title: Mechanism underlying diuretic effect of L-NAME at a subpressor dose.
abstract: The diuretic effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors administered at subpressor dose in rats are controversial, and the tubular segments involved are not known. In the present study, we examined the effect of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at a subpressor dose on renal interstitial NO and cGMP activity and on renal tubular segmental reabsorption of fluid in the rat. Intravenous infusion of L-NAME at 1 microg. kg(-1). min(-1) in Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 8), which did not alter mean arterial pressure or glomerular filtration rate, significantly increased urine flow rate (U(v); from 78.2 +/- 12.7 to 117.1 +/- 14.9 microl/min, P < 0.05). Paradoxically, this effect of L-NAME was concomitant with significant increases in nitrite/nitrate (from 10.79 +/- 1.20 to 16.50 +/- 2.60 microM, P < 0.05) and cGMP (from 0.65 +/- 0.09 to 0.98 +/- 0.18 nM, P < 0.05) concentrations in renal cortical microdialysate as well as the nitrite/nitrate concentration in the medullary microdialysate. Micropuncture studies in the superficial nephron revealed that L-NAME significantly increased the flow rate (from 8.3 +/- 0.9 to 12.2 +/- 1.2 nl/min, P < 0.05) and fractional delivery of fluid to the distal tubule, but not those in the late proximal tubule. In conclusion, L-NAME, at the subpressor dose used in this study, increased renal nitrate/nitrite and cGMP and inhibited fluid reabsorption in tubular segments between the late proximal tubule and the distal tubule of superficial nephrons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Berndt
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Knox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004232:Diuretics; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007601:Jugular Veins; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007686:Kidney Tubules, Distal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012964:Sodium; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester