Background/aims: Angiotensin II (ANG II) decreases dopamine (DA) uptake in renal cortex activating AT(1) receptors. We investigated the signaling pathways that mediate this action and the incidence of DA-ANG II interaction on renal Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity.
Methods: ANG II effects on [(3)H]-DA uptake and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase were measured in samples from the outer renal cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats.
Results: Inhibition of the phospholipase C (PLC) pathway blunted ANG II inhibitory effects on [(3)H]-DA uptake, since U-73122, 2-APB, TMB-8, chelerythrine and KN-93 (PLC, IP(3)-dependent Ca(2+) release channels, IP(3) receptors, protein kinase C and CaM kinase II inhibitors, respectively) each one blocked ANG II effects. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase pathway did not modify ANG II inhibitory effects on DA uptake. ANG II effects on [(3)H]-DA uptake were able to modify Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in carbidopa-treated rats. Exogenous DA decreased while ANG II increased the enzyme activity. Neither the addition of DA together with ANG II, nor the extraneuronal DA uptake blocker hydrocortisone altered ANG II stimulatory effects on Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity, but hydrocortisone blocked the inhibitory effects of exogenous DA.
Conclusion: Stimulation of renal AT(1) receptors by ANG II signals through the PLC pathway to inhibit extraneuronal DA uptake. DA and ANG II act through a common pathway involving reversible renal tubular Na(+),K(+)-ATPase deactivation and activation, respectively. In addition, ANG II by itself is able to stimulate renal Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity.