The effect of prostaglandin inhibition on the natriuresis of drug-induced renal vasodilatation.

It has been suggested that increased prostaglandin release may mediate the natriuresis seen during the administration of renal vasodilators. To further investigate this possibility, either acetylcholine (40 microgram/min) or bradykinin (5 microgram/min) was infused into the left renal artery of anesthetized dogs previously given an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. During the infusion of either vasodilator drug in the prostaglandin-inhibited dogs, urinary sodium excretion increased to a similar degree as in a group of normal dogs with intact prostaglandin synthesis. These studies therefore do not confirm that prostaglandins play a significant role in the natriuresis of drug-induced vasodilatation.