Renin release in rats during blockade of nitric oxide synthesis

Abstract

The influence of renal perfusion pressure on renin release was examined in rats administered the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Compared with the control plasma renin of 6.0 +/- 0.7 ng angiotensin I (ANG I).ml-1.h-1, plasma renin activity was suppressed (1.8 +/- 0.2 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1, P < 0.05) in L-NAME-treated animals in which the renal perfusion pressure was permitted to increase and reached 141 +/- 8 mmHg. Plasma renin activity also was suppressed (2.5 +/- 0.4 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1, P < 0.05) in a second L-NAME-treated group in which the renal perfusion pressure was controlled to a level of 105 +/- 5 mmHg via tightening of a suprarenal aortic snare. Plasma renin activity was increased (12.0 +/- 1.4 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1, P < 0.05) in a third L-NAME-treated group in which renal perfusion pressure was reduced to 59 +/- 1 mmHg. Overall, these findings suggest that the intrarenal pressure-sensing mechanism for renin release does not stringently require nitric oxide synthesis. In a second experimental series, bilaterally renal-denervated rats were administered L-NAME, and again plasma renin activity was suppressed significantly whether renal perfusion pressure was permitted to increase or was controlled. Thus L-NAME also suppressed plasma renin activity independently of reflex reductions in renal neuroadrenergic activity even when renal perfusion pressure was controlled. Infusions of sodium nitroprusside completely inhibited L-NAME-induced suppression of plasma renin activity in these renal-denervated rats. Nitric oxide may function as a paracrine stimulatory mechanism for the local regulation of renin release.