Superficial nephron responses to peritubular capillary infusions of angiotensins I and II

Proximal tubular reabsorption, stop-flow pressure (SFP), and single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) were measured in the absence of and during infusion of an isotonic saline solution containing either angiotensin I (ANG I; 10(-6) to 10(-5) M) or angiotensin II (ANG II; 10(-9) to 10(-7) M) into an adjacent peritubular capillary at a rate of 20 nl/min. Dilution of the infused ANG I and ANG II occurred in the peritubular capillary blood and as the peptides diffused into the interstitium. Infusion of either 10(-7) M ANG II or 10(-5) M ANG I increased proximal fractional fluid reabsorption (FRH2O) and decreased both SFP and SNGFR. There were no significant changes in FRH2O or SNGFR during infusion of 10(-5) M ANG I when the converting enzyme inhibitor enalaprilat (MK 422, 10(-3) M) was added to the infusate. Similarly, peritubular infusion at lower concentrations of either ANG II (10(-9) or 10(-8) M) or ANG I (10(-6) M) did not alter FRH2O, SFP, or SNGFR. These data indicate that conversion of ANG I to ANG II can occur in the peritubular capillary or interstitial environment and that increases above the normal endogenous levels in the postglomerular interstitial ANG II concentration can enhance proximal tubular reabsorption and increase preglomerular resistance and thereby reduce SNGFR.