Functional Aspects of the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus Control of Glomerular Filtration and Renin Release

Abstract: The juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) is a control unit of the kidney, that regulates glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renin release, and hence extracellular volume and blood pressure. The tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism is a negative feedback loop that regulates GFR. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is highly expressed in the macula densa cells of the JGA, and regulates the sensitivity of the TGF mechanism. Hypertension has been proposed to be caused by an increased sensitivity of the TGF due to nNOS deficiency. In diabetes, reduced TGF activity due to increased sodium-glucose reabsorption is suggested to cause hyperfiltration. Glomerular hyperfiltration has clinical significance, since it correlates with the risk of developing nephropathy.In this thesis, the role of nNOS in the control of blood pressure and renin release was investigated in nNOS knockout mice (nNOS-/-) treated with low- and high sodium diets. The nNOS-/- were normotensive, but displayed an impaired renin regulation, and failed to increase renin in response to a low sodium diet. A significantly larger renin increase during phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibition was found in nNOS-/- compared to the wild types, resulting in similar renin levels.Furthermore, the role of TGF and proximal glucose reabsorption in diabetes-induced hyperfiltration was investigated in adenosine A1-receptor knockout mice (A1AR-/-) that are known to lack a functional TGF mechanism. Diabetes was induced in A1AR-/- and wild types by injection of alloxan. The diabetic A1AR-/- displayed a similar degree of hyperfiltration as their wild-type controls. Inhibition of renal sodium-glucose transporters reduced GFR in both genotypes, but the reduction was even more pronounced in the A1AR-/-.In conclusion, the results indicate that renin secretion during low sodium conditions is mediated by nNOS-derived nitric oxide via cGMP-mediated inhibition of PDE3, whereas deletion of the nNOS gene does not cause hypertension. Diabetes-induced hyperfiltration is not mediated by TGF, but appears to be dependent on increased renal glucose reabsorption.