Influence of sodium diet on L-NAME effects on renin release and renal vasoconstriction

The intervention of the L-arginine-NO pathway in renal vasodilation and renin secretion was studied in an isolated perfused rat kidney model. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 1-25 microM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, caused a dose-dependent increase in perfusion pressure (PP) and a dose-dependent decrease in renal perfusate flow. Renin was inhibited independently of the rise in PP, since the effect of L-NAME on renin release was the same when PP was maintained constant. Exposure of rats to low [salt depleted (SD)] or high [salt repleted (SR)] salt intake for 1 mo influenced the renal vascular response to L-NAME (3 microM). Isolated SR rat kidney vasculature vasoconstricted to a greater extent after inhibition of NO synthase than did that of SD kidneys. A similar fall in renin release was observed after L-NAME in both groups, despite a higher renin secretion rate in SD than in SR rats. These results suggest that NO-dependent vasodilation counteracts the renal vasoconstrictor effect of sodium loading.