Renal haemodynamic and tubular actions of urotensin II in the rat

Urotensin II (UTS) is a potent vasoactive peptide that was originally identified in teleost fish. Mammalian orthologues of UTS and its receptor (UTSR) have been described in several species, including humans and rats. We have shown previously that bolus injections of UTS caused a decrease it urine flow and sodium excretion rates in parallel with marked reductions in renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of UTS infusion at a dose that has minimal impact upon renal haemodynamics in order to identify a potential direct tubular action of UTS. Infusion of rat UTS (rUTS) at 0.6 pmol/min per 100 g body weight in male Sprague-Dawley rats, which had no effect on RBF and caused a 30% reduction in GFR, resulted in a significant increase in the fractional excretion of sodium (vehicle 2.3 +/- 0.6 versus rUTS 0.6 pmol 4.5 +/- 0.6%, P<0.05) and potassium. At the higher dose of 6 pmol/min per 100 g body weight, haemodynamic effects dominated the response. rUTS induced a marked reduction in RBF and GFR (vehicle 1.03 +/- 0.06 versus rUTS 6 pmol 0.31 +/- 0.05 ml/min per 100 g body weight, P<0.05) resulting in an anti-diuresis and anti-natriuresis, but no change in fractional excretion of sodium or potassium. Uts2d and Uts2r mRNA expression were greater in the renal medulla compared with the cortex. Together, these data support an inhibitory action of Uts2d on renal tubule sodium and potassium reabsorption in the rat, in addition to its previously described renal haemodynamic effects.