Autoregulation of afferent arteriolar blood flow in juxtamedullary nephrons.
Utilizing the in vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation, we examined the effects of alterations in renal arterial pressure on afferent arteriolar blood flow. With video microscopy and cross-correlation techniques, arteriolar inside diameters and centerline erythrocyte velocity were measured to estimate single afferent arteriolar blood flow. In response to random changes in perfusion pressure, afferent arteriolar diameter (n = 8) varied inversely (-0.53 +/- 0.02%/mmHg), and erythrocyte velocity was directly related (1.4 +/- 0.1%/mmHg). Above 95 mmHg, the slope of the relationship between perfusion pressure and afferent arteriolar blood flow did not differ from zero (0.081 +/- 0.053%/mmHg), suggesting efficient autoregulation. When the tubuloglomerular feedback pathway was interrupted by the addition of furosemide (n = 9) or papillectomy (n = 7), there was attenuation of pressure-induced afferent arteriolar constriction, with impairment in blood flow autoregulation (0.60 +/- 0.05%/mmHg). Superfusion with diltiazem abolished autoregulatory responses in afferent arteriolar diameter and blood flow (1.5 +/- 0.2%/mmHg). These data demonstrate the autoregulation of blood flow of individual afferent arterioles in juxtamedullary nephrons and suggest that both tubuloglomerular feedback-dependent and -independent mechanisms are required for autoregulatory responses.
Takenaka
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Department of Physiology, Tulane University, School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
Harrison-Bernard
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Carmines
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D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005246:Feedback; D006706:Homeostasis; D007606:Juxtaglomerular Apparatus / Q000098:blood supply*; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009399:Nephrons / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012079:Renal Circulation