Effects of angiotensin II blockade in the canine puppy under different salt-intake.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the high activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the control of blood pressure and aldosterone in the canine puppy. The effect of the angiotensin II analog saralasin on arterial pressure (MAP), plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma renin concentration (PRC), and aldosterone (PA) was studied in unanesthetized normal, salt-loaded and salt-depleted puppies aged 9 to 30 days. Salt-loading was performed by daily intraperitoneal administration of 10 mEq sodium/kg body weight for 5 days and salt-depletion by furosemide injections. Saralasin infusion, 6 micrograms/kg/min, during 60 min significantly decreased MAP and increased PRC not only in salt-depleted puppies, as has been observed in adult salt-depleted dogs, but also in normal puppies (mean fall, 6.6 mm Hg). Although any developmental changes in the RAAS and MAP and in their relationship could not be ascertained, the fall in MAP during saralasin in normal puppies was significantly correlated to presaralasin renin values (r = 0.76, P less than 0.01, N = 11). PA did not change in both groups of puppies. In salt-loaded puppies saralasin caused no change of MAP, PRC, and PA. We conclude that the high renin levels at young age contribute to the basal arterial pressure in puppies.

Dissociation of glomerular filtration and renal blood flow in HgCl2-induced acute renal failure.

This study evaluates the role of early renal vasoconstriction in the pathogenesis of mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in the dog. Within 3 hr after mercury, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), from 45 +/- 4 25 +/- 2 ml/min, and renal blood flow (RBF), from 268 +/- 22 to 161 +/- 19 ml/min, decreased simultaneously. A rise in diuresis and urinary solute excretion occurred. Morphological and functional studies excluded a major role for tubular leakage or obstruction. An attempt was made to prevent the early renal vasoconstriction, by the administration of Haemaccel, a plasma volume expander, alone or in combination with phentolamine. In both settings the fall in RBF after mercury was prevented. Haemaccel volume expansion alone provoked a significant rise in GFR before HgCl2, but the GFR fell by 29% 3 hr after HgCl2. The Haemaccel/phentolamine combination had no influence on pre-mercury GFR values. In this group, a decrease of GFR by 44% was noted 3 hr after mercury. In conclusion, changes in GFR and renal hemodynamics can be dissociated in the early phase of nephrotoxic ARF. The fall in GFR can be attributed either to a decrease in glomerular ultrafiltration capacity and/or changes in glomerular afferent and efferent resistances, leading to a decrease in glomerular hydrostatic pressure.