Increase of experimental hypertension following inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

To demonstrate the role of endogenous renal prostaglandins as modulators of the renin-angiotensin-system in renal hypertension, rats with acute and chronic renal hypertension were pretreated with different inhibitors of the prostaglandin biosynthesis (indomethacin, mefenamic acid, acetylsalicylic acid. Development and course of acute and chronic renal hypertension after treatment were highly significantly different from untreated animals concerning elevation, duration and intensity of renal hypertension. Moreover, indomethacin enhanced renal vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin II in the dog; accordingly, inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis increases acute and chronic renal hypertension. It seems that prostaglandins play an important part in blood pressure regulation.