The kidney surface was illuminated by the 488 nm line of an ionized argon laser and the fluorescent patterns were recorded by a high sensitivity television camera connected with a tape recorder. Intensities of fluorescence were evaluated directly from the television record.Passages of FITC-dextrans through peritubular capillaries, early and late proximal as well as distal tubules correspond to those of lissamine green. Intensity of the dye during the tubular passage decreases with increasing molecular weight of dextran. Comparison of the tubular intensity of dextran 19000, 26000, 35000 and 41000 with that of dextran 3400 gave corresponding values of 45%, 33%, 19% and 13%, respectively. As could be expected from clearance results, dextran 153000 was only visible during its passage through the peritubular capillaries, but no tubular passage could be observed.This method permits, for the first time, the visualization and photometric quantification of glomerular filtration as a function of molecular size, i.e. glomerular permeability. Since several tubules are seen in each recorded field, it is often possible to make several analyses from the same videotaped record. The photometry of a dye bolus also allowed the measurement of local flow velocities in the proximal tubular loops.

Quantification of conversion and degradation of circulating angiotensin in rats

The aim of the present study was to quantify with a uniform technique the rates of conversion of ANG I to ANG II in the lung and kidney and the degradation of both peptides to biologically inactive products in the pulmonary, renal, and systemic circulation. We infused the peptides intravenously, into the left ventricle, and into the left renal artery of rats and compared their effects on renal blood flow. The measured change in renal blood flow was used as a bioassay parameter to estimate the concentration of circulating ANG II. Mathematical analysis of our data allowed us to calculate conversion and degradation rates. Furthermore, the role of aminopeptidases A (EC 3.4.11.7 ) and N (EC 3.4.11.2 ) in the degradation of the peptides in the kidney was investigated by intrarenal infusion of the inhibitor amastatin. Our results show that the conversion rate of ANG I is 75% in the pulmonary and 21% in the renal circulation. Both peptides are degraded by 5% in the pulmonary, by 67% in the systemic, and by 93% in the renal circulation. Amastatin prevented 60% of the renal degradation of the peptides to inactive products, and this effect could be attributed to inhibition of aminopeptidase N. The results indicate that the converting capacity of the kidney is of minor importance for endocrine generation of ANG II but could be useful for the paracrine production.The aim of the present study was to quantify with a uniform technique the rates of conversion of ANG I to ANG II in the lung and kidney and the degradation of both peptides to biologically inactive products in the pulmonary, renal, and systemic circulation. We infused the peptides intravenously, into the left ventricle, and into the left renal artery of rats and compared their effects on renal blood flow. The measured change in renal blood flow was used as a bioassay parameter to estimate the concentration of circulating ANG II. Mathematical analysis of our data allowed us to calculate conversion and degradation rates. Furthermore, the role of aminopeptidases A (EC 3.4.11.7) and N (EC 3.4.11.2) in the degradation of the peptides in the kidney was investigated by intrarenal infusion of the inhibitor amastatin. Our results show that the conversion rate of ANG I is 75% in the pulmonary and 21% in the renal circulation. Both peptides are degraded by 5% in the pulmonary, by 67% in the systemic, and by 93% in the renal circulation. Amastatin prevented 60% of the renal degradation of the peptides to inactive products, and this effect could be attributed to inhibition of aminopeptidase N. The results indicate that the converting capacity of the kidney is of minor importance for endocrine generation of ANG II but could be useful for the paracrine production.

Nitrendipine and the pressure-dependent vasodilation of vessels in the hydronephrotic kidney.

The influence of renal perfusion pressure on the vasodilation of the kidney caused by a calcium antagonist, nitrendipine, was studied. The diameter of several preglomerular and postglomerular vessels in the split hydronephrotic kidney of Inactin-anesthetized rats were measured by in vivo television microscopy. A reduction in the renal perfusion pressure to 80 mm Hg (femoral artery pressure) was achieved by clamping of the aorta above the renal arteries. The pressure reduction induced vasodilation of the arcuate arteries (proximal and distal), interlobular arteries (proximal and distal), and the afferent arterioles near the interlobular arteries. The afferent arterioles at sites near the glomerulus showed no pressure-dependent vasodilation. Topically applied nitrendipine led to a dose-dependent preglomerular vasodilation that did not further increase during perfusion pressure reduction. From these experiments, it is concluded that nitrendipine-induced renal vasodilation is independent of the renal perfusion pressure and primarily caused by its direct effect on preglomerular vessels.

ANG II- and TxA2-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction in rats is mediated by separate cell signaling pathways

Studies in vitro have demonstrated that vasoconstrictor agents increase intracellular Ca(2+) and activate protein kinase C (PKC) to elevate vascular tone. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of these signaling pathways for angiotensin II (ANG II) and thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) in regulating mesenteric blood flow (MBF) in vivo. In anesthetized rats increasing doses of ANG II or the TxA(2) agonist U-46619 were administered into the superior mesenteric artery to reduce MBF. Intra-arterial infusion of inhibitors served to examine the contribution of different pathways: 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) to inhibit intracellular Ca(2+) release, nifedipine to block transmembrane Ca(2+) influx through the L-type Ca(2+) channel, and staurosporine to inhibit PKC. Each of the inhibitors attenuated ANG II-induced reductions in MBF, and all dose-response curves were shifted to the right to an approximately threefold higher ANG II dose. Combinations of the inhibitors revealed that their effects were additive; together they abolished the vasoconstrictor action of ANG II completely. In contrast, the dose-response curve for U-46619 was not affected by any of the inhibitors infused either separately or together. The results demonstrate that a rise in intracellular Ca(2+) and activation of PKC are major mediators of the vasoconstrictor effect of ANG II in mesenteric circulation, but they play a subordinate role, if any, for the effects of TxA(2). Because TxA(2) plays a major role only under pathological conditions, the uncontrolled vasoconstriction appears to be associated with the recruitment of novel signal transduction pathways.Studies in vitro have demonstrated that vasoconstrictor agents increase intracellular Ca2+ and activate protein kinase C (PKC) to elevate vascular tone. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of these signaling pathways for angiotensin II (ANG II) and thromboxane A2(TxA2) in regulating mesenteric blood flow (MBF) in vivo. In anesthetized rats increasing doses of ANG II or the TxA2 agonist U-46619 were administered into the superior mesenteric artery to reduce MBF. Intra-arterial infusion of inhibitors served to examine the contribution of different pathways: 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) to inhibit intracellular Ca2+ release, nifedipine to block transmembrane Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channel, and staurosporine to inhibit PKC. Each of the inhibitors attenuated ANG II-induced reductions in MBF, and all dose-response curves were shifted to the right to an approximately threefold higher ANG II dose. Combinations of the inhibitors revealed that their effects were additive; together they abolished the vasoconstrictor action of ANG II completely. In contrast, the dose-response curve for U-46619 was not affected by any of the inhibitors infused either separately or together. The results demonstrate that a rise in intracellular Ca2+ and activation of PKC are major mediators of the vasoconstrictor effect of ANG II in mesenteric circulation, but they play a subordinate role, if any, for the effects of TxA2. Because TxA2 plays a major role only under pathological conditions, the uncontrolled vasoconstriction appears to be associated with the recruitment of novel signal transduction pathways.

Renal test dyes IV. Intravital Fluorescence microscopy and microphotometry of the tubularly secreted dye sulfonefluorescein.

SummaryThe present study describes for the first time the use of the fluorescent dye sulfonefluorescein for intravital microscopy and microphotometry on the renal surface of rats. With help of this dye tubular secretion can be observed in mammalian kidney in vivo. Tubular secretion can further be quantified with microphotometrical measurements. The molecular structure of sulfonefluorescein is closely related to phenol red, which is known for its tubular secretion. Clearance experiments also show a secretion of sulfonefluorescein. The secretion can be inhibited by probenecid. Ureter ligation causes a strong increase in tubular concentration of the dye. After a temporary ischemia dye accumulation in tubular lumen is greatly reduced.