Impairment of pressure-natriuresis and renal autoregulation in ANG II-infused hypertensive rats

Chronic infusions of initially subpressor doses of angiotensin II (ANG II) lead to progressive hypertension over a 2-wk period and to augmented intrarenal ANG II levels. The present study was performed to investigate total renal blood flow (RBF) and medullary blood flow (MBF) autoregulatory behavior and pressure-natriuresis in ANG II-infused hypertensive rats and how these are modified by concomitant treatment with an ANG II AT(1) receptor antagonist. ANG II-infused rats (n = 27) were prepared by administration of ANG II at 60 ng/min via osmotic minipump for 13 days. Twelve of the ANG II-infused hypertensive rats were treated with losartan in the drinking water (30 mg . kg.(-1) day(-1)). Rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (50 mg/kg, ip) and prepared for renal function measurements. An aortic clamp was placed above the junction of the left renal artery to reduce renal arterial pressure. Autoregulatory responses for renal plasma flow, overall RBF, and glomerular filtration rate were impaired in ANG II-infused hypertensive rats; however, MBF autoregulation was not disrupted. Most strikingly, pressure-natriuresis was markedly suppressed in ANG II-infused hypertensive rats. Chronic treatment with losartan prevented the impairment of the pressure-natriuresis relationship caused by chronic ANG II infusion. These findings demonstrate that chronic ANG II infusion leads to marked impairment of sodium excretion and suppression of the pressure-natriuresis relationship, which may contribute to the progressive hypertension that occurs in this model. These renal effects are prevented by simultaneous treatment with an AT(1) receptor blocker.