Impact of nephron number dosing on cardiorenal damage and effects of ACE inhibition.

Background: Low nephron number is a recently identified cause of arterial hypertension. We set out to test the effect of nephron number dosing on blood pressure and cardiorenal damage including left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function. Because exact determination of nephron number in vivo is currently not possible, we combined the Munich Wistar Frömter (MWF) genetic rat model of inborn nephron deficit with the 5/6 renal ablation model (Nx).

Short-term treatment with a beta-blocker with vasodilative capacities improves intrarenal endothelial function in experimental renal failure.

Aims: In patients with renal disease the cardiovascular risk is greatly increased, and endothelial dysfunction is assumed to play a pivotal role in this process. Therefore we compared treatment effects of a beta-blocker with additional vasodilatory capacities (nebivolol) and a beta-blocker lacking these actions (metoprolol) on intrarenal and coronary vascular function in a rat model of renal failure with hypertension.

Main Methods: Renal failure was induced by 5/6-nephrectomy (Nx) and analyzed after 4 weeks in Wistar rats.