Gender difference in the role of endothelium-derived relaxing factors modulating renal vascular reactivity.
This study analyzed the role of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in gender differences in the renal vascular reactivity of rats. Renal responses to vasoconstrictors and vasodilators were studied in isolated kidneys from male and female rats under basal conditions, after NO and EDHF blockade or after endothelium removal. Female rat kidneys had reduced responsiveness to vasoconstrictors. The blockade of NO or of EDHF did not completely abolish the differences, but the simultaneous blockade of both factors or endothelium removal abolished gender differences. Male and female kidneys showed a similar responsiveness to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators under basal conditions and after NO or EDHF blockade.


CONCLUSIONS
(a) the attenuated response to vasoconstrictors in female kidneys is related to an increased production of NO and EDHF; and (b), the contributions of NO and EDHF to endothelium-dependent vasodilation are similar in the male and female renal vasculature.
Wangensteen
Rosemary
R
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Servicio de Nefrología, Unidad Experimental, E-18012 Granada, Spain.
Moreno
Juan Manuel
JM
Sainz
Juan
J
Rodríguez-Gómez
Isabel
I
Chamorro
Virginia
V
Luna
Juan de Dios
Jde D
Osuna
Antonio
A
Vargas
Félix
F
D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D001685:Biological Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011188:Potassium