Regulation of glomerular atrial natriuretic factor receptor subtypes by renal sympathetic nerves

The modulation of glomerular atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors (ANF-R1 and ANF-R2) was examined in rats after unilateral (Uni-DNx), bilateral (Bil-DNx), and sham renal denervation (Sham-DNx). Glomerular ANF receptor density was higher in both left and right kidneys (1,138 +/- 73 and 952 +/- 100 fmol/mg protein, respectively) of Bil-DNx rats than in Sham-DNx animals (302 +/- 9 and 328 +/- 13 fmol/mg protein, respectively). The denervated (left) kidney from Uni-DNx rats also showed higher ANF receptor density (1,146 +/- 68 fmol/mg protein) than the contralateral untouched kidney (602 +/- 34 fmol/mg protein). Plasma ANF-(99-126) and ANF-(1-98) levels were significantly lower in the Bil-DNx group than in either Uni-DNx or Sham-DNx animals. Affinity cross-linking studies followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated that both ANF-R1 and ANF-R2 receptors were upregulated in the same proportion in denervated kidneys. Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production by isolated glomeruli from denervated kidneys of either Bil-DNx or Uni-DNx rats was significantly higher than that of Sham-DNx controls. We conclude that renal sympathetic nerves regulate both glomerular ANF-R1 and ANF-R2-receptor subtypes.