Impaired nitric oxide-mediated renal vasodilation in rats with experimental heart failure: role of angiotensin II.

Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with a decrease in renal perfusion. Because endothelium-derived NO is important in the regulation of renal blood flow (RBF), we tested the hypothesis that an impairment in the NO system may contribute to the decrease in RBF in rats with experimental CHF.

Methods And Results: Studies were performed in rats with experimental high-output CHF induced by aortocaval (AV) fistula and sham-operated controls.