Renal Renin Gene Expression Research Articles

N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine Ameliorations Renal Function Early After Renal Ischemia and Reperfusion; it is not Protective over a Long Term under a High-Sodium Diet in Rats

Objectives To evaluate the early and late effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) treatment on renal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) insult in adult Wistar rats influenced by chronic high sodium (HS) intake. Materials and Methods Adult male Wistar rats (8 weeks of age) received an HS (8.0% NaCl) or normal sodium (NS; 1.3% NaCl) diet and NAC (600 mg/L) in drinking water or normal water. At 11 weeks of age, the rats underwent a renal I/R procedure. They followed for 10 weeks after I/R, at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 10th weeks, in which tail blood pressure (tBP) and renal function were evaluated. And renal renin gene expression was evaluated in the 10th week after I/R. Results During the study, it was observed that the tBP remained consistently higher in the HS-I/R+water group compared to the NS-I/R+water group. However, in the early weeks following I/R (1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks), the tBP was lower in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the HS-I/R+water group. In the 10th week after I/R, the serum creatinine levels were higher in both the HS-I/R+NAC and NS-I/R+NAC groups compared to the HS-I/R+water and NS-I/R+water groups. Conversely, the creatinine clearance was higher in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the HS-I/R+ group in the 2nd week following I/R. Additionally, the urinary protein levels were higher in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the NS-I/R+NAC group in the 10th week after I/R. It was also observed that NAC treatment resulted in increased renal renin gene expression in the 10th week following I/R. Conclusion After renal I/R in animals given HS, NAC treatment was initially effective in lowering blood pressure or increasing creatinine clearance. However, these positive effects did not persist over the long term, resulting in decreased kidney function and increased blood pressure. Furthermore, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was increased by HS intake, and the benefits of the NS diet were less effective than those of the HS diet. Thus, NAC provides temporary protection only in the early stages following an insult.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency programmes adult renal renin gene expression and renal function.

Renin is essential for renal development and in adult kidneys vitamin D deficiency increases renin gene expression. We aimed to determine whether maternal vitamin D deficiency upregulates fetal renal renin expression, and if this is sustained. We also examined growth and the long-term renal effects in offspring on a normal diet. Female Sprague-Dawley rats in UVB-free housing were fed either vitamin D deficient chow (DEF) or normal chow from 4 weeks and mated with vitamin D replete males at 10 weeks. Fetuses were collected at E20 or dams littered and the pups were weaned onto normal chow. Kidney mRNA levels for renin, (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR], transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β1), and nephrin were determined in E20 fetuses and in male offspring at 38 weeks. Renal function was assessed at 33 weeks (24 h, metabolic cage) in both sexes. Renal mRNA expression was upregulated for renin in fetuses (P < 0.05) and was almost doubled in adult male offspring from DEF dams (P < 0.05). Adult males had reduced creatinine clearance, solute excretion and a suppressed urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio (P < 0.05). Female adult DEF offspring drank more and excreted more urine (P < 0.05) but creatinine clearance was not impaired. We conclude that maternal vitamin D depletion upregulates fetal renal renin gene expression and this persists into adulthood where, in males only, there is evidence of sodium retention and compromised renal function. Importantly these effects occurred despite the animals being on a normal diet from the time of weaning onwards.

Influence of Maternal High Salt Diet on Systemic and Renal Renin of Newborn and Adult Male Offspring Wistar Rats

Objective to evaluate the renal and circulating renin of mothers whose received high sodium diet during pregnancy and their male offspring at birth and adult life. Methods and Results (mean±SEM p<0.05 n=8/group): female Wistar rats received normal salt diet (NS 1.3%) or high salt diet (HS 8.0% NaCl) only during pregnancy (dams). The male adult offsprings (offNS, offHS), were fed NS since birth until 12-week- age. The litter weight, weight gain and blood pressure of offsprings was not different between groups. The plasma renin activity (PRA- ng/mL/h) was lower in dams HS (0.67±0.5) than NS (2.65±0.2). PRA was not different among newborn groups however, PRA was lower in adult offHS (2.2±0.6) than offNS (4.2±0.4). The renal renin granules (%) were lower in HS (29.7±3) than in NS (50±2) dams, and in adult offHS (38.4±4.2) than offNS (60.7±5.0). The renal renin gene expression (IDVrenin/β-actin) was not different in dams (cortex: NS 0.50±0.06, HS 0.43±0.01; medulla: NS 0.41±0.01, HS 0.39±0.01) and newborn (NS 1.60±0.03; HS 1.62±0.01), but it was lower in renal cortex (1.0±0.1) and medulla (0.6±0.06) of adult offHS than offNS (1.5±0.2; 1.5±0.2 respectively). Conclusion Decreased renin levels observed in adult offspring was transmitted from mother during pregnancy. Financial support: CAPES and FAPESP

The Brain Renin-Angiotensin System Controls Divergent Efferent Mechanisms to Regulate Fluid and Energy Balance

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), in addition to its endocrine functions, plays a role within individual tissues such as the brain. The brain RAS is thought to control blood pressure through effects on fluid intake, vasopressin release, and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), and may regulate metabolism through mechanisms which remain undefined. We used a double-transgenic mouse model that exhibits brain-specific RAS activity to examine mechanisms contributing to fluid and energy homeostasis. The mice exhibit high fluid turnover through increased adrenal steroids, which is corrected by adrenalectomy and attenuated by mineralocorticoid receptor blockade. They are also hyperphagic but lean because of a marked increase in body temperature and metabolic rate, mediated by increased SNA and suppression of the circulating RAS. β-adrenergic blockade or restoration of circulating angiotensin-II, but not adrenalectomy, normalized metabolic rate. Our data point to contrasting mechanisms by which the brain RAS regulates fluid intake and energy expenditure.

Renin, endothelial no synthase and endothelin gene expression in the 2Kidney-1clip goldblatt model of long-term renovascular hypertension

ObjectiveNumerous reports have shown the influence of renin, nitric oxide (NO) and the endothelin (ET) systems for regulation of blood pressure and renal function. Furthermore, interactions between these peptides have been reported. Aim of our study was to investigate the relative contribution of these compounds in long-term renovascular hypertension/renal ischemia.MethodsHypertension/left-sided renal ischemia was induced using the 2K1C-Goldblatt rat model. Renal renin, ET-1, ET-3 and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene expression was measured by means of RNAse protection assay at different timepoints up to 10 weeks after induction of renal artery stenosis.ResultsPlasma renin activity and renal renin gene expression in the left kidney were increased in the clipped animals while eNOS expression was unchanged. Furthermore, an increase in ET-1 expression and a decrease of ET-3 expression was detected in early stenosis.ConclusionsWhile renin is obviously involved in regulation of blood pressure and renal function in unilateral renal artery stenosis, ET-1, ET-3 and endothelium derived NO do not appear to play an important role in renal adaptation processes in long-term renal artery stenosis, although ET-1 and ET-3 might be involved in short-term adaptation processes.

The effect of isoprenaline infusion on renal renin and angiotensinogen gene expression in the anaesthetised rat.

In this study, we investigated the ability of acute infusions of isoprenaline to alter renin and angiotensinogen gene expression in the kidney of rats anaesthetised with chloralose-urethane. Groups of rats received I.V. infusions of either saline or the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline at 400 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 4 h. The isoprenaline infusion caused a sustained decrease in mean blood pressure of approximately 20 mmHg (P < 0.01), an increase in heart rate of 50 beats x min(-1) (P < 0.01) and reductions in urine flow and sodium excretion of 80-90 % (both P < 0.01). Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were transiently reduced by 21 % (P < 0.01) and 61 % (P < 0.001), respectively, in the first hour, recovering to baseline levels after 4 h of infusion. At the end of the study, plasma renin activity was raised approximately 6-fold (P < 0.01) while renal renin and angiotensinogen mRNA levels were 1.8- and 1.5-fold higher (both P < 0.05) compared to the control group (saline infusion). The isoprenaline-induced renin secretion could have been mediated via the activation of beta-adrenoceptors resulting in the exocytosis of renin-containing granules, with a smaller contribution being due to reduced renal haemodynamics. The increase in renal renin gene expression in response to isoprenaline was probably due primarily to the intracellular signalling processes acting directly on nuclear mechanisms. Similarly, the increased renal angiotensinogen gene expression most probably reflected a direct action of the isoprenaline. These findings provide evidence that catecholamines are involved in mechanisms that rapidly alter the expression of the genes of the renin-angiotensin system within the kidney.

Effects of Aortic Stenosis on Renal Renin, Angiotensin Receptor, Endothelin and NOS Gene Expression in Rats

Background/Aims: Published data regarding the effects of common cardiovascular diseases, i.e. aortic stenosis on renal regulation of major vasoconstrictive (renin, endothelins) and vasodilatory systems (NO) are controversial. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic aortic stenosis on the renal renin-angiotensin, endothelin and NO systems. Methods: Experimental supravalvular aortic stenosis was induced by using silver clips with a 0.6 mm internal diameter on the ascending aorta of weanling rats. Renal endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin-3 (ET-3), renin, AT_1a, AT_1b, eNOS, and bNOS gene expression were assessed by RNase protection assay. Results: Renal renin gene expression increased twofold in rats with aortic stenosis. In contrast, renal ET-1, ET-3, eNOS, bNOS, and AT_1a, AT_1b gene expression were unchanged in rats with aortic stenosis. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that in rats with severe experimental supravalvular aortic stenosis only renal renin gene expression is stimulated. This contrasts with severe heart failure where endothelins and NO synthases are also upregulated. Different patterns of regulation of renal vasoactive mediators may be of importance for the extent of the renal impairment associated with aortic stenosis, and may be correlated with the severity of congestive heart failure.

Effects of growth hormone on renal renin gene expression in normal rats and rats with myocardial infarction.

Published data regarding effects of growth hormone (GH) on the renin system are controversial. The aim of this study therefore was to evaluate the effects of GH on the renin system in normal rats and rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Normal rats received 2, 5, or 10 IU GH/kg/day or vehicle subcutaneously for 4 weeks. Furthermore rats with MI were randomized to receive 2 IU GH/kg/day or vehicle for 4 weeks. Subdivision into MI groups (mild, moderate, and large) was by histological determination of infarct size. Renal renin gene expression was assessed by RNAase protection assay and plasma renin activity by radioimmunoassay. In addition, isolated mouse juxtaglomerular cells were exposed to GH for 20 h, and renin secretion rates were assessed. GH treatment in normal rats for 4 weeks increased body weight, and kidney weight to body weight ratio, but did not affect renin secretion and renal renin gene expression. In rats with large MI, renal renin gene expression increased about fourfold, but was unchanged in rats with small and moderate MI as compared to normal rats. In rats with MI, body weight decreased and this decrease was partially reversed by GH treatment. GH treatment did not change renal renin gene expression, and renin secretion in rats with MI. Renin secretion of isolated juxtaglomerular cells was unaffected by GH. Our study demonstrates that GH treatment has no significant effect on renin secretion and on renal renin gene expression in normal rats and in rats with stimulated renin system due to MI in vivo. In isolated juxtaglomerular cells in vitro, renin secretion was also unaffected by GH.

Effects of chronic hypoxia on renal renin gene expression in rats.

The effects of hypoxia on renin secretion and renin gene expression have been controversial. In recent studies, we have demonstrated that acute hypoxia of 6 h duration caused a marked stimulation of renin secretion and renal renin gene expression. This hypoxia-induced stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system might contribute, for example, to the progression of chronic renal failure and to the development of hypertension in the sleep-apnoea syndrome. For this reason, we were interested in the more chronic effects of hypoxia on renal renin gene expression and its possible regulation. Male rats were exposed to chronic normobaric hypoxia (10% O(2)) for 2 and 4 weeks. Additional groups of rats were treated with an endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, LU135252, or a NO donor, molsidomine, respectively. Systolic blood pressure and right ventricular pressures were measured. Renal renin, endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 gene expression were quantitated using RNAase protection assays. During chronic hypoxia, haematocrit increased to 72+/-2%, and right ventricular pressure increased by a mean of 26 mmHg. Renal renin gene expression was halved during 4 weeks of chronic hypoxia. This decrease was reversed by endothelin receptor blockade (105 or 140% of baseline values after treatment for weeks 3-4 or 1-4). Furthermore, there was a trend of increasing renal endothelin-1 gene expression (to 173% of baseline values) after 4 weeks of hypoxia. Systolic blood pressure increased moderately during 4 weeks of chronic hypoxia from 129+/-2 to 150+/-4 mmHg. This blood pressure increase was higher in rats treated for 4 weeks with an endothelin receptor antagonist (196+/-11 mmHg). Chronic hypoxia (in contrast to acute hypoxia) suppresses renal renin gene expression. This inhibition presumably is mediated by endothelins.

Role of endothelins for the regulation of renal renin gene expression.

Endothelin-1, -2 and -3 (ET-1, -2, -3) have suppressive effects on the renin system in different experimental in vitro models, whereas a modulation of renin secretion or renin gene expression by endothelins (ETs) in in vivo studies has not so far been found. In a recent study we observed a significant stimulation of the renin system by acute hypoxia over 6 h in rats. In the study reported here, we investigated the more chronic effects of hypoxia (10% O2 for 4 weeks) on renin gene expression and the influence of the ET system on its regulation. Renin mRNA levels decreased after 2 weeks of hypoxia to 76% of control and after 4 weeks to 49% of control (p < 0.05). Concomitant administration of the ET(A)-receptor antagonist LU135252 led to a significant increase in renin gene expression compared to control or hypoxia alone. ET-1 mRNA increased to 120% after 2 weeks and 173% after 4 weeks of hypoxia (NS), while ET-3 was not affected by hypoxia. We therefore conclude that ETs have a suppressive effect on renal renin gene expression in the setting of chronic hypoxia in rats in vivo.

Effects of Placental Insufficiency on the Ovine Fetal Renin‐Angiotensin System

We postulated that chronic placental insufficiency would be associated with reduced expression of renal renin and angiotensinogen genes in the fetal sheep. Placental development was restricted in ewes by removing the majority of caruncles prior to mating (placentally restricted (PR) group). The weights of PR fetuses were significantly reduced (P < 0.05, 2.98 +/- 0.33 kg) compared to control fetuses (4.20 +/- 0.30 kg). Kidney weights were also significantly reduced in the PR fetuses (P < 0.05, 8.4 +/- 0.9 g) compared with control fetuses (12.2 +/- 1.3 g). The ratios of renal renin/-actin mRNA levels were significantly reduced in PR fetuses (P < 0.001, 0.35 +/- 0.02) when compared to control animals (0.98 +/- 0.13). The renal angiotensinogen mRNA/18S rRNA ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05, 0.28 +/- 0.13) in PR fetuses compared with control fetuses (0.72 +/- 0.10), while hepatic angiotensinogen was unaffected. There was a positive correlation between renal renin mRNA and renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels (r = 0.65, P < 0.05, n = 12). It is unlikely that these changes in renal angiotensinogen and renin mRNA were due to the small increment in plasma cortisol levels (< 5 nmol l-1). There was, however, a positive correlation between arterial PO2 and renal renin mRNA (r2 = 0.77, P < 0.01). Plasma renin levels were not different between the two groups. Thus, restriction of nutrient and oxygen supply throughout fetal life was associated with suppression of renal renin and renal angiotensinogen gene expression, with no effect on hepatic angiotensinogen mRNA levels. This specific suppression of fetal renal renin and angiotensinogen expression could alter the activity of the intrarenal RAS and so affect growth and development of the kidney.

Role of Endothelins for the Regulation of Renal Renin Gene Expression

Role of Endothelins for the Regulation of Renal Renin Gene Expression

Effect of renal perfusion pressure on renal function, renin release and renin and angiotensinogen gene expression in rats.

1. A study was undertaken to examine the influence of acute renal perfusion pressure (RPP) reduction on renin release, renal renin and angiotensinogen gene expression and the role played by angiotensin II in these responses. 2. In chloralose-urethane anaesthetised rats, reduction of RPP to 60 mmHg for 3 h in vehicle or losartan-treated (5 days at 10 mg kg-1 bis in die (b.i.d.)) rats decreased renal blood flow by 46 and 29 % (both P < 0.001), respectively, glomerular filtration rate by 45 and 57 % (both P < 0.001), respectively, and sodium excretion by 96 and 98 % (both P < 0.01). 3. Chloralose-urethane anaesthesia and surgery caused a rise in plasma renin activity but was associated with a suppression of renal renin (50 %, P < 0.01) and angiotensinogen (40 %, P < 0.05) gene expression. Following reduction of RPP to 60 mmHg for 3 h, plasma renin activity was increased more than 7-fold (P < 0.001) and renal renin gene expression about 2-fold (P < 0.05). 4. Chronic (5 days) blockade of angiotensin II receptors with losartan elevated plasma renin activity some 29-fold (P < 0.001) and caused a marked increase (30-fold, P < 0.05) in renal renin gene expression, compatible with angiotensin II exerting a negative feedback control on renin release and gene expression. Reduction of RPP to 60 mmHg for 3 h in these animals had little effect on renal renin gene expression. 5. From these findings it can be concluded that (a) chloralose-urethane anaesthesia and surgery had a stimulatory effect on renin release but suppressed basal levels of renal renin and angiotensinogen gene expression; (b) acute reduction of RPP for 3 h could stimulate renin gene expression in the renin producing cells; and (c) the negative feedback control of angiotensin II on renin release and synthesis which was evident following chronic losartan treatment was not apparent during short-term reduction of RPP.

Effects of hypoxia on renin secretion and renal renin gene expression

Plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal renin mRNA levels were measured in male rats exposed to hypoxia (8% O2) or to carbon monoxide (CO; 0.1%) for six hours. PRA increased fourfold and 3.3-fold, and renin mRNA levels increased to 220% and 200% of control, respectively. In primary cultures of renal juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, hypoxia (lowering medium O2 from 20% to 3% or 1%) for 6 or 20 hours did not affect renin secretion or gene expression. Renal denervation did not prevent stimulation of the renin system by hypoxia. Because norepinephrine increased 1.7-fold and 3.2-fold and plasma epinephrine increased 3.9-fold and 7.8-fold during hypoxia and CO inhalation, respectively, circulating catecholamines might mediate the stimulatory effects of hypoxia on renin secretion and renin gene expression. Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by continuous infusion of 160 microg/kg/hr isoproterenol increased PRA 17-fold and 20-fold after three and six hours, respectively, and renin mRNA by 130% after six hours. In rats with a stimulated renin system (low-sodium diet), isoproterenol did not stimulate PRA or renal renin mRNA further. In summary, both arterial and venous hypoxia can stimulate renin secretion and renin gene expression powerfully in vivo but not in vitro. These effects seem not to be mediated by renal nerves or by a direct effect on JG cells but might be mediated by circulating catecholamines.

Expression of neuronal type nitric oxide synthase and renin in the juxtaglomerular apparatus of angiotensin type-1a receptor gene-knockout mice

Angiotensin type-1a (AT1a) receptor gene-knockout (AT1a-/-) mice exhibit chronic hypotension and renin overproduction. In the kidneys of AT1a-/- mice, the activity of neuronal type nitric oxide synthase (N-NOS) was histochemically detected by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase (NADPHd) reaction combined with N-NOS immunohistochemistry. The localization of renin was detected by immunohistochemistry and the results were analyzed morphometrically. The levels of N-NOS and renin mRNA in the renal cortical tissue were determined by reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot analysis, respectively. In the renal sections from wild-type mice, NADPHd activity and N-NOS immunoreactivity were localized to the discrete region of the macula densa in contact with the parent glomerulus. In contrast, N-NOS-positive macula densa cells were distributed beyond the original location of the macula densa, occasionally extending to the opposite side of the distal tubules. The mean number of N-NOS positive macula densa cells was significantly increased in AT1a-/- mice (186 per 100 glomeruli) compared with wild-type mice (65 per 100 glomeruli). AT1a-/- mice showed 1.4-times higher N-NOS mRNA levels in the renal cortical tissues than wild-type mice. The plasma renin activity was significantly higher in AT1a-/- mice (205.5 +/- 26.1 ng/ml/hr) than in wild-type mice (8.0 +/- 0.2 ng/ml/hr). The renin-positive areas per glomerulus and renal renin gene expression were 12-times and 2.6-times higher in AT1a-/- mice than in wild-type mice, respectively. These abnormalities, however, were less remarkable in AT1a-/- mice compared with angiotensinogen-knockout mice. When AT1a-/- mice were fed a high-salt diet, the signal intensity of the NADPHd reaction and the number of positively-stained macula densa cells were significantly decreased. The levels of renal cortical N-NOS mRNA were also suppressed by the treatment. Dietary salt loading produced a parallel decrease in plasma renin activity, renal renin-immunoreactive areas, and the levels of renin mRNA without affecting systemic blood pressure. These results provide evidence for the possible involvement of N-NOS at the macula densa in the increased renin production in AT1a-/- mice.

Effects of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor antagonist ZD7155 on angiotensin II-mediated regulation of renin secretion and renal renin gene expression, renal vasoconstriction, and blood pressure in rats.

Angiotensin II receptors have recently been subclassified as type-1 or type-2 receptors. The in vitro and in vivo effects of blocking the angiotensin II type-1 receptor with ZD7155, an angiotensin II type-1 selective receptor antagonist, have been studied in angiotensin II-mediated increases in cytosolic calcium in rat mesangial cells, in angiotensin II-induced renal and systemic vasoconstriction, and in angiotensin II-mediated regulation of renin secretion and renal renin gene expression. ZD7155 completely blocked the ability of angiotensin II to elicit an increase in free intracellular calcium concentrations in rat mesangial cells. In isolated perfused rat kidneys, ZD7155 completely abolished the angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction and increased renin secretion to 700% of baseline levels. Furthermore, ZD7155 decreased systolic blood pressure by 16 mm Hg, increased plasma renin activity 3.7-fold, and stimulated renal renin gene expression 4.2-fold in Sprague-Dawley rats in vivo. Our results suggest that ZD7155 is a potent antagonist of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor, which mediates angiotensin II-induced increases of free intracellular calcium concentrations in (e.g., renal mesangial cells), constriction of the renal and systemic vasculature, and inhibition of renin secretion and synthesis.

Induction of renal kallikrein and renin gene expression by insulin and IGF-I in the diabetic rat

Induction of renal kallikrein and renin gene expression by insulin and IGF-I in the diabetic rat

The role of angiotensin II in the feedback control of renin gene expression.

This study aimed to characterize the influence of endogenous angiotensin II on renal renin gene expression during different states of a stimulated and of a suppressed renin system. To this end the renin system in male Sprague Dawley rats was stimulated by unilateral renal artery clipping (0.2 mm clip), by furosemide (60 mg/kg per diem) or isoproterenol (160 microg/kg per diem), and by ingestion of a low-salt diet (0.02%), or was suppressed by setting a contralateral renal artery clip (0.2-mm clip) or by ingestion of a high-salt diet (4%). During the last 2 days of these different treatment regimens, the animals were treated with the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (40 mg/kg per diem) and renal renin mRNA levels were assayed. Renin gene expression was stimulated four- to fivefold by renal artery clipping and isoproterenol infusion, two- to three-fold by furosemide and a low-salt diet, and about four-fold by losartan. Additional treatment with losartan potentiated the stimulatory effects of a low-salt diet, of furosemide and of isoproterenol infusion on renin gene expression, whilst there was no significant additional effect of losartan on renin gene expression in clipped kidneys. Both contralateral renal artery clipping and a high-salt diet decreased renin mRNA levels to about 50% of the control value. In rts with a unilateral clip, additional losartan treatment caused renin mRNA to increase to about 350% of the control value in the contralateral kidney but to only 100% of the control value in animals on a high-salt diet. These findings suggest that the enhanced formation of angiotensin II during a low-salt intake, during tubular inhibition of salt reabsorption or during beta-adrenoreceptor activation plays a relevant negative feedback role in the activation of the renin gene. Moreover, in rats with one hypoperfused kidney, angiotensin II could be involved in the inhibition of renin gene expression in the contralateral kidney. In hypoperfused kidneys, however, and in animals on a high-salt diet, angiotensin II appears to play a only a minor feedback role in the regulation of the renin gene.

Dietary sodium effects on renin and angiotensinogen gene expression in preweanling WKY and SHR.

The influence of altered dietary sodium on angiotensinogen and renin gene expression was examined in young normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Artificial rearing was used to increase or decrease dietary sodium intake during the preweanling period. In normally reared control animals, renal renin and liver angiotensinogen mRNA decreased between 6 and 30 postnatal days of age. In contrast, in the central nervous system, angiotensinogen mRNA increased between 6 and 30 days of age, and renin mRNA remained stable. Dietary sodium manipulation between postnatal days (PD) 6 and 18 significantly influenced renal renin gene expression, with low-sodium diet increasing renin mRNA on PD12 and PD18 and high-sodium diet decreasing renin mRNA on PD18. Liver angiotensinogen mRNA decreased for animals on either diet on PD12 and PD18. Brain angiotensinogen and renin mRNA were not affected by dietary sodium levels. There were no strain-related differences in the response to high and low dietary sodium. These results demonstrate that 1) the peripheral and central renin-angiotensin systems do not have a common ontogenetic pattern of development, 2) they are independently regulated in response to dietary sodium variations, and 3) young WKY and SHR share very similar ontogenetic patterns of angiotensinogen and renin gene expression.

Altered age-dependent modulation of tissue renin messenger RNA levels in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

To evaluate the possible role of tissue renin overproduction in the pathogenesis and time course of hypertension development in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) of the Okamoto strain by measuring tissue renin gene expression at different stages of hypertension development. Measurements of kidney, adrenal gland and brain stem renin messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were performed in SHR aged 4, 12, 20 and 36 weeks and in age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. A fully quantitative, competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method was used to measure tissue renin mRNA levels. Plasma renin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Compared with age-matched WKY rats, renin mRNA levels in the adrenal gland of SHR were significantly higher at ages 4, 12 and 36 weeks. Brain stem renin mRNA levels were significantly higher in SHR than in WKY rats at ages 4, 12 and 20 weeks. In contrast, renal renin mRNA levels were consistently lower in SHR at all ages, as were plasma renin concentrations. The present study indicates an important role for renin gene expression both in adrenal and in brain stem tissues in the pathogenesis of hypertension in SHR. Adrenal and brain renin-angiotensin systems may interact with each other synergistically in the development and maintenance of hypertension in SHR. Suppressed renal renin gene expression could then be an indirect consequence of the amplified renin-angiotensin system in the adrenal gland and in the brain or a baroreceptor-mediated consequence of its hypertension.