title: Role of macula densa cyclooxygenase-2 in renovascular hypertension.
abstract: Upregulation of the inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in the macula densa accompanies the activation of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in many high-renin conditions. The functional role of COX-2 in these disease states is poorly understood. We tested whether COX-2 is required to increase renin in renovascular hypertension. Rats with established two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) hypertension were treated for 2 wk with two different inhibitors of COX-2, NS-398 and rofecoxib, respectively. Hypertension in 2K1C rats was not affected or slightly enhanced by COX-2 inhibition, as measured intra-arterially in conscious animals. The increase in plasma renin activity was also unchanged by both rofecoxib and NS-398. The number of glomeruli with a renin-positive juxtaglomerular apparatus was elevated in clipped kidneys and decreased in contralateral kidneys of 2K1C rats. This pattern was unaltered by COX-2 inhibition. To test the effects of COX-2 blockade on a primarily macula densa-mediated stimulus, we studied salt depletion for comparison. A low-salt diet induced a significant increase in plasma renin activity, which was partially inhibited by treatment with NS-398. We conclude that inhibition of COX-2 in established renovascular hypertension does not affect renin synthesis or release. Thus either COX-2 is not necessary for the macula densa mechanism or the macula densa is not important for maintaining high renin in renovascular hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine IV, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartner
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cordasic
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goppelt-Struebe
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veelken
authors.forename: Karl F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hilgers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000201:enzymology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008138:Loop of Henle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; C080955:N-(2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonamide; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D012083:Renin