Endothelin as a causative factor of blunted volume reflex in diabetic rats

The study investigated whether endothelin (ET) contributed to the diabetes-associated alterations in volume reflex and characterised the receptor subtype that might be involved. The influence of renal sympathetic nerves on these aspects of ET was also examined. Groups of nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were subjected to an acute isotonic saline volume expansion (VE), 10% body wt in the presence and absence of ET antagonists. Cumulative urine sodium excretion (CuUNaV) after VE in diabetic rats reached values of 116±10 in the denervated and 74±6 μmol min−1 g kidney wt−1 in the innervated kidneys, which were both less (both P