Effects of meclofenamate on the renin response to aortic constriction in the rat.

Abstract

This study examines the role of the renal prostaglandin system in stimulus-secretion coupling for renal baroreceptor-dependent renin release in the anesthetized rat. Changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) secondary to suprarenal aortic constriction were evaluated in groups of rats with a single denervated nonfiltering kidney (DNFK) with and without pretreatment with meclofenamate. Suprarenal aortic constriction was adjusted to reduce renal perfusion pressure to either 100 or 50 mmHg. In addition, similar experiments were performed in rats with a single intact filtering kidney. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with meclofenamate failed to block or attenuate the increase in PRA in response to the decrement in renal perfusion pressure after both severe and mild aortic constriction for both the DNFK and the intact-kidney groups. The adequacy of prostaglandin inhibition was demonstrated by complete blockade with meclofenamate of the marked hypotensive and hyperreninemic responses to sodium arachidonate. The results in the DNFK indicate that in the rat, renal prostaglandins do not function as obligatory mediators of the isolated renal baroreceptor mechanism for the control of renin release. Also the findings in the intact filtering kidney suggest that prostaglandins are not essential in the renin response of other intrarenal receptor mechanisms that also are stimulated by a reduction in renal perfusion pressure.