J Korean Med Sci.  2000 Apr;15(2):183-188. 10.3346/jkms.2000.15.2.183.

Erythropoietin does not affect nitric oxide system in rats with chronic renal failure

• Kim SW
• Lee JU
• Kang DG
• Jung K
• Kim NH
• Suh SP
• Choi KC
• Kang YJ

• KMID: 648121
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2000.15.2.183

Abstract

We investigated to see whether an altered role of nitric oxide (NO) system is involved in erythropoietin (EPO)-induced hypertension in chronic renal failure (CRF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were five-sixths nephrectomized to induce CRF. Six weeks after the operation, EPO or vehicle was injected for another 6 weeks. Plasma and urine nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels were determined. Expression of NO synthase (NOS) proteins in the aortae and kidneys were also determined. In addition, the isometric tension of isolated aorta in response to acetylcholine and nitroprusside was examined. Blood pressure progressively rose in CRF groups, the degree of which was augmented by EPO treatment. Plasma NOx levels did not differ among the groups, while urine NOx levels were lower in CRF groups. Endothelial NOS expression was lower in the kidney and aorta in CRF rats, which was not further affected by EPO-treatment. The inducible NOS expression in the kidney and aorta was not different among the groups. Acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside caused dose-dependent relaxations of aortic rings, the degree of which was not altered by EPO-treatment. Taken together, EPO-treatment aggravates hypertension in CRF, but altered role of NO system may not be involved.

Keyword

Renal Failure, Chronic; Erythropoietin; Hypertension; Nitric Oxide

MeSH Terms

Acetylcholine/pharmacology
Anemia/metabolism
Anemia/etiology
Anemia/drug therapy*
Animal
Aorta, Thoracic/physiology
Body Weight
Erythropoietin/pharmacology*
Hypertension, Renal/metabolism
Hypertension, Renal/drug therapy
Isometric Contraction/drug effects
Kidney/enzymology
Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism*
Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications
Male
Nitrates/urine
Nitrates/blood
Nitric Oxide/metabolism*
Nitric-Oxide Synthase/metabolism
Nitrites/urine
Nitrites/blood
Nitroprusside/pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Vasoconstriction/drug effects
Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology
Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology