Deficient activity of nucleotide binding regulatory protein coupled with PGE2 receptor in renal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 receptor-adenylate cyclase system was studied in the kidney of 12-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) to evaluate the role of this system in hypertension. PGE2 receptors were determined by a radioligand binding method using [3H]-PGE2. Adenylate cyclase responses to PGE2, sodium fluoride (NaF) and forskolin were also measured. The concentration of PGE2 receptor was increased in SHR compared with WKY. PGE2- and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were significantly lower in SHR than WKY. There was no significant difference in forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity between SHR and WKY. NaF activates the nucleotide binding regulatory protein (G-protein) and forskolin directly activates the catalytic unit. These results indicate that the activity of G-protein coupled with renal PGE2 receptors is deficient in SHR. This defect may contribute to the elevation of blood pressure, through sodium retention.