Abstract 625: Role Of Proximal Na+ Reabsorption In The Fructose-induced Hypertension
Methods/Results: Wistar rats were fed for 2 or 8 weeks with control diet (CTRL) or isocaloric 60% fructose diet (HF). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly by tail cuff plethysmography. There was no difference in the SBP (mmHg) after 2 weeks of HF intake (110 ± 1.7 CTRL x 121 ± 5.8 HF); however, there was an increase in SBP after 8 weeks (111.9 ± 1.3 CTRL x 143.3 ± 1.5 HF, P < 0.0001). Urine of 24h collected in metabolic cages showed a reduction in urine flow (mL/min) (2 weeks - 0.018 ± 0.002 CTRL x 0.009 ± 0.001 HF, P = 0.0007 and 8 weeks - 0.017 ± 0.002 CTRL x 0.007 ± 0.0004 HF, P = 0.001). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not altered after 2 weeks (1.31 ± 0.3 CTRL x 1.22 ± 0.5 HF), but was decreased after 8 weeks (1.82 ± 0.4 CTRL x 0.37 ± 0.1 HF, P = 0.001). Na+ fractional excretion (Na-FE), in % of creatinine clearance, was decreased after 2 weeks (0.37 ± 0.05 CRTL x 0.13 ±0.03 HF), but was increased after 8 weeks (0.18 ± 0.06 CTRL x 0.54 ± 0.14 HF, P = 0.038). After 2 or 8 weeks, rats were subjected to in situ microperfusion experiments and had their proximal tubules (TP) perfused with an alkaline solution to investigate Na+ reabsorption by means of bicarbonate flux (JHCO3-, in nmol/cm2 x s). JHCO3- was increased after 2 weeks (1.78 ± 0.09 CTRL x 2.7 ± 0.14 HF), but was reduced after 8 weeks (2.00 ± 0.09 CRTL x 1.19 ± 0.04 HF). The perfusion of PT with S3226, a specific NHE3 inhibitor, showed that fructose acts stimulating NHE3 activity after 2 weeks (0.82 ± 0.09 CRTL + S3226 x 1.83 ± 0.14 HF + S3226, P < 0.0001) and inhibiting NHE3 activity after 8 weeks (0.85 ± 0.09 CRTL x 0.22 ± 0.04 HF, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Reduced Na+-FE and urine flow, associated with increased NHE3 activity after 2 weeks of HF suggest that, initially, fructose leads to a state of Na+ overload, which may contribute to the development of hypertension observed after 8 weeks of HF intake. Kidney damage was increased after 8 weeks, since GFR was decreased, explaining the persistence of reduced urine flow, despite reduced NHE3 activity. These data, together with the increase in Na-FE and installation of hypertension, suggest that the mechanism of pressure-natriuresis was activated after 8 weeks, in order to compensate for volume expansion. Our data suggest a role of increased Na+ reabsorption in the development of fructose-induced hypertension.