Pressure-dependent action of angiotensin II on glomerular filtration in the isolated rat kidney.

We examined the action of angiotensin II (AII) on isolated rat kidney perfused with a recirculating cell-free solution at either 12 pKa (90 mmHg) or 17 kPa (128 mmHg). The renal perfusion pressure was maintained constant while sufficient AII was added to increase the renal vascular resistance by 50%. In the low-pressure kidneys. AII increased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by 155%, increased sodium reabsorption by 157%, and decreased the urine sodium concentration by 34% without affecting sodium excretion. In the high-pressure kidneys, GFR initially was significantly greater but was not affected by AII. In these experiments, AII had no effect on sodium reabsorption or excretion and decreased the urine sodium concentration by 7%. The data suggest that AII could be involved in autoregulation of the GFR without producing large changes in sodium excretion.