Influence of the renal endothelin A system on the autoregulation of renal hemodynamics in SHRs and WKY rats

In this study, we investigated the influence of a short-term blockade of the renal endothelin A system on the autoregulation of total renal blood flow, cortical renal blood flow, and pressure-dependent plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive controls [Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats]. In anesthetized rats, renal blood flow was measured by a transit-time flow probe and cortical blood flow by a laser flow probe. Blood samples were taken for measurement of plasma renin activity. Renal perfusion pressure was reduced in 5-mm Hg steps by means of a servocontrolled electropneumatic device by an inflatable suprarenal cuff. During the experiments, the rats (n = 6, each group) received an intrarenal infusion of either the selective endothelin A-receptor antagonist BQ123 (3 mg/kg/h) or vehicle. We observed an improvement of total and cortical blood flow autoregulation as indicated by a shift of lower limits of autoregulation to lower threshold pressures [103 +/- 2 vs. 132 +/- 4 mm Hg compared with 98 +/- 3 vs. 120 +/- 4 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM); p < 0.01 resp. p < 0.05] in BQ123-treated SHRs, whereas BQ123 had no influence on breakpoints of autoregulation in WKY rats (p > 0.05). Pressure-dependent plasma renin activity in SHRs was not influenced by BQ123. Renal blood flow autoregulation is improved in SHRs after short-term blockade of the renal endothelin A system. This effect is independent of the renin-angiotensin system. The endothelin A system does not seem to play an important role in the autoregulation of renal blood flow in normotensive WKY rats.