Renal, endocrine and vascular effects of atrial natriuretic peptide in a novel vasopressin-deficient genetically hypertensive strain of rat

Vascular, renal, and endocrine responses to low-dose atrial natriuretic peptide in the fluid-balanced New Zealand genetically hypertensive rats with and without endogenous arginine vasopressin

In hypertension, the relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and vasopressin (AVP) is not yet clear, although their renal actions are effectively autoregulation. To examine the possible interaction further, the responses to ANP infusion (75 ng·min-1, i.v.) have been investigated in both hypertensive and normotensive AVP-replete (HT and NT) and AVP-deficient (HTDI and NTDI) rats. This study aimed to assess the renal function and the plasma hormone concentrations of AVP, angiotensin II (AII), ANP, aldosterone, and corticosterone in the conscious, chronically catheterized, fluid-balanced rats, and to examine the cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine responses to a constant infusion of a low-dose ANP. Data gained from the present study showed, for the first time, the hormone profile, plasma electrolyte composition, and detailed renal function of the servo-controlled, fluid-balanced rats. The similarities of plasma electrolyte composition between servo-controlled and untreated rats indicated that the servo-controlled fluid replacement technique maintained the differences between the strains and maintained body fluid balance during the experimental periods. Following ANP administration, there were no changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in all groups, but an enduring diuresis and natriuresis were observed in HT and NT, which were milder in HTDI rats. However, the hypotensive effect of ANP was of a similar magnitude in all rat strains. HTDI rats exhibited an inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which may have participated in the reduced mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and natriuresis observed in these rats. The renal actions of ANP appear to rely upon renal tubular events, as indicated by increased fractional electrolyte excretions in the AVP-replete rats. This study highlights the importance of AVP to the profile of the renal actions of ANP in normal rats.Key words: atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin, renal, hypertension.

Regional haemodynamic effects of antagonists of angiotensin II, endothelin and adrenoceptors in conscious, vasopressin-deficient, genetically hypertensive rats

1. Male, vasopressin-deficient, normotensive (DI/N) and hypertensive (DI/H) rats were chronically instrumented (all surgery under sodium methohexitone anaesthesia) to allow assessment of resting haemodynamic status and responses to antagonism of AT1-receptors (Experiment 1), ET(A-) and ET(B-) receptors (Experiment 2) or adrenoceptors (Experiment 3). 2. Before any treatment, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was higher, and hindquarters vascular conductance was consistently lower in all groups of DI/H rats than in DI/N rats. 3. In Experiment 1, losartan (10 mg kg-1 i.v.), an AT1-receptor antagonist, was given 5 h after s.c. injection of saline, (DI/N, n = 8; DI/H, n = 8) or hyperoncotic polyethylene glycol, (DI/N, n = 9; DI/H, n = 9) to induce isosmotic hypovolaemia. In the volume-replete state, losartan caused similar small falls in MAP in the two groups (maximum delta MAP; DI/N, -9 +/- 2; DI/H, -15 +/- 5 mmHg), but the mesenteric and hindquarters vasodilatations were greater in DI/N rats. In the volume-depleted state the effects of losartan were augmented (delta MAP; DI/N, -32 +/- 3; DI/H. -31 +/- 3 mmHg), but its vasodilator effects were still greater in DI/N than in DI/H rats. 4. In Experiment 2, infusion of the ET(A-)ET(B-)receptor antagonist, SB 209670 (600 micrograms kg-1 h-1; DI/N, n = 8; DI/H, n = 9), had haemodynamic effects that were not different from those during saline infusion in DI/N (n = 7) and DI/H rats (n = 8). 5. In Experiment 3, sequential administration of the beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI 118551 (0.2 mg kg-1 bolus, 0.1 mg kg-1 h-1 infusion), the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, idazoxan (0.75 mg kg-1 bolus, 1 mg kg-1 h-1 infusion), and losartan (10 mg kg-1 bolus) had only slight haemodynamic effects in DI/N (n = 8) and DI/H (n = 9) rats. Subsequent administration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (0.5 mg kg-1 bolus, 0.8 mg kg-1 h-1 infusion) caused marked hypotension, although MAP was still higher in DI/H (95 +/- 4 mmHg) than in DI/N (75 +/- 4 mmHg) rats. However, in this circumstance there were no significant differences between renal, or mesenteric, or hindquarters vascular conductances in the two groups. 6. The results indicate that the hypertension and hindquarters vasoconstriction in DI/H rats is not dependent on AII or endothelin. Moreover, the relative elevation in MAP in DI/H persists in the presence of antagonism of beta 2, alpha 2- and alpha 1-adrenoceptors, in spite of no significant difference in regional vascular conductances.