Remodeling of resistance arteries in renal failure: effect of endothelin receptor blockade.
Remodeling of vessels is a known feature of renal failure, but it is unclear whether this represents an appropriate or inappropriate response to the known changes in blood flow, shear stress, and wall tension. To investigate remodeling in response to variations in blood flow, first-order mesenteric arteries were exposed to high- and low-flow conditions via the ligation of second-order branches, according to the technique described by Pourageaud and De Mey. The resulting changes in vessel geometric features, relative proportions of intima and media, submicroscopic structure, and immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and ET(A) receptors were assessed in first-order mesenteric arteries under low-flow and high-flow conditions. Subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) animals were compared with sham-operated rats. Animals either were left untreated or were treated with the ET(A) receptor antagonist (ET-RA) LU-135252, because of suggestions in the literature that ET is involved in vascular remodeling in uremia. A highly significant increase in intimal thickness was noted in low-flow arteries (4.21 +/- 1.39 microm) of SNX animals, compared with normal-flow arteries (2.06 +/- 0.61 microm), but this increase was not observed in sham-operated rats (1.38 +/- 0.77 in low-flow arteries versus 2.40 +/- 0.35 microm in normal-flow arteries). The increase in intimal thickness in low-flow arteries was abrogated by ET-RA. The medial thickness was increased in untreated SNX animals (19.5 +/- 3.61 microm), compared with sham-operated rats, and this increase was also prevented by ET-RA. The medial thickness was not affected by low flow in either sham-operated or SNX animals. In parallel, the number of PCNA-positive intimal cells was higher in low-flow, but not high-flow, arteries of SNX rats, compared with sham-operated rats. No significant change was observed in sham-operated animals. In the media, the number of PCNA-positive cells was higher in untreated SNX animals than in sham-operated rats. The number was even more markedly increased in high-flow, but not low-flow, vessels. This increase was abrogated by ET-RA. It is concluded that, in uremic animals, the response of the intima to low flow and the response of the media to high flow are exaggerated. Both responses are apparently mediated by ET.
Amann
Kerstin
K
Department of Pathology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany.
Mil Tenberger-Mil Tenyi
Gabriel
G
Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Simonoviciene
Aurelia
A
Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Koch
Andreas
A
Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Orth
Stephan
S
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Insel Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Ritz
Eberhard
E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002455:Cell Division; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000378:metabolism; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011743:Pyrimidines; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; C107831:darusentan