Previous studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in regulation of renal vascular tone and sodium handling. We questioned whether the effects of NO synthase inhibition on renal function are direct or due to increased renal perfusion pressure (RPP) and whether stimulation of endogenous NO activity plays a role in adaptation to increased dietary salt intake. Intrarenal arterial infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) in control rats resulted in decreased glomerular filtration rate, renal vasoconstriction, natriuresis, and proteinuria. When RPP was held at basal levels with suprarenal aortic snare, L-NMMA had similar hemodynamic effects but decreased sodium excretion and did not induce proteinuria. Exposure of rats to high salt intake (1% NaCl drinking water) for 2 wk induced increased serum concentration and urinary excretion of the NO decomposition products, NO2 + NO3. Urinary NO2 + NO3 and sodium excretion were significantly correlated. Compared with controls, chronically salt-loaded rats also demonstrated enhanced renal hemodynamic responses to NO synthase inhibition. We conclude that the endogenous NO system directly modulates renal hemodynamics and sodium handling and participates in the renal adaptation to increased dietary salt intake. Enhanced NO synthesis in response to increased salt intake may facilitate sodium excretion and allow maintenance of normal blood pressure.
P J Shultz, J P Tolins
Usage data is cumulative from May 2023 through May 2024.
Usage | JCI | PMC |
---|---|---|
Text version | 165 | 0 |
65 | 21 | |
Figure | 0 | 1 |
Scanned page | 129 | 0 |
Citation downloads | 10 | 0 |
Totals | 369 | 22 |
Total Views | 391 |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.