Interactions between angiotensin and nitric oxide in the renal response to volume expansion

This study examined, in anesthetized dogs, the possible interactions between nitric oxide (NO) and angiotensin II (ANG II) in mediating the renal response to an extracellular volume expansion (ECVE). It was found that the intrarenal maintenance of ANG II levels (group 1) or the intrarenal NO synthesis inhibition (group 2) did not induce changes in renal hemodynamics but reduced (P < 0.05) the ECVE-induced increments in sodium excretion and fractional lithium excretion (FeLi). In the third group, ANG II synthesis was inhibited during NO synthesis blockade. It was found in this group that the NO synthesis inhibition reduced the ECVE-induced increment in sodium excretion (P < 0.05) but did not modify the ECVE-induced increment in FeLi. These results suggest that the increase of proximal sodium reabsorption induced by the No synthesis inhibition is mediated by endogenous ANG II levels. In the fourth group, it was observed that NO synthesis inhibition, during the intrarenal maintenance of ANG II levels, induced a decrease of renal blood flow (P < 0.05) and reduced the natriuretic response to ECVE to a lower level (P < 0.05) than that observed in groups 1 and 2. The results of this group suggest that endogenous NO modulates the vasoconstrictor and antinatriuretic effects of ANG II during an ECVE. In summary, the results of this study suggest that there is an important interaction between NO and ANG II in mediating the renal response to an ECVE.