Effect of ANG II receptor antagonist on albuminuria and renal function in passive Heymann nephritis

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduce albuminuria in nephrotic subjects, but the hormonal mechanism of this effect is not known. To determine whether specific inhibition of angiotensin (ANG) II activity would decrease albuminuria as occurs after converting enzyme inhibition, rats with passive Heymann nephritis received enalapril or the ANG II receptor antagonist losartan (6 mg.kg-1.day-1) for 4 days. Enalapril reduced both albuminuria (from 583 +/- 53 to 286 +/- 55 mg/day, P less than 0.001) and the fractional clearance of albumin (FCAlb) each day after starting treatment but did not affect glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Losartan reduced albuminuria significantly only after 4 days of treatment, but this value was not different from controls. GFR significantly increased with losartan (from 1.24 +/- 0.09 to 1.73 +/- 0.21 ml/min, P less than 0.05) so that FCAlb was reduced (from 0.0134 +/- 0.0027 to 0.0080 +/- 0.0018, P less than 0.05). Blood pressure decreased only in the enalapril group. Although plasma renin activity increased and the pressor response to ANG I was inhibited by both enalapril and losartan, suggesting effective peripheral blockade of ANG II activity, a third group of nephrotic rats was treated with losartan (18 mg.kg-1.day-1) to ensure that adequate ANG II blockade was achieved. Blood pressure decreased 10 mmHg, GFR increased from 1.35 +/- 0.14 to 1.79 +/- 0.12 ml/min (P less than 0.01), but albuminuria and FCAlb did not change. Urinary total kallikrein excretion was increased only in nephrotic rats treated with enalapril. Although both enalapril and losartan reduce ANG II activity, only the converting enzyme inhibitor reduces albuminuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)