Nitric oxide and renal autoregulation.

Blockade of NO synthesis reduces mean RBF by about 30%. The GFR is slightly reduced or not changed at all. The autoregulatory capacity for both RBF and GFR in response to static or dynamic pressure changes is not affected. This suggests that under normal conditions, the renal vasculature is subject to a strong continuous influence by endogenous NO, which determines the mean RBF. However, although the tubuloglomerular feedback and myogenic response may be modulated by NO, the accuracy of the renal haemodynamic autoregulation as well as the mean GFR seem to be kept independent of the influence on mean RBF.