Urinary prostaglandin E excretion: effect of chronic alterations in sodium intake and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the rabbit.

On the basis of acute experiments in animals, a role for prostaglandin E (PGE) in the regulation of urinary sodium excretion has been suggested. Limited information is available, however, concerning the possible role of PGE in chronic adjustments to sodium intake. These studies were designed to determine whether chronic changes in sodium balance would modify renal PGE excretion and whether partial inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis would alter the ability of the kidney to adjust to an alteration in sodium intake. Thus, we measured sodium and PGE excretion in rabbits on chronic high and low salt diets before and after inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin or meclofenamate. Although the alterations in salt intake resulted in large changes in sodium excretion there was no significant change in urinary PGE excretion. After administration of either indomethacin or meclofenamate for several days there was a significant fall in PGE excretion, but no significant change in sodium excretion. These results suggest that in the rabbit 1) chronic changes in sodium excretion can occur without modifying PGE excretion (and presumably renal PGE synthesis) and 2) inhibition of PGE synthesis does not impair the kidney's ability to adjust to a chronic high or low sodium intake.