Characterization of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in cats with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Background: The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incompletely understood. Objective: To characterize components of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in cats with CKD. Animals: Eleven cats with naturally occurring CKD (CKD group) and 8 healthy control cats. Methods: Renal tissue samples were evaluated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and angiotensin II type 1 receptor transcript levels, and by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantification of angiotensin I, II, III, and IV concentrations. Linear mixed models were used to compare gene transcript levels and concentrations of angiotensin peptides between groups. Results: Cats of the CKD group were significantly older (P