Effect of chronic inhibition of converting enzyme on proximal tubule acidification.

The acute effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi) on proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) function is well documented. However, the effect of chronic treatment is less known. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of chronic ACEi on PCT acidification (J(HCO(3)(-))). Rats received enalapril (10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), added to the drinking water) during 3 mo. Micropuncture experiments were performed to measure the effect of chronic ACEi on J(HCO(3)(-)). Nitric oxide (NO.) synthesis in kidney cortex homogenates was assessed by quantifying the conversion of [(14)C]-L-arginine to [(14)C]-L-citrulline. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the abundances of V-H(+)ATPase and NHE3 isoform of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger in proximal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Enalapril treatment induced an approximately 50% increase in J(HCO(3)(-)). Luminal perfusion with ethyl-isopropyl amiloride (EIPA) 10(-4)M or bafilomycin 10(-6)M decreased J(HCO(3)(-)) by approximately 60% and approximately 30%, respectively, in both control and enalapril-treated rats. The effect of EIPA and bafilomycin on absolute J(HCO(3)(-)) was larger in enalapril-treated than in control rats. Acute inhibition of NO. synthesis with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester abolished the enalapril-induced increase in J(HCO(3)(-)). Cortex homogenates from enalapril-treated rats displayed a 46% increase in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity compared with those from untreated animals. Enalapril treatment did not affect the abundances of NHE3 and V-H(+)ATPase in BBMV. Our results suggest that PCT acidification is increased during chronic ACEi probably due to an increase in NO. synthesis, which would stimulate Na(+)/H(+) exchange and electrogenic proton transport.

The effect of shear stress on the basolateral membrane potential of proximal convoluted tubule of the rat kidney.

As consequence of glomerular filtration the viscosity of blood flowing through the efferent arteriole increases. Recently, we found that shear stress modulates proximal bicarbonate reabsorption and nitric oxide (NO.) was the chemical mediator of this effect. In the present work, we found that agonists of NO. production affected basolateral membrane potential (V (blm)) of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) epithelium. Using paired micropuncture experiments, we perfused peritubular capillaries with solutions with different viscosity while registering the V (blm). Our results showed that a 50% increment in the viscosity, or the addition of bradykinin (10(-5) M) to the peritubular perfusion solution, induced a significant and similar hyperpolarization of the V (blm) at the PCT epithelium of 6 +/- 0.7 mV (p < 0.05). Both hyperpolarizations were reverted by L-NAME (10(-4) M). Addition of 2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino) bis-ethanamine (NOC-18) 3 x 10(-4) M to the peritubular perfusion solution induced a hyperpolarization of the same magnitude of that high viscosity or bradykinin. These results strongly suggest the involvement of NO. in the effect of high viscosity solutions. This effect seems to be mediated by activation of K+(ATP) channels as glybenclamide (5 x 10(-5) M) added to peritubular solutions induced a larger depolarization of the V (blm) with high viscosity solutions. Acetazolamide (5 x 10(-5) M) added to high viscosity solutions induced a larger hyperpolarization (8 +/- 1 mV; p < 0.05), suggesting that depolarizing current due to HCO(-)3 exit across the basolateral membrane damps the hyperpolarizing effect of high viscosity. Considering that Na(+) and consequently water reabsorption is highly dependent on electrical gradient, the present data suggest that the endothelium of kidney vascular bed interacts in paracrine fashion with the epithelia, affecting V (blm) and thus modulating PCT reabsorption.