Role of kinins in the control of renal papillary blood flow, pressure natriuresis, and arterial pressure.

The present study evaluated the effects of blocking kinins with the bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist Hoe140 on the relationship between renal perfusion pressure, papillary blood flow (PBF), and sodium excretion. To determine the relevance of renal kinins in the long-term control of arterial pressure, the effect of a chronic intrarenal infusion of Hoe140 on arterial pressure and sodium balance was also studied. PBF was not autoregulated in volume-expanded rats, and the administration of Hoe140 reduced PBF (-30%) and improved PBF autoregulation. The kinin antagonist also decreased sodium excretion (-35%) and blunted pressure natriuresis with no whole-kidney renal hemodynamic changes. These effects may be mediated through nitric oxide (NO), because in rats pretreated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, Hoe140 had no additional effects on PBF or pressure natriuresis. A role for NO in mediating the renal response to Hoe140 is also supported by the finding that Hoe140 reduced basal urinary NO(3)(-)/NO(2)(-) excretion (-33%), and it blunted the arterial pressure-induced increase in NO(3)(-)/NO(2)(-) excretion, which is compatible with the idea that the pressure-natriuresis response may be mediated through kinins and NO. The importance of kinins in long-term regulation of arterial pressure is demonstrated by the severe arterial hypertension (172+/-6 mm Hg) induced during the chronic intrarenal infusion of Hoe140 associated with sodium and volume retention. These data suggest that renal kinins and NO may be a part of the renal mechanism coupling changes in arterial pressure with modifications in PBF and sodium excretion, therefore contributing to the long-term control of arterial pressure.