Role of soluble guanylyl cyclase in renal afferent and efferent arterioles.

Renal arteriolar tone depends considerably on the dilatory action of nitric oxide (NO) via activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and cGMP action. NO deficiency and hypoxia/reoxygenation are important pathophysiological factors in the development of acute kidney injury. It was hypothesized that the NO-sGC-cGMP system functions differently in renal afferent arterioles (AA) compared with efferent arterioles (EA) and that the sGC activator cinaciguat differentially dilates these arterioles.

Short-term hypoxia and vasa recta function in kidney slices.

Background: Descending vasa recta (DVR) supply the inner part of outer renal medulla an area at risk for hypoxic damages.

Objective: We hypothesize increased vasoreactivity after hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R) in DVR, which might contribute to the reduced medullary perfusion after an ischemic event.

Methods: Live kidney slices (200μm) from SD rats were used for functional experiments.

Myoglobin facilitates angiotensin II-induced constriction of renal afferent arterioles.

Vasoconstriction plays an important role in the development of acute kidney injury in rhabdomyolysis. We hypothesized that myoglobin enhances the angiotensin II (ANG II) response in afferent arterioles by increasing superoxide and reducing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Afferent arterioles of C57Bl6 mice were isolated perfused, and vasoreactivity was analyzed using video microscopy.