Divergent regulation of circulating and intrarenal renin-angiotensin systems in response to long-term blockade.
OBJECTIVE
Long-term treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin (Ang) II type I (AT(1)) receptor blockers can improve kidney function and attenuate the progressive decline in kidney function associated with age. In this study in Wistar rats medicated for 22 months, we determined the effects of enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) and losartan (30 mg/kg/day) treatment, in comparison with vehicle (tap water), on renal AngII receptor density and circulating and urinary components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).


METHODS
Kidney sections were incubated with [(125)I-sarcosine(1)-threonine(8)]AngII (0.6 nM) for Ang receptor density, and Ang peptides were determined using radioimmunoassays.


RESULTS
Receptor density was approximately 50% higher in vasa recta, glomeruli, and tubulointerstitium in enalapril-treated rats and lower in vasa recta and glomeruli in losartan-treated relative to vehicle-treated rats. Losartan and enalapril treatment elevated plasma levels of AngI and Ang-(1-7) while AngII increased only in losartan-treated rats. In contrast, both treatments were associated with a reduction in urinary excretion of all three Ang peptides as compared with control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in urinary Ang peptides with losartan and enalapril treatment suggests that blockade of intrarenal AngII may be an important mechanism underlying the renoprotection seen with such treatments.
Hypertension and Vascular Disease Center and Physiology/Pharmacology Department, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Sherry O
SO
Kasper
Nidia
N
Basso
María Luisa
ML
Kurnjek
Nora
N
Paglia
Carlos M
CM
Ferrario
Leon F
LF
Ferder
Debra I
DI
Diz
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000032:analysis; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004656:Enalapril / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D004656:Enalapril; D000803:Angiotensin I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7); D019808:Losartan