Abstract P148: Connecting Tubule-glomerular Feedback (ctgf) in Renal Hemodynamics and Blood Pressure (bp) After Unilateral Nephrectomy (unx)

Abstract

Afferent arteriole resistance is regulated in part by myogenic response, tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) and connecting tubule-glomerular feedback (CTGF). CTGF dilates afferent arteriole in response to high sodium in connecting tubule (CNT) counteracting and shifting to the right the TGF response (resetting); CTGF increases renal blood flow and glomerular pressure, both favoring glomerular filtration and sodium excretion. CTGF is initiated by epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in CNT and inhibited by Benzamil. Unilateral nephrectomy (UNx) is accompanied by TGF resetting, increase in renal blood flow (RBF) and single nephron GFR in the remnant kidney, without any changes in systemic BP. We evaluated the effects of CTGF in TGF resetting, RBF and BP after UNx. UNx was performed on Sprague-Dawley rats and 24h later TGF was evaluated in vivo by renal micropuncture techniques by measure stop flow pressure (Psf). CTGF was evaluated by the differences between TGF maximal responses (TGFmax) with or without tubular benzamil perfusion. Another set of animals received chronic infusion of benzamil directly into the kidney, that started 1 week before UNx. Renal blood flow (RBF) was measured by arterial spin labeling-MRI 24h before and 24h after the UNx. Direct BP measurement was performed before and 3 weeks after the UNx. After UNx, TGF resetting was observed in UNx rats (TGFmax 8±1 vs. 1±1 mmHg, Sham vs. UNx; p<0.05). This TGF resetting was inhibited by benzamil. RBF increased after the UNx in comparison to sham and this increase was prevented by chronic infusion of Benzamil into the kidney (Sham: 3±0.6; UNx: 4.6±0.3; UNx+Benzamil 3.5±0.6 ml/min/g tissue p<0.002). Basal mean BP values were not different between the vehicle or treated rats before the UNx; however 3 weeks after the UNx, rats receiving benzamil into the kidney showed higher mean BP values than vehicle (88±0.3 vs. 97±4 mmHg, p<0.01). We conclude that CTGF participates in TGF resetting and RBF regulation after UNx, and that could participate in BP regulation after UNx.