Renal dysfunction is associated with a reduced contribution of nitric oxide and enhanced vasoconstriction after a congenital renal mass reduction in sheep

BACKGROUND: -Children born with reduced congenital renal mass have increased risk of hypertension and chronic kidney disease in adulthood, though mechanisms are poorly understood. Similar sequelae occur following fetal uninephrectomy (uni-x) in sheep leading to a 30 nephron deficit. We hypothesized that renal dysfunction is underpinned by a reduced contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and vascular dysfunction in uni-x sheep. METHODS AND RESULTS: -In 5-year old female uni-x and sham sheep, mean arterial pressure (MAP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF) were measured before and during NO inhibition (L-NAME). Reactivity was assessed in resistance arteries including renal lobar and arcuate arteries. Basal MAP was 15mmHg higher, GFR and RBF 30 lower (P