Modulation of angiotensin II coronary vasoconstriction by cardiac prostaglandin synthesis

Systemic circulatory adjustments to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation in unanesthetized sheep. Role of renin, angiotensin II, and catecholamine interactions

The hemodynamic consequences of the hypoxic inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity were studied in chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep (n = 8) breathing a hypoxic gas mixture for 60 min (PaO2 = 31 mm Hg) followed by reoxygenation with room air. Changes in cardiac output, vascular pressures, blood flow distribution, arterial pH, PaCO2, PaO2, and arterial levels of plasma renin activity, angiotensin II, bradykinin, and catecholamines were measured at selected time points. Seven additional sheep underwent the same protocol but received saralasin, an angiotensin II receptor blocker beginning at 55 min of hypoxia and extending into the reoxygenation period. During hypoxia, both groups developed identical hemodynamic patterns including a rise in cardiac output (25%), blood pressure (15%), and preferential blood flow distribution to the heart, brain, adrenals, diaphragm, and skeletal muscle, as well as a decrease in the fraction of cardiac output to the kidneys and most of the gut. This was associated with a decrease in angiotensin II concentrations (from 35 to 17 pg/ml) in spite of a doubling in plasma renin activity and catecholamines. Bradykinin levels did not change. Upon reoxygenation, bolus production of angiotensin II (from 17 to 1,819 pg/ml) occurred in spite of a constant level of plasma renin activity. Concurrently, different hemodynamic patterns between control and saralasin groups emerged upon reoxygenation, including an elevation from base line in blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance in the control group. Cardiac work (heart-rate systolic pressure product) in the control group remained elevated upon reoxygenation while coronary blood flow returned to base-line values. Saralasin reduced cardiac work upon reoxygenation and restored the match between coronary blood flow and work. We conclude that plasma renin activity and oxygen tension together govern angiotensin II levels for an optimal level of systemic vasomotor tone during hypoxia. However, upon reoxygenation, bolus production of angiotensin II may result in pathophysiologic circulatory patterns, such as impairment in oxygen delivery to the myocardium proportional to persistently elevated cardiac work in the immediate postresuscitation period.

Participation of the prostaglandins in the control of renal blood flow during acute reduction of cardiac output in the dog

To determine whether renal prostaglandins participate in the regulation of renal blood flow during acute reduction of cardiac output, cardiac venous return was decreased in 17 anesthetized dogs by inflating a balloon placed in the thoracic inferior vena cava. This maneuver decreased cardiac output from 3.69+/-0.09 liters/min (mean+/-SEM) to 2.15+/-0.19 liters/min (P < 0.01) and the mean arterial blood pressure from 132+/-4 to 111+/-5 mm Hg (P < 0.01) and increased total peripheral vascular resistance from 37.6+/-2.5 to 57.9+/-4.8 arbitrary resistance units (RU) (P < 0.01). In marked contrast, only slight and insignificant decreases in the renal blood flow from 224+/-16 to 203+/-19 ml/min and renal vascular resistance from 0.66+/-0.06 to 0.61+/-0.05 arbitrary resistance units (ru) were observed during inflation of the balloon. Concomitant with these hemodynamic changes, plasma renin activity and plasma norepinephrine concentration increased significantly in both the arterial and renal venous bloods. Plasma concentration of prostaglandin E(2) in renal venous blood increased from 34+/-6 to 129+/-24 pg/ml (P < 0.01). The subsequent administration of indomethacin or meclofenamate had no significant effect on mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and total peripheral vascular resistance, but reduced renal blood flow from 203+/-19 to 156+/-21 ml/min (P < 0.01) and increased renal vascular resistance from 0.61+/-0.05 to 1.05+/-0.21 ru (P < 0.01). Simultaneously, the plasma concentration of prostaglandin E(2) in renal venous blood fell from 129+/-24 to 19+/-3 pg/ml (P < 0.01). Administration of indomethacin to five dogs without prior obstruction of the inferior vena cava had no effect upon renal blood flow or renal vascular resistance. The results indicate that acute reduction of cardiac output enhances renal renin secretion and the activity of the renal adrenergic nerves as well as renal prostaglandin synthesis without significantly changing renal blood flow or renal vascular resistance. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis during acute reduction of cardiac output results in an increased renal vascular resistance and reduced renal blood flow. Accordingly, that data provide evidence that renal prostaglandins counteract in the kidney the vasoconstrictor mechanisms activated during acute reduction of cardiac output.

Increased renal secretion of norepinephrine and prostaglandin E2 during sodium depletion in the dog

To determine whether vasoactive renal hormones modulate renal blood flow during alterations of sodium balance, simultaneous measurements of arterial and renal venous concentrations of norepinephrine and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and of plasma renin activity, as well as renal blood flow and systemic hemodynamics were carried out in 24 sodium-depleted and 28 sodium-replete anesthetized dogs. The mean arterial blood pressure of the sodium depleted dogs was not significantly different from that of the animals fed a normal sodium diet, but cardiac output was significantly lower (3.07 +/- 0.18 vs. 3.77 +/- 0.17 liters/min, mean +/- SEM; P < 0.01). Despite the higher total peripheral vascular resistance in the sodium-depleted dogs (46.1 +/- 2.9 vs. 37.0 +/- 2.1 arbitrary resistance U; P < 0.02), the renal blood flow and renal vascular resistance were not significantly different in the two groups. The arterial plasma renin activity and concentration of norepinephrine were higher in the sodium-depleted animals than in the controls; the arterial concentration of PGE2 was equal in both groups. The renal venous plasma renin activity was higher in the sodium-depleted dogs. Similarly, the renal venous norepinephrine concentration was higher in the sodium-depleted dogs than in the controls (457 +/- 44 vs. 196 +/- 25 pg/ml; P < 0.01); renal venous PGE2 concentration was also higher in the sodium depleted dogs (92 +/- 22 vs. 48 +/- 11 pg/ml; P < 0.01). Administration of indomethacin to five sodium-replete dogs had no effect on renal blood flow. In five sodium-depleted dogs indomethacin lowered renal blood flow from 243 +/- 19 to 189 +/- 30 ml/min (P < 0.05) and PGE2 in renal venous blood from 71 +/- 14 to 15 +/- 2 pg/ml (P < 0.02). The results indicate that moderate chronic sodium depletion, in addition to enhancing the activity of the renin-angiotensin system, also increases the activity of the renal adrenergic nervous system and increases renal PGE2 synthesis. In sodium-depleted dogs, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis was associated with a significant decrease in renal blood flow. The results suggest that the renal blood flow is maintained during moderate sodium depletion by an effect of the prostaglandins to oppose the vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II and the renal sympathetic nervous system.