L-arginine does not prevent the renal effects of endothelin in humans

The infusion of endothelin to obtain plasma levels as present in sodium-retaining conditions such as heart failure and hepatorenal syndrome has been shown to cause sodium retention and renal vasoconstriction. Whether these renal effects of endothelin could be modulated by the stimulation of nitric oxide production by the infusion of L-arginine was examined. Therefore, the renal and endocrine effects of the systemic administration of endothelin (2.5 ng/kg per minute for 90 min), L-arginine (5 mg/kg per minute for 90 min), or the combination of endothelin and L-arginine were studied in healthy subjects under clearance conditions. During endothelin infusion, plasma endothelin levels rose from 3.0 +/- 0.2 to 14.1 +/- 2.4 pmol/L (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure increased by 7 mm Hg (P < 0.01). The effects on renal function were disproportionately large: renal vascular resistance increased from 77.5 +/- 3.2 to 124.1 +/- 6.7 mm Hg/min per liter (P < 0.01), and sodium excretion fell from 178 +/- 30 to 83 +/- 11 mumol/min (P < 0.01). Endothelin had no effect on urinary nitrite excretion. L-Arginine caused a fall in blood pressure of 5 mm Hg (P < 0.01) and decreased renal vascular resistance by 12% (P < 0.05). Sodium excretion increased twofold. This was associated with an increase in urinary nitrite excretion from 112 +/- 36 to 465 +/- 190 nmol/min (P < 0.01), suggesting stimulation of renal nitric oxide production. During the combination of endothelin and L-arginine, urinary nitrite excretion increased similarly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)