Clopidogrel Partially Counteracts Adenosine-5'-Diphosphate Effects on Blood Pressure and Renal Hemodynamics and Excretion in Rats.

BACKGROUND

Adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) can influence intrarenal vascular tone and tubular transport, partly through activation of purine P2Y12 receptors (P2Y12-R), but their actual in vivo role in regulation of renal circulation and excretion remains unclear.

METHODS

The effects of intravenous ADP infusions of 2-8mg/kg/hour were examined in anesthetized Wistar rats that were untreated or chronically pretreated with clopidogrel, 20mg/kg/24hours, a selective P2Y12-R antagonist. Renal blood flow (transonic probe) and perfusion of the superficial cortex and medulla (laser-Doppler fluxes) were measured, together with urine osmolality (U), diuresis (V), total solute (UV), sodium (UV) and potassium (UV) excretion.

RESULTS

ADP induced a gradual, dose-dependent 15% decrease of mean arterial pressure, a sustained increase of renal blood flow and a 25% decrease in renal vascular resistance. Clopidogrel pretreatment attenuated the mean arterial pressure decrease, and did not significantly alter renal blood flow or renal vascular resistance. Renal medullary perfusion was not affected by ADP whereas U decreased from 1,080 ± 125 to 685 ± 75 mosmol/kg H0. There were also substantial significant decreases in UV, UV and UV; all these changes were attenuated or abolished by clopidogrel pretreatment. Two-weeks' clopidogrel treatment decreased V while UUV and UV increased, most distinctly after 7 days. Acute clopidogrel infusion modestly decreased mean arterial pressure and significantly increased outer- and decreased inner-medullary perfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our functional studies show that ADP can cause systemic and renal vasodilation and a decrease in mean arterial pressure, an action at least partly mediated by P2Y12 receptors. We confirmed that these receptors exert tonic action to reduce tubular water reabsorption and urine concentration.