Enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback activity in rats developing spontaneous hypertension

Tubular microperfusion was used to evaluate tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF)-mediated changes in single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) and stop-flow pressure (SFP) in euvolemic 6- and 11- to 14-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Young SHR compared with WKY had an elevated mean arterial pressure (107 vs. 90 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and a lower proximally measured SNGFR (14 vs. 17 nl/min, P less than 0.001) with no loop perfusion. Perfusion at 32 nl/min produced a greater decrease in SNGFR of SHR (6 vs. 2 nl/min, P less than 0.001). Although basal SFPs were identical (39 mmHg), loop perfusion elicited a greater maximal decline in SFP (-10 vs. -4 mmHg, P less than 0.001) and reactivity of SFP (-1.2 vs. -0.5 mmHg X min X nl-1, P less than 0.001) in young SHR; a lower rate produced a half-maximal decrease in SFP (7 vs. 10 nl/min, P less than 0.02). In adult rats, SNGFRs with no flow through Henle's loop were the same (27 and 28 nl/min) and perfusion at 32 nl/min produced similar decrements in SNGFR (-13 vs. -11 nl/min). The maximal change in SFP was greater in adult SHR (-12 vs. -10 mmHg, P less than 0.02), but there were no strain differences in maximal SFP reactivity (-1.8 vs. -1.3 mmHg X min X nl-1) and the rate eliciting half-maximal SFP changes (12 vs. 12 nl/min). Reduction of arterial pressure to the normotensive range did not alter responses in either age group of SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)