Nephron function in transgenic mice with selective vascular or tubular expression of Angiotensin-converting enzyme

J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005 Dec;16(12):3535-42. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2005020151. Epub 2005 Oct 12.

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) null mice display aberrant renal pathology. Inadequate formation of angiotensin II (Ang II) results in hypotension, loss of fluid homeostasis, lack of urine concentration, and failure to regulate GFR through the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. For examining the tissue-specific role of ACE in renal structure and regulation of renal filtrate formation, single-nephron GFR, proximal tubular fluid reabsorption, and TGF responsiveness were determined in mice that expressed ACE in only one tissue. Maximum TGF responses in mice that expressed somatic ACE (sACE) in proximal tubule cells (Gs strain) or germinal ACE in the serum (Pg strain) were reduced significantly compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, TGF responses in mice that expressed sACE in vascular endothelial cells (Ts strain) were not different from control. Single-nephron GFR was reduced in Ts compared with WT mice, but fractional reabsorption and therefore glomerulotubular balance were not distinguishable. BP responses to exogenous Ang I were diminished in Ts, Gs, and Pg mice, whereas those to Ang II were the same in the different strains. Plasma and renal tissue Ang I of all transgenic mouse strains was significantly higher than WT, whereas Ang II levels were generally lower; aldosterone levels were significantly lower than WT in Ts mice but not in the two other transgenic strains. Our results demonstrate that vascular expression of sACE can largely but not completely restore TGF regulation of GFR. Proximal fluid reabsorption in the chronic absence of proximal tubule ACE is normal.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Aldosterone / analysis
  • Aldosterone / metabolism
  • Angiotensin I / pharmacology*
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Blood Pressure Determination
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / drug effects
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Kidney Glomerulus / drug effects
  • Kidney Glomerulus / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules / drug effects
  • Kidney Tubules / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nephrons / drug effects*
  • Nephrons / physiology
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Angiotensin II
  • Aldosterone
  • Angiotensin I
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A