Attenuation of enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback activity in SHR by renal denervation

We evaluated the effect of acute unilateral renal denervation (DNX) on the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism in Inactin-anesthetized hydropenic male 8- to 10-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). SHR had higher mean arterial pressure (MAP, 28%) and renal vascular resistance (RVR, 35%), whereas renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow, and sodium excretion were similar. DNX in SHR did not change MAP but decreased RVR (26%) and increased RBF (29%), GFR (16%), urine flow (52%), and sodium excretion (431%). DNX did not affect these in WKY. Loop of Henle perfusion with Ringer solution reduced early proximal flow rate (EPFR) in SHR more than in WKY; significantly different at a loop flow of 20 nl/min (9.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 6.5 +/- 0.7 nl/min). DNX in SHR increased the nonperfused EPFR from 25.6 +/- 1.1 to 31.7 +/- 1.3 nl/min and reduced TGF responses during perfusion at both 20 nl/min (9.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.7 nl/min) and 40 nl/min (14.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 10.4 +/- 0.7 nl/min). TGF sensitivity was attenuated by DNX, as indicated by reduced maximum reactivity (-0.89 +/- 0.14 to -0.36 +/- 0.07) and increased turning point (16.5 +/- 0.9 to 25.2 +/- 2.9 nl/min). TGF responses in WKY were not influenced by DNX. Sham denervation did not alter renal hemodynamics and TGF. These results indicate that renal nerves exert a tonic influence on the renal vasculature and the TGF system in SHR but not in WKY. Enhanced TGF responsiveness may be involved in volume retention and in the maintenance of hypertension in SHR.