Role of kinins and angiotensin II in the renal hemodynamic response to captopril

This study examined the role of angio tensin II (ANG II), kinins, and prostaglandins in the renal hemodynamic response to captopril in Munich-Wistar rats in which plasma renin activity was elevated [18.8 ±3.3 ng angiotensin I (ANG I)·ml^-1h^-1]. Neural influences on the kidney were eliminated by renal denervation, and renal perfusion pressure (RPP) was controlled using a clamp on the aorta. Urine flow, sodium excretion, renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and cortical and papillary red blood cell (RBC) flow increased significantly after captopril (2 mg/ kg iv). Glomerular and peritubular capillary pressures rose by 20%, and vasa recta capillary pressure fell by 3-4 mmHg due to significant reductions in estimated preglomerular, efferent arteriolar and renal capillary-venous vascular resistances. Infusion of ANG II (20 ng·kg^-1·min^-1 iv) returned RBF, GFR, and glomerular and peritubular capillary pressures to control; however, ANG II did not lower papillary RBC flow before inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Saralasin had no effect on papillary RBC flow or the response to captopril. The changes in vasa recta hemodynamics produced by captopril were blocked by a kinin antagonist. These findings indicate that ANG II exerts a vasoconstrictor influence on the renal cortical vasculature of Munich-Wistar rats; however, its effects on the medullary circulation are opposed by vasodilatory eicosanoids. They also suggest that kinins participate in the papillary RBC flow response to captopril, perhaps by reducing the outflow resistance from the vasa recta circulation.