Effect of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost in sodium-depleted rats pretreated with captopril

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that administration of captopril to sodium-depleted rats decreases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blunts the increase in glomerular prostacyclin synthesis normally occurring in response to sodium depletion. To clarify the relationship between these two responses, iloprost, a stable analogue of prostacyclin, was administered to Na-depleted, captopril-treated (LNC) rats. At a dosage not affecting systemic blood pressure (12.5 ng/kg/min), iloprost increased GFR in LNC rats by 25% (from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 0.35 ± 0.03 ml/min100 g body wt, P < 0.01), without significant effects on renal plasma flow. No effect was observed in control rats. The results suggest that altered prostacyclin synthesis could contribute to the decrease of GFR in this model.