Effects of locally formed angiotensin II on renal hemodynamics

The kidney produces angiotensin II (AngII) by conversion of both locally formed and systemically delivered angiotensin I (AngI). The latter may be physiologically significant because the kidney can convert 20-25% of systemically delivered AngI. To determine possible differences between the effects of circulating and locally converted AngII, we compared the renal responses to renal arterial infusions of AngI and AngII in equiconstrictor doses. Both reduced the renal blood flow and increased the filtration fraction; it is important that the AngI infusions consistently reduced glomerular filtration rates (GFR), which indicates effects proximal to or at the glomerulus. Micropuncture experiments revealed that AngI infusions reduced proximal tubular and peritubular capillary pressures and the single-nephron GFR; glomerular capillary pressure was not altered significantly. AngI infusions increased both pre- and postglomerular resistances and reduced the glomerular filtration coefficient. In other studies designed to estimate net intrarenal AngII generation, it was determined that the kidney degrades about 90% of arterially delivered AngII. Thus, most of the AngII in renal venous blood was formed intrarenally. Local production of AngII was enhanced, in association with increased renin release, after reductions in renal arterial pressure. Such increases in intrarenal AngII production may contribute to the AngII-dependent changes in renal vascular resistance that occur in conditions where the renin-angiotensin system is stimulated.