Different contributions of the endothelin ETA receptor to hypertension induced by acute or chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis

The effects of FR139317((R)2-[(R)-2-[(S)-2-[[1-(hexahydro-1H-azepinyl)]carb onyl] amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl] amino-3-[3-(1-methyl-1H-indoyl)]propionyl]- amino-3-(2-pyridyl)propionic acid), an endothelin ETA receptor antagonist, on systemic and renal haemodynamic responses and excretory responses to chr onic or acute nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition with N-G-nitro-L-argini ne (NOARG) have been examined. An intravenous bolus injection of FR139317 (10 mg kg(-1)) to chronic NO-def icient hypertensive rats (2.74 mM NOARG in drinking water for 4 weeks) elic ited only a slight decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP), to the same ex tent as seen in normotensive control rats. Injection of this drug induced n o alteration of the renal haemodynamics of this chronic hypertensive model. Urine formation in control rats was significantly reduced by administratio n of FR139317. No significant decrease in urine formation was observed in t he chronic NO-deficient rats. Acute intravenous injection of NOARG (5 mg kg (-1)) induced a gradual and significant increase in MAP, with a significant decrease in renal blood flow. A slight but insignificant diuretic effect w as observed. In animals pretreated with FR139317 (10 mg kg(-1) i.v.) NOARG induced a significantly less potent increase in MAP, whereas similar renal haemodynamic responses to NOARG were observed. In contrast to the FR139317- untreated group, urine formation tended to decrease after administration of NOARG, These results suggest that endothelin, via the ETA receptor, contri butes to the systemic presser response to acute NO synthase inhibition, alt hough renal vasoconstriction and functional changes induced by acute NO syn thase inhibition are independent of ETA receptor-related effects. These results imply that action of endothelin via the ETA receptor is not i nvolved in the maintenance of sustained hypertension induced by chronic NO synthase inhibition.