Attenuated glomerular cGMP production and renal vasodilation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Because diabetes is associated with impaired vascular endothelium, we have investigated endothelium-dependent cGMP stimulation in isolated glomeruli and renal vasodilation in normal and diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. Rats treated with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg iv) developed high blood glucose, polyuria, enlarged kidneys, and slow weight gain compared with control animals. Chronic treatment with insulin reversed these changes. In isolated glomeruli, the endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (ACh), stimulated cGMP accumulation concentration dependently; however, the response was significantly attenuated in glomeruli from DM rats when compared with normal rats or DM rats treated with insulin. Sodium nitroprusside-induced cGMP accumulation was also slightly but significantly reduced in glomeruli from DM rats, however, the response to atriopeptin III was unaltered. In rats, intravenous infusion of ACh (1 and 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) moderately decreased blood pressure and increased renal blood flow without a significant change in glomerular filtration rate. The renal vasodilatory response to ACh was significantly diminished in DM rats, but not in DM rats treated with insulin. Acute treatment with insulin did not restore the ACh response, although the blood glucose level was normalized. We conclude that there is a reduced renal vasodilatory response observed in DM, and this is due to an impairment of the renal vascular endothelium to produce endothelium-dependent relaxation factor (nitric oxide) and/or a defective soluble guanylate cyclase.