Angiotensin in the hemodynamic response to chronic nephron obstruction.

Microsphere techniques were employed to investigate the role of intrarenal angiotensin generation in producing the arteriolar constriction associated with 24-h tubular obstruction in rats. In each animal, glomerular blood flow (GBF) and nephron vascular resistance were determined for normal and oil-blocked superficial cortical nephrons. In 17 control rats, GBF of normal and blocked nephrons averaged 226 +/- 12 and 130 +/- 9 nl/min, respectively (P less than 0.001). Captopril treatment in five rats (10 mg/kg orally) improved GBF to blocked nephrons to 252 +/- 31 nl/min. Saralasin treatment in six rats (10 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1 i.v.) lessened the difference between GBF of normal and obstructed nephrons. In six rats subjected to a high salt intake and deoxycorticosterone injections, GBF to obstructed nephrons was improved to 181 +/- 21 nl/min. Since both pharmacologic interruption of angiotensin activity and renin suppression were associated with improved GBF of blocked nephrons, these observations support a role for angiotensin as a local factor controlling glomerular hemodynamics of chronically obstructed nephrons.