Effect of angiotensin II blockade on dietary protein-induced renal growth

Dietary protein provokes renal growth and synthesis of renin. Because angiotensin II (AII) has growth-promoting properties, we tested the possibility that protein-induced renal growth depends on angiotensin II. Normal adult male rats placed on a high-protein diet (50%) developed significant renal and glomerular growth over 6 days compared with rats on a low-protein diet (6%). However, neither angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril nor angiotensin receptor antagonism with losartan influenced the degree of whole-kidney, cortical tubular, or glomerular growth. Thus, angiotensin II is not a necessary factor in dietary protein-induced renal growth in normal adult rats.