Effects of aprotinin on renal function in chronic hypoxic rats

The effect of aprotinin, a nonspecific kallikrein inhibitor on renal function was studied in chronic hypoxic rats (high altitude, HA), comparing to control rats kept at sea level (SL). Hypoxia was induced by placing female Wistar rats (195-230 g) in an altitude chamber (5,500 m) 15 hr per day for 4 weeks. Intrarenal arterial administration of aprotinin (300 kiu/kg/min), reduced the urinary kallikrein activity (UKA) in 9 SL and 10 HA anesthetized rats. Aprotinin did not significantly alter the urinary excretion of urine, sodium and potassium in SL rats, however, those parameters increased after aprotinin administration in HA rats. These data support the hypothesis that kallikrein participates in the regulation of renal function in chronic hypoxic rats.