Low-frequency Renal Nerve Stimulation Research Articles

Effect of Low-Frequency Renal Nerve Stimulation on Renal Glucose Release during Normoglycemia and a Hypoglycemic Clamp in Pigs.

Previously, we demonstrated that renal denervation in pigs reduces renal glucose release during a hypoglycemic episode. In this study we set out to examine changes in side-dependent renal net glucose release (SGN) through unilateral low-frequency stimulation (LFS) of the renal plexus with a pulse generator (2-5 Hz) during normoglycemia (60 min) and insulin-induced hypoglycemia ≤3.5 mmol/L (75 min) in seven pigs. The jugular vein, carotid artery, renal artery and vein, and both ureters were catheterized for measurement purposes, blood pressure management, and drug and fluid infusions. Para-aminohippurate (PAH) and inulin infusions were used to determine side-dependent renal plasma flow (SRP) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In a linear mixed model, LFS caused no change in SRP but decreased sodium excretion (p < 0.0001), as well as decreasing GFR during hypoglycemia (p = 0.0176). In a linear mixed model, only hypoglycemic conditions exerted significant effects on SGN (p = 0.001), whereas LFS did not. In a Wilcoxon signed rank exact test, LFS significantly increased SGN (p = 0.03125) and decreased sodium excretion (p = 0.0017) and urinary flow rate (p = 0.0129) when only considering the first instance LFS followed a preceding period of non-stimulation during normoglycemia. To conclude, this study represents, to our knowledge, the first description of an induction of renal gluconeogenesis by LFS.

Renal Sympathetic Neuroeffector Function in Renovascular and Angiotensin II–Dependent Hypertension in Rabbits

We tested the hypotheses that the gains of specific renal sympathetic neuroeffector mechanisms are altered in secondary hypertension and that the nature of these alterations depends on the precise experimental setting of the kidney. Rabbits were sham operated, or made comparably hypertensive (mean arterial pressure increased 17% to 24%) by clipping the left or right renal artery or by chronic infusion of angiotensin II (20 to 50 ng kg(-1) min(-1) SC). Four to 6 weeks later, under pentobarbital anesthesia, the left renal nerves were sectioned and electrically stimulated at low (0 to 2 Hz) and high (4 to 8 Hz) frequencies. Neurally evoked reductions in total renal blood flow, cortical perfusion, urine flow, and sodium excretion and increases in renal norepinephrine spillover were not significantly greater in kidneys of hypertensive rabbits than normotensive controls. Neurally evoked increases in renal renin release and the slope of the relationship between renin release and norepinephrine spillover were less in kidneys of hypertensive rabbits than normotensive controls. Low-frequency renal nerve stimulation reduced medullary perfusion, which was negatively correlated with renal norepinephrine spillover in kidneys from all 3 groups of hypertensive rabbits but not normotensive controls. Two-hertz stimulation reduced medullary perfusion by 19% in hypertensive rabbits but not in normotensive rabbits. Thus, of all of the renal sympathetic neuroeffector mechanisms studied, only neural control of medullary perfusion was enhanced in these models of secondary hypertension. This effect appears to be mediated postjunctionally, not through enhanced neural norepinephrine release, and may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of hypertension in these models.

Renal nerve stimulation restores tubuloglomerular feedback after acute renal denervation.

Renal nerves play an important role in the setting of the sensitivity of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. We recently reported a time-dependent resetting of TGF to a lower sensitivity 3-4 h after acute unilateral renal denervation (aDNX). This effect persisted after 1 week, but was then less pronounced. To determine whether normal TGF sensitivity could be restored in aDNX kidneys by low-frequency renal nerve stimulation (RNS), the following experiments were performed. Rats with aDNX were prepared for micropuncture. In one experimental group proximal tubular free flow (Pt) and stop flow pressures (Psf) were measured during RNS at frequencies of 2, 4 and 6 Hz. In another series of experiments the TGF sensitivity was evaluated from the Psf responses at different loop perfusion rates after 20 min of RNS at a frequency of 2 Hz. The maximal drop in Psf (delta Psf) and the tubular flow rate at which half the maximal response in delta Psf was observed (turning point, TP), were recorded. At RNS frequencies of 2, 4 and 6 Hz, Pt decreased from the control level of 14.1 +/- 0.8-13.1 +/- 1.0, 12.4 +/- 1.1 and 11.2 +/- 0.8 mmHg (decrease 21%, P < 0.05), respectively, while at zero perfusion and during RNS at 2 and 4 Hz Psf decreased from 42.5 +/- 1.6 to 38.2 +/- 1.4 and 32.8 +/- 4.3 mmHg (decrease 23%, P < 0.05), respectively. The TGF characteristics were found to be reset from the normal sensitivity with TP of 19.0 +/- 1.1 nL min-1 and delta Psf of 8.7 +/- 0.9 mmHg to TP of 28.3 +/- 2.4 nL min-1 (increase 49%, P < 0.05) and delta Psf of 5.8 +/- 1.2 mmHg (decrease 33%) after aDNX. After 20 min of RNS at 2 Hz TP was normalized and delta Psf was 33% higher. Thus the present findings indicate that the resetting of the TGF sensitivity that occurred 2-3 h after aDNX could be partially restored by 20 min of RNS at a frequency of 2 Hz. These results imply that renal nerves have an important impact on the setting of the sensitivity of the TGF mechanism.

Effects of FK409, a nitric oxide donor, on renal responses to renal nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs

We examined the effects of (±)-( E)-4-ethyl-2-[( E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexenamide (FK409), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, on renal actions and norepinephrine overflow induced by renal nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs, with or without N G-nitro- l-arginine (NOARG), a NO synthase inhibitor. Renal nerve stimulation at a low frequency (0.5–2.0 Hz) produced significant decreases in urine flow and urinary excretion of Na + and increases in norepinephrine secretion rate. Renal nerve stimulation at a high frequency (2.5–5.0 Hz) which diminishes renal hemodynamics, elicited more marked decreases in urine formation and increases in norepinephrine secretion rate. Intrarenal arterial infusion of FK409 (0.25 μg/kg/min) failed to alter renal actions and increases in norepinephrine secretion rate in response to both low- and high frequency renal nerve stimulation. When NOARG (40 μg/kg/min) was administrated intrarenally, low-frequency renal nerve stimulation caused a potent antidiuresis and renal vasoconstriction. The renal nerve stimulation-induced increase in norepinephrine secretion rate was markedly enhanced by NOARG infusion. Simultaneous infusion of FK409 markedly attenuated the NOARG-induced enhancement of renal actions and increases in norepinephrine secretion rate, in response to low-frequency renal nerve stimulation. These results suggest that exogenous NO suppresses the renal nerve stimulation-induced norepinephrine overflow and renal actions in NO-depleted conditions. We also propose that endogenous NO functions tonically as an inhibitory modulator of renal noradrenergic neurotransmission.

Cilnidipine Attenuates Renal Nerve Stimulation-Induced Renal Vasoconstriction and Antinatriuresis in Anesthetized Dogs.

We examined the effects of cilnidipine, which is an L- and N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, on adrenergically regulated renal functions in anesthetized dogs. Renal nerve stimulation (RNS) at high frequency (3-7 Hz) decreased renal blood flow (RBF) without changes in systemic blood pressure. The RBF response was inhibited by intrarenal arterial (i.r.a.) infusion of cilnidipine at 0.1-0.3 microgram/kg/min. Low-frequency RNS (0.5-1 Hz) reduced absolute and fractional urinary sodium excretion. These responses were attenuated during i.r.a. infusion of cilnidipine at 0.3 microgram/kg/min. An increase in norepinephrine secretion rate induced by low-frequency RNS was also attenuated during cilnidipine infusion. These results suggest that cilnidipine can suppress norepinephrine release from the renal nerve endings and thereby interfere with the neural control of renal functions.

Inhibitory Effects of Endothelin-3 on Antidiuresis and Norepinephrine Overflow Induced by Stimulation of Renal Nerves in Anesthetized Dogs

The effects of endothelin-3 (ET-3) on changes in renal hemodynamics, urine formation, and norepinephrine (NE) overflow induced by renal nerve stimulation (RNS) were examined in anesthetized dogs. RNS at a low frequency (0.5-2.0 Hz) produced significant decreases in urine flow (UF), urinary excretion of sodium (UNaV), and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and increased the NE secretion rate (NESR) without affecting systemic or renal hemodynamics. RNS at a high frequency (2.5-5.0 Hz), which diminishes renal hemodynamics by causing renal vasoconstriction, affected urine formation and NESR more potently than did low-frequency RNS. When ET-3 (2.0 ng/kg/min) was infused into the renal artery, there was a slight and transient increase in renal blood flow (RBF); this response was followed by a gradual reduction. ET-3 infusion tended to increase the basal levels of UF without affecting UNaV, indicating the excretion of hypotonic urine with administration of this peptide. During ET-3 infusion, low-frequency RNS-induced antidiuretic action was significantly attenuated. Simultaneously, increase in NESR elicited by low-frequency RNS was markedly suppressed. Qualitatively similar results were observed in the case of high-frequency RNS. In addition, high-frequency RNS-induced decreases in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the filtration fraction (FF) were suppressed by ET-3 infusion. These findings suggest that ET-3 suppresses renal responses to stimulated renal noradrenergic neurotransmission by inhibiting the release of NE. These findings, together with our previous findings, suggest that ET-3 (and/or ET-1) functions as an inhibitory modulator of the renal noradrenergic nervous system through the prejunctional ETB-receptor mechanism.

Effect of sodium nitroprusside on norepinephrine overflow and antidiuresis induced by stimulation of renal nerves in anesthetized dogs.

To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity and renal function, we examined the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, on renal actions induced by renal nerve stimulation (RNS) in anesthetized dogs, with or without blockade of an endogenous NO generation by NG-nitro-L-arginine (NOARG), a NO synthase inhibitor. Low-frequency RNS (0.5-2.0 Hz) enhanced the rate of norepinephrine secretion rate (NESR) from the kidney and decreased urine flow (UF), urinary excretion of sodium (U(Na)V), and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa, without affecting systemic and renal hemodynamics. The intrarenal arterial infusion of SNP, in a dose (1 mu g/kg/min) that does not affect renal hemodynamics and urine formation at the basal level, significantly attenuated the RNS-induced decreases in UF, UNa V and FENa. The intrarenal administration of NOARG (40 mu g/kg/min) elicited renal vasoconstriction and reduced urine formation. RNS during NOARG administration reduced renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and augmented RNS-induced reduction in urine formation. Simultaneously, NESR was markedly enhanced. The renal actions observed with NOARG administration during control and RNS periods were almost completely abolished by treatment with SNP. Therefore, we suggest that NO plays an important role in the regulation of renal function. Endogenous NO probably functions as an inhibitory modulator of renal noradrenergic neurotransmission at the prejunctional level.

P-1059 - Effects of sarafotoxin S6c on antidiuresis and norepinephrine overflow induced by stimulation of renal nerves in anesthetized dogs.

We previously reported that endothelin (ET) may function as an inhibitory modulator of renal noradrenergic neurotransmission (Suzuki et al., J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 19: 905–910, 1992). In our study, we examined the effect of sarafotoxin S6c (S6c), a selective ETB receptor agonist, on changes in renal function and norepinephrine overflow induced by renal nerve stimulation (RNS) in anesthetized dogs. RNS at a low frequency (0.5–2.0 Hz) caused significant decreases in urine flow, urinary excretion of sodium and fractional excretion of sodium and increased norepinephrine secretion rate, without affecting systemic and renal hemodynamics. RNS at a high frequency (2.5–5.0 Hz), which diminishes renal hemodynamics, produced more potent decreases in urine formation and increase in norepinephrine secretion rate than seen with low frequency RNS. When S6c (1 ng/kg/min) was infused intrarenally, there was a slight and transient increase in renal blood flow, and then this response was followed by a gradual reduction. S6c administration produced increase in the basal level of urine flow with no apparent effects on urinary excretion of sodium and fractional excretion of sodium. During S6c infusion, low frequency RNS-induced antidiuretic action and increase in norepinephrine secretion rate were markedly attenuated. Qualitatively, similar results were observed in the case of high frequency RNS. In addition, high frequency RNS-induced decreases in glomerular filtration rate and filtration fraction were significantly suppressed by S6c infusion. Taken together with our previous findings, it seems likely that ET plays an important role as an inhibitory modulator of renal noradrenergic neurotransmission, through ETB receptor mechanisms.

Effects of Endothelin-1 on Antidiuresis and Norepinephrine Overflow Induced by Stimulation of Renal Nerves in Anesthetized Dogs

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on renal function and norepinephrine (NE) overflow induced by renal nerve stimulation (RNS) were examined in anesthetized dogs, and comparisons were made with effects of Bay K 8644, a calcium channel agonist. RNS at a low frequency (0.5-2.0 Hz) produced significant decreases in urine flow and urinary excretion of sodium and increased NE secretion rates without influencing renal hemodynamics. RNS, at a high frequency of 2.5-5.0 Hz which diminishes renal hemodynamics, affected urine formation and NE secretion rate more potently than did low-frequency RNS. Intrarenal arterial infusion of ET-1 (1.0 ng/kg/min) decreased the baseline level of renal blood flow by 25% and that of urinary excretion of sodium by 54-69% but did not alter basal levels of NE secretion rate. During ET-1 infusion, low-frequency RNS-induced antidiuresis was observed to an extent similar to that seen without ET-1 infusion, whereas increase in NE secretion rate elicited by RNS was significantly inhibited by ET-1 infusion (45-65% of the values without ET-1 infusion). In addition, in the case of high-frequency RNS, ET-1 did not affect antidiuretic responses but did inhibit the increase in NE secretion rate by approximately 55%. In contrast, alterations in renal excretory responses and NE secretion rate elicited by RNS were not influenced by Bay K 8644 infusion (1.0 micrograms/kg/min), a dose that decreased renal blood flow to the same degree as did 1.0 ng/kg/min of ET-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of opioid peptides on neural control of renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of opioid receptor agonists and antagonists on the renal vascular (renal blood flow) and tubular (urinary sodium excretion) responses to renal nerve stimulation and norepinephrine in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Graded frequency renal nerve stimulation (0.5-4.0 Hz) and doses of norepinephrine (10-80 ng/kg) produced frequency and dose-dependent decreases in renal blood flow. The renal vasoconstrictor responses were not altered by intravenous infusion of the opioid receptor agonists methionine enkephalin (mu and delta, 75 micrograms/kg/min) or U-50488H (kappa, 20 micrograms/kg/min) or administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg i.v.). The antinatriuretic response to low frequency (less than 1.0 Hz) electrical renal nerve stimulation was prevented by naloxone but not affected by methionine enkephalin administration without changes in glomerular filtration rate or effective renal plasma flow. These studies suggest that endogenous opioid receptor mechanisms are involved in the increased renal tubular sodium reabsorption response to low frequency renal nerve stimulation but not in the renal vasoconstrictor response to either renal nerve stimulation or norepinephrine. This might occur by facilitation of the renal nerve terminal release, the direct renal tubular action, or both, of norepinephrine to influence renal tubular sodium reabsorption.

Alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediation of urinary bicarbonate excretion

The adrenoceptor mechanism that mediates the reduction of urinary sodium (UNa V) and bicarbonate (UHCO3 V) excretion during 1.0-Hz renal nerve stimulation (RNS) was evaluated in 21 anesthetized dogs. In each animal RNS decreased UNa V and UHCO3 V without changing mean arterial pressure, renal blood flow, or glomerular filtration rate. After these initial responses, dogs were administered phentolamine [2.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 intrarenal artery (ira); n = 7], prazosin (0.7 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 ira; n = 5), (+/- )-propranolol (2.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 ira; n = 4), or atenolol (50 mg/kg iv; n = 5) and the renal responses to RNS were again tested. Both the antinatriuretic response and reduction of UHCO3 V during RNS were abolished by alpha 1/alpha 2-adrenoceptor blockade with phentolamine and by alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonism with prazosin. beta-Adrenoceptor blockade with (+/- )-propranolol (beta 1/beta 2) or atenolol (beta 1) did not alter either the decrease in UNa V or UHCO3 V after RNS. These results provide further evidence that, during low-frequency RNS, reduction of UNa V is mediated in part by carbonic anhydrase-dependent bicarbonate reabsorption. These antinatriuretic responses and decreases in UHCO3 V during 1.0-Hz RNS are mediated by adrenergic neurotransmitter stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

A study of the action of amlodipine on adrenergically regulated sodium handling by the kidney in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

1. An investigation was undertaken to examine the effect of calcium channel blockade, induced by amlodipine, on the ability of the renal sympathetic nerves to cause an antidiuresis and anti-natriuresis in normotensive Sprague Dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone. 2. Low frequency renal nerve stimulation in normotensive rats, which did not change renal blood flow, caused a 15% reduction in glomerular filtration rate and was associated with falls in urine flow of 37%, absolute sodium excretion of 47%, and fractional sodium excretion of 38%. The magnitude of these renal excretory changes was unaffected by prior administration of amlodipine at either 200 micrograms kg-1 plus 50 micrograms kg-1 h-1 or 400 micrograms kg-1 plus 100 micrograms kg-1 h-1. Amlodipine given in the higher dose, decreased basal levels of blood pressure and increased basal urine flow and sodium excretion. 3. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, renal nerve stimulation minimally affected renal haemodynamics but decreased urine flow, absolute and fractional sodium excretion by 29%, 31% and 24%, respectively. 4. Similar renal nerve stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats given amlodipine at 200 micrograms kg-1 plus 50 micrograms kg-1 h-1 or 400 micrograms kg-1 plus 100 micrograms kg-1 h-1 caused minimal changes in renal haemodynamics and in the excretion of water and sodium. The higher dose of drug resulted in decreased blood pressure and increased basal rates of urine flow and sodium excretion. 5. These data show that in spontaneously hypertensive rats but not normotensive rats, calcium channel blockade inhibited the ability of the renal nerves to stimulate the reabsorptive processes for sodium at the renal tubule. This indicated that in spontaneous hypertension the post-receptor mechanisms had changed and become more dependent on the inward movement of calcium.

Role of renal alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To identify a physiological role for renal alpha 2 adrenergic receptors, renal vascular and tubular responses to administration of graded frequencies of renal nerve stimulation or graded doses of adrenergic agonists were determined in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive, Wistar-Kyoto, and Sprague-Dawley rats. Renal vasoconstrictor responses to renal nerve stimulation and alpha 1-adrenergic receptor agonists (norepinephrine, phenylephrine) were inhibited by an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (prazosin) but not by an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist (rauwolscine). A semilog plot of renal vasoconstrictor responses a fraction of control renal blood flow versus agonist dose (in nanograms) was linear with the slope, k, taken as the fractional decrease in renal blood flow per nanogram. The alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists (clonidine, guanabenz) produced minimal renal vasoconstrictor responses (fractional decrease in renal blood flow per nanogram: norepinephrine, 0.011; phenylephrine, 0.003; clonidine, 0.00087; guanabenz, 0.000037). The small renal vasoconstrictor responses to clonidine and guanabenz were more inhibited by rauwolscine than by prazosin. Low frequency renal nerve stimulation produced antidiuresis and antinatriuresis without decreasing glomerular filtration rate or renal blood flow. The antidiuretic and antinatriuretic responses were inhibited by prazosin but unaffected by rauwolscine. The magnitude of the renal vascular and tubular responses and their adrenergic receptor mediation were not different between spontaneously hypertensive, Wistar-Kyoto, and Sprague-Dawley rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Renal Actions of Nitrendipine and Its Influence on the Neural Regulation of Calcium and Sodium Reabsorption in the Rat

Infusion of nitrendipine at 0.5 micrograms/kg/min into pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rats with either intact or sectioned renal nerves did not change renal blood flow or glomerular filtration rate, but in both groups it significantly increased urine flow between 80 and 100%, calcium excretion between 85 and 130%, absolute sodium excretion between 105 and 140% and fractional sodium excretion by 80 to 105%. Administration of nitrendipine at 1.0 micrograms/kg/min into intact and renally denervated rats decreased blood pressure by 18-20 mm Hg, had no effect on renal haemodynamics, and caused significant increases in urine flow, calcium excretion, and absolute and fractional sodium excretions of identical magnitude observed with the lower dose of nitrendipine. Low-frequency renal nerve stimulation did not change either blood flow or glomerular filtration, but it significantly decreased urine flow by 27%, calcium excretion by 35%, and absolute and fractional sodium excretions by 32 and 36%, respectively. The magnitude and pattern of these responses to renal nerve stimulation were not altered in the presence of either dose of nitrendipine. These results suggest that nitrendipine directly inhibits the tubular reabsorption of calcium and sodium, but that this drug does not interfere with the adrenergic regulation of the reabsorption of these ions.

An investigation into the alpha-adrenoceptor mediating renal nerve-induced calcium reabsorption by the rat kidney.

An investigation was undertaken in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rats to determine the sub-type of alpha-adrenoceptor responsible for the renal nerve-induced increases in the reabsorption of calcium and sodium by the tubules of the kidney. Stimulation of the renal nerves at low frequencies (0.8-1.5 Hz) did not change either renal blood flow or glomerular filtration rate but significantly reduced urine flow by 32%, calcium excretion by 36% and absolute and fractional sodium excretions by 36% and 22%, respectively. In the presence of the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin, renal nerve stimulation (2-3 Hz) caused a significant reduction in renal blood flow of 7% but did not change either glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, calcium excretion or absolute and fractional sodium excretions. During administration of the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, idazoxan, renal nerve stimulation (1.0-1.5 Hz) significantly reduced renal blood flow by 4% and glomerular filtration rate by 7%; at the same time there were significant falls in urine flow of 43%, calcium excretion of 43% and absolute and fractional sodium excretions of 41% and 37%, respectively. These results show that low frequency renal nerve stimulation causes an anticalciuresis, independent of renal haemodynamics, which represents an increase in tubular reabsorption of calcium. This effect was blocked by prazosin but not idazoxan which is consistent with the mediation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The neurally-induced antinatriuresis also appeared to be dependent on the activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Mechanisms of antinatriuresis during low-frequency renal nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs.

The influence of 1.0 Hz renal nerve stimulation (RNS) on the renal excretion of sodium and bicarbonate was determined in anesthetized dogs before and during inhibition of renal bicarbonate reabsorption. RNS decreased both urinary sodium and bicarbonate excretion without changing arterial pressure, renal blood flow, or glomerular filtration rate. Pharmacological blockade of bicarbonate reabsorption with acetazolamide prevented RNS-induced decreases in bicarbonate excretion and reduced the antinatriuretic response. Physiological blockade of tubular bicarbonate reabsorption with intrarenal sodium bicarbonate infusion (1 M) abolished both the antinatriuretic response to RNS and the decrease in bicarbonate excretion. This physiological blockade of neurogenic antinatriuresis resulted from alkalinization of the urine and/or peritubular blood rather than an increase in filtered sodium load, because during intrarenal infusion of 1 M sodium chloride RNS concomitantly decreased sodium and urinary bicarbonate excretion. Since antinatriuretic responses and the decrease in bicarbonate excretion response to RNS were significantly decreased by blockade of bicarbonate reabsorption (with acetazolamide and intrarenal sodium bicarbonate infusion), antinatriuresis during RNS is partly mediated by a mechanism dependent on intact bicarbonate reabsorption. The data suggest that renal nerve activity may participate in the normal regulation of acid-base balance via changes in bicarbonate excretion.

1625 RENAL NEUROADRENERGIC TRANSMISSION DURING FETAL LIFE

The renal vasoconstrictor response to graded (0.2 to 3.0 Hz, 20V, 1 msec) direct electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS) was studied in 9 chronically catheterized fetal (F) lambs (130-142 days gestation; term 145 days) and 3 adult (A) sheep. Changes in renal blood flow (RBF) were monitored using a doppler flow-meter. During RNS, RBF (r=-0.98) decreased and renal vascular resistance (RVR) (r=0.98) increased in a dose-response relation in F and A. Following administration of phentolamine, a rise in RBF (+57% at 1.0 Hz) and a decrease in RVR (-32% at 1 Hz) were observed in F; these changes were not completely blocked with propranolol. At low frequency ( 0.4 Hz) of RNS, % changes in RBF and RVR were significantly higher in F than in A. (*for p<0.05 when F compared to A) In summary these results demonstrate that during fetal life 1) renal hemodynamics seems to be more sensitive to low frequency RNS than in A; 2) renal vasoconstriction following RNS is dependent on α adrenoceptors; and 3) renal vasodilation produced by RNS during α-blockade is not fully dependent on activation of β-adrenoceptors.

Influence of renal perfusion pressure on alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation of renin release

Experiments were performed in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs to 1) determine if neural stimulation of renin release can be mediated by renal alpha-adrenoceptors at renal nerve stimulation (RNS) frequencies that have little or no effect on total renal blood flow (less than or equal to 1.2 Hz) and 2) ascertain whether alpha-adrenergic control of renin release is affected by renal perfusion pressure (RPP). The renal nerves were electrically stimulated both in the absence of RPP control and with RPP controlled near 85 mmHg. Decreased RPP lowered the threshold for neurogenic stimulation of renin release from less than or equal to 1.2 to 0.3 Hz. beta-Adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol blunted the renin secretion rate (RSR) response to graded RNS (0.3-5.0 Hz), but the extent of inhibition during low-frequency RNS was dependent on RPP. Propranolol prevented increased RSR at 0.6-1.2 Hz RNS when RPP was 111-120 mmHg but not when RPP was 85 mmHg. Combined alpha- and beta-blockade with prazosin and propranolol totally prevented increased RSR during 0.6-1.2 Hz RNS at reduced RPP. In summary, both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors mediate neural stimulation of renin release at RNS frequencies that do not decrease total renal blood flow when RPP is 85 mmHg.

Interactions among renal nerves, prostaglandins, and renal arterial pressure in the regulation of renin release.

To examine the interactions among the renal nerves, prostaglandins, and renal arterial pressure in the regulation of renin secretion, experiments using low-frequency renal nerve stimulation (LFRNS; supramaximal voltage, 0.5 ms, 0.5 Hz) were performed in anesthetized dogs. LFRNS, which did not affect renal hemodynamics or urinary sodium excretion, increased renin secretion rate before (79 +/- 16 ng/min) but significantly less after renal arterial administration of indomethacin or meclofenamate (26 +/- 7 ng/min). In a separate group of dogs, LFRNS increased both renin secretion rate (266 +/- 139 ng/min) and renal prostaglandin E2 secretion rate (2,080 +/- 635 ng/min). LFRNS does not alter input stimuli to the renal vascular baroreceptor or tubular macula densa receptor mechanisms for renin secretion and represents a direct neural stimulus for renin secretion; this also increases renal prostaglandin E2 secretion rate, which contributes to the increase in renin secretion rate. The renin secretion rate response of innervated and denervated kidneys to reduction in renal arterial pressure to 50 mmHg was examined before and after indomethacin/meclofenamate administration. The observation that indomethacin/meclofenamate decreased but did not abolish the renin secretion rate response to aortic constriction in innervated kidneys suggests the presence of a prostaglandin-independent mechanism that is mediated by an interaction between the renal nerves and the tubular macula densa receptor, as indomethacin/meclofenamate essentially abolished the renin secretion rate response to aortic constriction in denervated kidneys.

Renal adrenoceptor mediation of antinatriuretic and renin secretion responses to low frequency renal nerve stimulation in the dog.

L'antinatriurese pendant la stimulation nerveuse renale a pour mediateur les α, recepteurs renaux et non pas les α 2 ou β adrenorecepteurs renaux. La secretion de renine a pour mediateurs les β,-adrenorecepteurs