Aims: This study was designed to investigate the influence of angiotensin II (Ang II) and nitric oxide (NO) on autoregulation of renal perfusion. Methods: Autoregulation was investigated in isolated perfused kidneys (IPRK) from Sprague-Dawley rats during stepped increases in perfusion pressure. Results: Ang II (75-200 pM) produced dose-dependent enhancement of autoregulation whereas phenylephrine produced no enhancement and impaired autoregulation of GFR. Enhancement by Ang II was inhibited by the AT1 antagonist, Losartan, and the superoxide scavenger, Tempol. Under control conditions nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by 10 μM N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) facilitated autoregulation in the presence of non-specific cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition by 10 μM indomethacin. Both COX and combined NOS/COX inhibition reduced the autoregulatory threshold concentration of Ang II. Facilitation by 100 μM Ang II was inhibited by 100 μM frusemide. Methacholine (50 nM) antagonised Ang II-facilitated autoregulation in the presence and absence of NOS/ COX inhibition. Infusion of the NO donor, 1 μM sodium nitroprusside, inhibited L-NAME enhancement of autoregulation under control conditions and during Ang II infusion. Conclusions: The results suggest than an excess of NO impairs auto-regulation under control conditions in the IPRK and that endogenous and exogenous NO, vasodilatory prostaglandins and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) activity antagonise Ang II-facilitated auto-regulation. Ang II also produced a counterregulatory vasodilatory response that included prostaglandin and NO release. We suggest that Ang II facilitates autoregulation by a tubuloglomerular feedback-dependent mechanism through AT1 receptor-mediated depletion of nitric oxide, probably by stimulating generation of superoxide.
