Enhanced renal expression of preproendothelin mRNA during chronic angiotensin II hypertension

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of endothelin in mediating the renal hemodynamic and arterial pressure changes observed during chronic ANG II-induced hypertension. ANG II (50 ng.kg(-1).min(-1)) was chronically infused into the jugular vein by miniosmotic pump for 2 wk in male Sprague-Dawley rats with and without endothelin type A (ETA)-receptor antagonist ABT-627 (5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) pretreatment. Arterial pressure increased in ANG II rats compared with control rats (149 +/- 5 vs. 121 +/- 6 mmHg, P < 0.05, respectively). Renal expression of preproendothelin mRNA was increased by <similar to>50% in both the medulla and cortex of ANG II rats. The hypertensive effect of ANG II was completely abolished in rats pretreated with the ETA-receptor antagonist (114 +/- 5 mmHg, P, 0.05). Glomerular filtration rate was decreased by 33% in ANG II rats, and this response was attenuated in rats pretreated with ETA-receptor antagonist. These data indicate that activation of the renal endothelin system by ANG II may play an important role in mediating chronic renal and hypertensive actions of ANG II.