2 The mechanism(s) underlying such actions remain incompletely elucidated, but several factors are believed to be important, including the rise in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), an increase in medullary blood flow, and direct inhibition of renal epithelial ion transport. 23 An additional possible mode of action is the ability of ANP to act as a potent renal vasodilator, 4 ' 6 which may serve to alter peritubular capillary physical factors and thereby promote natriuresis and diuresis. Earley and coworkers 7 implicated peritubular Starling forces as important determinants of the control of sodium and water excretion, based on studies in which infusions of vasodilators, such as acetylcholine or bradykinin, led to increments in sodium and water excretion. This natriuresis and diuresis was reversed by the concurrent infusion of hyperoncotic albumin and was restored by subsequent elevation of systemic arterial pressure, and Received April 24, 1986: accepted August 18, 1986 presumably peritubular capillary hydraulic pressure, by infusion of angiotensin II (All).
8The present studies employed similar maneuvers in an attempt to modify possible peritubular capillary actions of ANP. In the first set of experiments, we examined the effect of increasing renal perfusion pressure with All on the renal response to ANP infusion, while in the second set of experiments ANP was administered in the setting of elevated postglomerular capillary oncotic pressure.
Materials and MethodsStudies were performed on 34 male Munich-Wistar rats weighing 233-321 g. They were allowed free access to standard rat chow (Wayne Rodent Blox #8604; Continental Grain Co., Chicago, II.) and tap water. Clearance experiments were carried out as follows:Rats were anesthetized with Inactin (100 mg/kg, i.p.; Byk Gulden, Konstanz, F.R.G.) and placed on a temperature-regulated table. Following tracheostomy, the left femoral artery was catheterized with PE-50 polyethylene tubing, and a baseline collection of 140 /xl of arterial blood was obtained. This arterial catheter was used for subsequent periodic blood sampling and estimation of mean arterial pressure (AP). SF was monitored with an electronic transducer (Model P23Db, Statham Instruments Division, Gould Inc., Oxnard, Calif.) connected to a direct-writing recorder (Model 7702B Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.). The left femoral vein was cannulated with PE-50 tubing, and an infusion of 7% inulin and 0.8% paraaminohippurate (PAH) in 0.9% NaCl was started at a rate of 1.2 ml/hr. PE-50 catheters were also inserted into the right and left jugular veins, and right femoral vein, as needed for infusions of plasma and solutions.by guest on