Involvement of angiotensin II in development of spontaneous nephrosis in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

We investigated the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on s pontaneous nephrosis in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl/S) rats. Dahl/S rats fed on a normal sodium diet spontaneously developed nephrosis and mild hyperten sion from a young age. In young Dahl/S rats, an angiotensin-converting enzy me inhibitor, imidapril, attenuated the development of proteinuria accompan ied by a decrease in blood pressure. Methylprednisolone, a potent therapeut ic agent for proteinuria, did not affect the development of nephrosis. An a ngiotensin AT, receptor antagonist, losartan, but not a Ca2+ channel blocke r, verapamil, inhibited the development of nephrosis while both agents decr eased blood pressure to a similar extent as imidapril. In mature Dahl/S rat s, imidapril suppressed not only the development of proteinuria but also th e glomerular lesions. It is concluded that the development of spontaneous n ephrosis in Dahl/S rats is mediated by angiotensin II. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.