Role of nitric oxide in mediating renal response to volume expansion

The objective of the present study was to determine the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in mediating the renal response to extracellular volume expansion with isotonic saline (5% body weight). In anesthetized dogs (n = 7) and before volume expansion, nitric oxide synthesis was inhibited in the right kidney by continuous intrarenal infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (1 microgram/kg/min). Arterial pressure and renal hemodynamics of both kidneys did not change significantly either during nitric oxide synthesis inhibition or during 5% volume expansion. However, in response to extracellular volume expansion, increases in natriuresis, diuresis, and fractional excretion of lithium (an index of proximal sodium reabsorption) were inhibited in the right kidney by 27%, 28%, and 41%, respectively, when compared with the contralateral kidney. Increases of renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure during 5% volume expansion were not statistically different between both kidneys. In another group of dogs (n = 4), the administration of L-arginine (0.5 mg/kg/min) into the right renal artery prevented the renal effects induced by the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor during volume expansion. The findings in this study suggest that nitric oxide production plays an important role in regulating the renal response to extracellular volume expansion. The proximal tubule seems to be involved in the reduced renal excretory response to volume expansion during nitric oxide synthesis inhibition.