Action of the competitive angiotensin II antagonist saralasin during the initial phase of glycerol-induced acute renal failure of the rat.

The effects of the competitive angiotensin II antagonist saralasin (1-sarcosine-8-alanine-5-isoleucine-angiotensin II) on renal function in healthy rats and in rats with myohemoglobinuric acute renal failure were studied. Acute renal failure was induced by an intramuscular injection of 50% glycerol (10 ml.kg-1). Functional impairment of the glycerol treated animals consisted in a decrease of renal blood flow (electromagnetic flowmeter) and GFR and in an increase of urine volume and arterial blood pressure. In healthy rats saralasin (6 microgram.kg-1.min-1 i.v.) had no renal effects by itself but antagonized the angiotensin II (200 ng.kg-1.min i.v.) induced fall of renal blood flow and GFR and the increase of arterial blood pressure. Given to glycerol treated animals saralasin did not induce any change of arterial blood pressure, renal blood flow, GFR or the urinary excretion of fluid and sodium.