Differences in the renal dopaminergic system activity between Wistar rats from two suppliers

AIM: Dopamine of renal origin reduces tubular sodium reabsorption and controls blood pressure. The present study evaluated renal dopaminergic activity and its response to uninephrectomy in Wistar Han rats from two suppliers, Harlan (W-H) and Charles River (W-CR). RESULTS: After uninephrectomy, the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa+) increased in both W-CR and W-H rats (W-CR: from 0.17 +/- 0.01 to 0.27 +/- 0.02%; W-H: from 0.39 +/- 0.04 to 0.54 +/- 0.04%, P < 0.05); however, in W-CR rats the FENa+ was lower than in W-H rats in both Sham and uninephrectomized (Unx) animals (P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure in Unx W-CR rats was higher than in Unx W-H animals (131 +/- 3 vs. 122 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.05). Uninephrectomy was accompanied in W-H rats by increases in urinary levels (nmol g kidney(-1) day(-1)) of dopamine (10.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.3 +/- 0.7, P < 0.05) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) (30.5 +/- 3.7 vs. 21.3 +/- 1.4, P < 0.05) and increases (P < 0.05) in maximal velocity values (Vmax in nmol mg prot(-1) 15 min(-1), 325 +/- 12 vs. 265 +/- 3) for renal aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of renal dopamine. By contrast, in W-CR rats uninephrectomy did not change either the urinary levels of dopamine (7.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.7) and DOPAC (25.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 24.8 +/- 4.1) or AADC activity (Vmax 199 +/- 3 vs. 193 +/- 9). The Vmax values for renal AADC in W-CR rats were lower than those found in corresponding W-H animals. CONCLUSION: Wistar rats from different suppliers represent an important source of variability in the renal dopaminergic system activity. This may contribute to differences in sodium balance and blood pressure control in response to uninephrectomy.