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Background. Disturbed calcium–phosphorus balance significantly contributes to uraemic changes in large arteries. We examined the influences of high-calcium and high-phosphate intake on small artery tone in experimental renal insufficiency.Methods. Sixty-five rats were assigned to 5/6 nephrectomy (NTX) or sham operation. After 15 week disease progression, NTX rats were given high-calcium (3%), high-phosphate (1.5%) or control diet (0.3% calcium, 0.5% phosphate) for 12 weeks. Then isolated segments of small mesenteric arteries were studied using wire and pressure myographs.Results. Subtotal nephrectomy reduced creatinine clearance by 60% and increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphate 12-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively. High-phosphate intake further elevated PTH and phosphate (33-fold and 5.5-fold, respectively), while the calcium diet suppressed them (to 3.5 and 62% vs sham, respectively). Ventricular B-type natriuretic peptide synthesis was increased, and blood pressure was 27 and 18 mmHg higher in NTX rats on control and phosphate diet, respectively, than in calcium-fed rats. Vasorelaxation to acetylcholine was impaired by ∼50% in uraemic rats, and was further deteriorated by high-phosphate intake, whereas the calcium diet improved endothelium-mediated relaxation via nitric oxide and potassium channels. Small arteries of all NTX groups featured eutrophic inward remodelling: wall-to-lumen ratio was increased 1.3-fold without change in cross-sectional area.Conclusion. High-phosphate intake had a detrimental influence on secondary hyperparathyroidism and vasodilatation, whereas high-calcium intake reduced blood pressure and PTH, alleviated volume overload and improved vasorelaxation in experimental renal insufficiency. Therefore, alterations in the calcium–phosphorus balance can significantly modulate small artery tone during impaired kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Vasorelaxation is impaired in renal failure (RF) and hypertension. A high calcium diet enhances vasodilatation and reduces blood pressure in experimental hypertension. Oral calcium salts are used as phosphate binders in RF. However, the effect of increased calcium intake on arterial tone in RF is unknown. Methods. We investigated the influence of an 8-week high calcium diet (0.3 vs 3.0%) on resistance artery tone in 5/6 nephrectomized (NTX) rats. Calcium was supplemented as carbonate salt, blood pressure measured by tail-cuff, urine collected in metabolic cages, and samples taken for blood chemistry and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Functional studies of isolated third-order branches of the mesenteric artery in vitro were performed using the Mulvany multimyograph. Results. Plasma urea was elevated 1.6-fold and systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg after NTX, while increased calcium intake was without effect on these variables. Plasma PTH and phosphate were raised following NTX, and suppressed by high calcium diet. Vasorelaxations induced by K+ channel agonists 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and levcromakalim were impaired after NTX. Vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine was also reduced following NTX, and experiments with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, diclofenac and charybdotoxin + apamin suggested that the K+ channel-mediated component of endothelium-dependent relaxation was deficient after NTX. Increased calcium intake corrected all impairments of vasodilatation in NTX rats. Conclusions. Deficient vasorelaxation via K+ channels was normalized by high calcium diet in experimental RF. This effect was independent of the degree of renal impairment and blood pressure, but was associated with improved calcium metabolism: plasma levels of PTH and phosphate were decreased and ionized calcium was increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]