Stimulation of renal sodium reabsorption by angiotensin II

Various parameters of renal function were studied before, during, and after the infusion of physiological increments of angiotensin II directly into one renal artery of anesthetized dogs. During water diuresis and during antidiuresis induced with exogenous antidiuretic hormone (ADH), angiotensin II consistently reduced UNaV, UKV, and CPAH, and increased the filtration fraction in the infused kidney. Urinary osmolality was increased only in the presence of ADH, while during water diuresis angiotensin II had no apparent effect on urinary osmolality or flow rate. During saline diuresis, a mean increment of angiotensin II concentration of 14 pg/ml was sufficient to significantly reduce UNaV and urinary flow rate. Changes in CCr, CPAH, and filtration fraction did not correlate with changes in sodium excretion, and intracortical distribution of blood flow remained unaltered. These data support the hypothesis that normal circulating levels of angiogensin II play a direct renal role in the control of sodium, potassium, and water homeostasis, and that angiotensin II exerts a direct, stimulatory effect on tubular sodium reabsorption independent of changes in GFR, RPF, filtration fraction, or intracortical distribution of blood flow.