J Korean Med Sci.  2000 Aug;15(4):425-430. 10.3346/jkms.2000.15.4.425.

Decreased nitric oxide synthesis in rats with chronic renal failure

• Kim SW
• Lee JU
• Paek YW
• Kang DG
• Choi KC

• KMID: 1730639
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2000.15.4.425

Abstract

The present study was aimed at investigating whether an altered role of nitric oxide (NO) is involved in chronic renal failure (CRF). Rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and kept for 6 weeks to induce CRF. On the experimental day, after measurement of arterial pressure under anesthesia, the arterial blood was collected, and thoracic aorta and kidney were rapidly taken. NO metabolites (NOx) were determined in the plasma, urine, aorta and kidney. The expression of NO synthase (NOS) isozymes was determined in the kidney and aorta by Western blot analysis. The expression of NOS mRNA in the glomeruli was also determined by RT-PCR. There were significant increases in arterial pressure and serum creatinine levels in CRF. Urine NOx levels were decreased in CRF, whereas plasma NOx levels were not altered. Aorta and kidney tissue NOx levels were also decreased in CRF. The expression of endothelial constitutive (ec) and inducible (i) isoforms of NOS proteins was decreased in the kidney and aorta in CRF. Accordingly, the expression of ecNOS and iNOS mRNA was decreased in the glomeruli in CRF. In conclusion, NO synthesis is decreased in the kidney and vasculature of CRF rats.

Keyword

Kidney Failure, Chronic; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase

MeSH Terms

Animal
Aorta, Thoracic/metabolism
Comparative Study
Enzyme Induction
Isoenzymes/metabolism+ACo-
Isoenzymes/genetics
Kidney/metabolism
Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism+ACo-
Male
Nephrectomy
Nitrates/urine
Nitrates/blood
Nitric Oxide/deficiency+ACo-
Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis
Nitric-Oxide Synthase/metabolism+ACo-
Nitric-Oxide Synthase/genetics
Nitrites/urine
Nitrites/blood
Organ Specificity
RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley