Microalbuminuria in Rats Treated with D-Nitroarginine Methyl Ether.

Microalbuminuria is an early symptom and prognostic marker of the progression of renal pathology. The analysis of the role of anionic components of the renal glomeruli in the albumin retention and the development of a model of minimal changes in the glomerular filter leading to the appearance of microalbuminuria are relevant. The effect of organic cations D-arginine methyl esters (D-AME) and D-nitroarginine (D-NAME) on the excretion of albumin by the kidneys in rats was studied.

Role of Proglucagon Peptides in Osmoregulation.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a product of partial proteolysis of proglucagon, is involved not only in regulation of carbohydrates, but also in water-salt metabolism. The study examined the role of proglucagon derivatives GLP-1, GLP-2, and oxyntomodulin in rat osmoregulation. Of them, only blood plasma GLP-1 increased in response to water load (20 ml/kg).

Subtypes of Neurohypophyseal Nonapeptide Receptors and Their Functions in Rat Kidneys.

The nonapeptides of neurohypophysis, vasotocin and mesotocin, detected in most vertebrates, are replaced by vasopressin and oxytocin in mammals. Using bioinformatics methods, we determined the spectrum of receptor subtypes for these hormones in mammals and their physiological effects in the kidneys of rats. A search for sequences similar to the vertebrate vasotocin receptor by proteomes and transcriptomas of nine mammalian species and the rat genome revealed three subtypes of vasopressin receptors (V1a, V1b, and V2) and one type of oxytocin receptors.

The mechanism of glucagon-like peptide-1 participation in the osmotic homeostasis.

We have found the physiological mechanism of intensification of the excessive fluid removal from the body under the action of glucagon-like peptide-1 and its analog exenatide. Under the water load in rats, exenatide significantly increased the clearance of lithium, reduced fluid reabsorption in the proximal tubule of the nephron and intensified reabsorption of sodium ions in the distal parts, which contributed to the formation of sodium-free water and faster recovery of osmotic homeostasis. Blocking this pathway with a selective antagonist of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors slowed down the elimination of excessive water from the body.