Factors responsible for acetylcholine-induced dilatation in the isolated perfused rat kidney

Mechanism of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced dilatation was investigated in isolated perfused rat kidney. Under a constant flow of 8-10 ml/min, ACh (0.001-3 mug/0.1 mi) caused a dose-dependent decrease in perfusion pressure raised by submaximum concentration of phenylephrine (PE). ACh-induced dilatations were inhibited by atropine (10(-6) mol/l), hexamethonium (10(-4) mol/l), indomethacin (10(-5) mol/l), methylene blue (10(-5) mol/l), N-G-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 10(-4) mol/l), tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10(-6) mol/l), capsaicin (10(-6) mol/l), and glibenclamide (10(-5) mol/l). These results suggest that in the isolated perfused rat kidney, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), nitric oxide (NO), and tachykinin neuromediators may play a role in ACh-induced dilatation via stimulation of guanylate cyclase and opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.