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Imidazoline receptor agonists such as moxonidine and rilmenidine increase sodium excretion whether administered within the central nervous system, intravenously, or directly into the renal artery. To determine if this natriuresis was mediated by a direct renal effect and was independent of the renal sympathetic nerves, we used two different preparations in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat. In the first series of studies, rats were unilaterally nephrectomized 7 to 10 days before the experiment. On the day of the experiment, the remaining kidney was denervated (surgical and 10% phenol/ 95% ethyl alcohol) or sham treated. The effect of an intravenous infusion of rilmenidine was determined. Rilmenidine (10 nmol/kg/minute) decreased blood pressure and increased urine flow rate and sodium excretion in the sham- but not the denervation-treated rats. The response to furosemide (5.05 nmol/kg/minute) remained intact following denervation. We then used a two-kidney rat model that allowed for separate urine collection from each ureter. We used low infusion rates of moxonidine directly into the left renal artery. An increase in urine flow rate from the left but not the right kidney would suggest a direct renal action. Low infusion rates of moxonidine (10, 30 nmol/kg/minute) increased urine flow rate similarly from both ureters. A low infusion rate of furosemide (9.1 nmol/kg/minute) into the left renal artery increased urine flow rate only from the left ureter. The failure of moxonidine to increase urine flow rate selectively only in the left kidney indicated the agonist acts at an extrarenal site to increase urine flow rate from both kidneys equally. The complete attenuation of the response to rilmenidine indicates the importance of the renal nerves and suggests that the extrarenal site is most probably the central nervous system. Collectively, these studies do not support a direct renal action of imidazoline agonists in producing natriuresis.

On the basis of both radioligand and functional studies, the existence of a novel receptor that was unique from the alpha 2-adrenoceptor has become evident. Our initial studies contrasted the function of I1 imidazoline receptor agonists with that of purported alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the kidney. The mechanism by which urine flow increased (osmolar vs free water clearance) as well as the effects of idazoxan, rauwolscine, a V2 vasopressin receptor antagonist, indomethacin pretreatment, and one-kidney one clip hypertension in rats were different following moxonidine when compared to an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist. This indicated two separate receptor systems. Subsequent studies determined that i.c.v. administration of moxonidine would also increase the urine flow rate by increasing osmolar clearance. This response to i.c.v. moxonidine differed from the response of an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist administered i.c.v.. Moreover, this effect of i.c.v. moxonidine was unique from that observed following the intrarenal infusion of moxonidine (Fig. 2). Denervation, intravenous prazosin, and i.c.v. idazoxan selectively blocked the effects of i.c.v. moxonidine. Intravenous idazoxan selectively blocked the response to intrarenal infusion of moxonidine. On the basis of the response to i.c.v. moxonidine in SH rats, the site(s) and/or receptor(s) responsible for blood pressure lowering were altered and those for increasing sodium excretion appear to be inactive. The significance of the findings in long-term regulation of blood pressure remain to be determined.

The ability of imidazoline agonists, such as moxonidine and rilmenidine, to lower blood pressure has been attributed to a central effect resulting in a decrease in peripheral sympathetic nerve activity. A similar decrease in sympathetic nerve activity to the kidney has been proposed to explain the increase in sodium excretion. The observed increase in sodium excretion following an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine or rilmenidine suggested the existence of a direct renal action. We therefore tested the hypothesis that direct renal infusions were acting at a central rather than a peripheral site. Thus, interventions which would decrease the natriuretic effects of central administered moxonidine would also block the effects of intrarenal administered moxonidine. Studies were performed in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (280-320 g) which had undergone unilateral nephrectomy 7 to 10 days prior to the experiment. The interventions utilized resulted in minimal effects on blood pressure and creatinine clearance. Intracerebroventricular (icv) or intrarenal (ir) administration of moxonidine produced a significant increase in urine flow rate and sodium excretion. Intravenous (iv) prazosin was used to block the ability of the sympathetic nerves to alter sodium excretion secondary to alpha1-adrenoceptor stimulation. Prazosin prevented the natriuresis following icv moxonidine but only partially antagonized the effects of ir moxonidine. To determine if central imidazoline receptors mediated the effects of moxonidine, animals were pretreated with icv idazoxan. Following icv idazoxan, the effects of icv moxonidine were blocked, whereas the response to intrarenal moxonidine was only partially blocked. Peripheral (iv) administration of idazoxan blocked the actions of intrarenal moxonidine but left the response to icv moxonidine intact. Finally, chemical sympathectomy with reserpine did not alter the response to intrarenal moxonidine suggesting that this effect was independent of the sympathetic nervous system. In conclusion, these studies indicate the ability of central and peripheral moxonidine to increase urine flow rate through sodium excretion at two unique sites of action, one central and the other one peripheral, most conceivably within the kidney.

Previous studies have reported on the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of the I1-imidazoline receptor agonist moxonidine. In the present study, the relationship between increasing doses of the I1-agonist rilmenidine (administered icv) with blood pressure and renal function has been determined. Moreover, the importance of the renal nerves in this response have also been assessed. In pentobarbitone anesthetized rats, icv rilmenidine (30, 100, 300 nmol in 5 microliters) produced a dose related decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. Urine flow was not altered at the lower doses although at the highest dose (300 nmol) the increase approached significance (p = 0.06). Sodium excretion and osmolar clearance were not altered. Free water clearance was increased at 100 and 300 nmol rilmenidine (p < 0.05). Consistent with the above dose response studies, in sham denervated rats icv rilmenidine (300 nmol) decreased blood pressure and increased free water clearance. In rats having undergone renal denervation, baseline levels of urine flow rate, sodium excretion and osmolar clearance were increased. In these denervated rats, icv rilmenidine (300 nmol) failed to decrease blood pressure. Urine flow rate was increased with a decrease in sodium excretion and osmolar clearance. Free water clearance was increased. These results indicate the importance of the renal nerves in mediating the acute decrease in blood pressure following icv administration of the I1-imidazoline receptor agonist rilmenidine. The increase in free water clearance seen following icv rilmenidine appears to be mediated independent of the renal nerves. The changes associated with sodium excretion on the contrary are dependent on intact renal nerves.

Agonists specific for the I1 imidazoline receptor increase sodium excretion following intrarenal (ir) infusion or intracerebroventricular (icv) injection in the rat. Although agmatine has been suggested to be a putative endogenous agonist for these receptors, the ability of this compound to alter sodium excretion has not been determined. The effects of agmatine, whether administered ir or icv, on blood pressure and solute and water excretion were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Agmatine was administered by icv injection (0, 10, 100, 300 or 1,000 nmol in 5 microliters) or by direct ir infusion (0, 3, 10, 30 or 100 nmol/kg/min at 3.4 microliters/min) in pentobarbitone-anesthetized rats. Agmatine administered by icv injection or ir infusion did not alter blood pressure or heart rate. Only an ir infusion of agmatine produced an increase in creatinine clearance, which occurred at the lowest (3 nmol/kg/min) and highest dose (100 nmol/kg/min). Concomitantly, the ir infusion of agmatine produced a dose-related increase in urine flow rate, but both routes of administration were associated with an increase in sodium excretion and osmolar clearance. Similar to previous reports with I1 imidazoline receptor-selective compounds, agmatine increased urine flow rate secondary to an increase in osmolar clearance at doses that failed to alter blood pressure. These results were consistent with agmatine functioning as a physiological agonist resulting in alterations in sodium excretion.

1. Recent studies concerning the imidazoline receptor have utilized idazoxan as a specific imidazoline receptor antagonist. The aim of the present study was to describe the in vivo effects of various doses of idazoxan on renal function, in the presence and absence of moxonidine, an I1 imidazoline receptor agonist. 2. In anaesthetized, unilaterally nephrectomized (7 to 10 days) Sprague Dawley rats, an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine (3 nmol kg-1 min-1) increased urine flow rate, sodium excretion and osmolar clearance without altering free water clearance. Pretreatment with intravenous idazoxan at 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg-1 produced a dose-related decrease in the renal actions of moxonidine. However, a higher dose of idazoxan (1 mg kg-1) was not as effective as the 0.3 mg kg-1 dose in blocking the effects of moxonidine. 3. In a separate series of experiments, the direct renal actions of idazoxan alone were investigated. Idazoxan at 0.3 mg kg-1 failed to alter urine flow rate and sodium excretion. However, idazoxan at 1 mg kg-1 produced a significant increase in urine flow rate and sodium excretion in association with an increase in osmolar clearance. 4. These results do not prove but are consistent with low doses of idazoxan antagonizing the sites stimulated by moxonidine (renal imidazoline receptors). However, at higher doses, idazoxan may function as a partial agonist and/or interact with other receptors to increase urine flow rate, independent of imidazoline receptor blockade. These studies underscore the importance of the dose of idazoxan administered when this antagonist is used as a tool to investigate imidazoline receptors.

Indometacin pretreatment potentiates the natriuretic action of the mixed alpha 2-adrenoceptor/imidazoline receptor agonist clonidine. In the present study we determined the effects of indometacin pretreatment on natriuretic actions of the selective I1 imidazoline receptor agonist. In anaesthetized rats, an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine (0, 0.3, 1, and 3 nmol/kg/min) increased urine flow rate and sodium excretion without altering blood pressure or creatinine clearance. Indometacin pretreatment abolished the subsequent natriuretic response to an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine (1 nmol/kg/min) without altering blood pressure or creatinine clearance. Administration of prostaglandin E2, at an infusion rate (1 microgram/kg/min) which alone failed to alter urine flow rate, sodium excretion, blood pressure, or creatinine clearance, partially, but not completely, restored the natriuretic response to moxonidine. The ability of indometacin pretreatment to potentiate natriuretic actions of an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist and to attenuate those of an imidazoline agonist indicates that these two receptors in the kidney are unique and may serve distinct functions in the regulation of sodium and water excretion.

1. Central administration of the I1-imidazoline receptor agonist moxonidine increases sodium excretion without alteration of blood pressure. In the present study we determined whether this natriuretic action was mediated through a decrease in activity of the sympathetic nervous system, as has been reported for the antihypertensive action of this compound. Interruption of the sympathetic nervous system was achieved with prazosin (alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist) and renal denervation. 2. In pentobarbitone-anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of moxonidine alone increased urine volume and sodium excretion. Prazosin (0.15 mg kg-1, i.v.) alone decreased urine flow rate and sodium excretion as compared to the vehicle controls. In the presence of prazosin, i.c.v. injection of moxonidine failed to increase sodium excretion or urine volume as compared to animals which received the prazosin alone. 3. The administration of moxonide (i.c.v.) to sham renal-denervated animals caused an increase in urine flow rate, urine sodium excretion, osmolar clearance and free water clearance. The increase in sodium excretion and osmolar clearance were completely attenuated in renal denervated rats, however, urine flow rate was still increased and this was secondary to the increase in free water clearance which remained intact. 4. These results indicate the importance of an intact sympathetic nervous system in the renal response to i.c.v. moxonidine. Moreover, the differential antagonism of these interventions on solute and water excretion indicate that they may be mediated at two separate sites and/or receptors following i.c.v. moxonidine.

I1-imidazoline receptor activation by moxonidine has potent antigastric secretory and gastroprotective effects in rats. We therefore tested whether an imidazoline receptor antagonist, efaroxan, would influence gastric secretion and block the antisecretory and antiulcer effects of moxonidine. When given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), moxonidine inhibited basal acid output in conscious rats to a maximum of 38%. Moxonidine given i.p. also significantly increased gastric adherent mucus levels in rats subjected to cold-restraint stress. Efaroxan alone given i.c.v., did not influence gastric secretion nor did it affect moxonidine's ability to decrease gastric secretion. Similarly, peripherally administered efaroxan did not block the antisecretory effect of moxonidine given i.c.v. However, when both compounds were given i.p., efaroxan pretreatment at all but the lowest doses significantly blocked the antigastric secretory effect of moxonidine. Efaroxan alone (i.p.) did not influence stress-induced gastric mucosal injury or adherent mucus levels. However, pretreatment of rats with efaroxan i.p. significantly blocked the mucus-preserving effect of i.p. moxonidine. These results demonstrate that central (i.c.v.) or peripheral (i.p.) administration of the I1-imidazoline receptor agonist moxonidine is associated with gastroprotection. The ability of i.p. efaroxan to block the effects of i.p. moxonidine but not i.c.v. moxonidine indicates that imidazoline receptors located centrally and peripherally may represent two unique sites associated with gastroprotection.

1. Previous reports of the effects of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation on gastric secretion are inconsistent because it was not clear whether the compounds were activating alpha 2-adrenoceptors and/or newly described imidazoline receptors. In the present experiments, the effects of moxonidine, an I1-imidazoline receptor agonist and antihypertensive agent, on gastric secretion and on experimental gastric mucosal injury were examined. 2. Moxonidine (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg kg-1, i.p.) potently inhibited basal (non-stimulated) gastric acid secretion in conscious rats with an ED50 of 0.04 mg kg-1. Two hours following administration of the highest dose of moxonidine (1.0 mg kg-1), gastric acid output was completely suppressed. Moxonidine also significantly increased intragastric pH, at the two highest doses. 3. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg kg-1, i.p.) decreased basal acid secretion at the lowest dose (37%) and at the highest dose (46%), while the intermediate dose did not affect gastric acid output. 4. In an ethanol-induced model of gastric mucosal injury, moxonidine decreased the length of lesions at the lowest and highest doses (0.01 and 1.0 mg kg-1) as well as the number of the lesions, at the highest dose (1.0 mg kg-1). 5. In pylorus-ligated rats, moxonidine significantly decreased acid secretion (all doses), total secretory volume (1.0 mg kg-1) as well as pepsin output (1.0 mg kg-1). 6. In comparison to clonidine, moxonidine appears to be a more potent anti-secretory and gastric-protective compound. These data indicate a potential role for imidazoline receptor agonists in the management of gastroduodenal diseases associated with hypertension. The relative contribution of the central and peripheral effects of moxonidine to these gastrointestinal actions remains to be determined.

In the present study, we investigated the renal actions of two compounds reported to interact with the imidazoline receptor: rilmenidine (I1-receptor selective, centrally acting antihypertensive) and agmatine (an endogenous clonidine-displacing substance). Rilmenidine (saline vehicle, 3 or 30 nmol/kg/min) or agmatine (saline vehicle, 3 or 30 nmol/kg/min) was infused directly into the renal artery of anesthetized (pentobarbitone) Sprague-Dawley rats (280-300 g) that had undergone a unilateral nephrectomy 7 to 10 days before the experiment. Rilmenidine produced an increase in urine flow rate at doses that failed to significantly alter blood pressure, creatinine clearance, or heart rate. The increase in urine flow rate was secondary to an increase in osmolar clearance, primarily composed of sodium. Free water clearance was not altered at these infusion rates. Agmatine also increased urine flow rate at doses that failed to alter blood pressure, creatinine clearance, and heart rate. The increase in urine flow rate was secondary to an increase in osmolar clearance, again primarily composed of sodium. The natriuretic action of rilmenidine and agmatine, at doses that do not lower blood pressure acutely, could be beneficial in the antihypertensive actions of these centrally acting agents.

1. Previously we have shown that an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine, an I1-imidazoline receptor agonist, resulted in a natriuresis which was inhibited by intravenous idazoxan, a selective imidazoline receptor antagonist. Therefore we examined the effects of renal function of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of moxonidine with or without i.c.v. idazoxan. 2. Seven days after unilateral nephrectomy, Sprague-Dawley rats had i.c.v. cannulae implanted. Three days later the rats were anaesthetized (pentobarbitone), followed by cannulation of the jugular vein (fluid and drug administration), carotid artery (blood pressure) and the ureter (urine collection). 3. After a 45 min stabilization period, the effect of moxonidine was investigated by the i.c.v. administration of either isotonic saline or moxonidine (0.1, 0.3 or 1 nmol in isotonic saline) administered in 5 microliters over 1 min. All doses of moxonidine resulted in an increase in urine flow with a concomitant increase in sodium excretion without affecting blood pressure. The highest dose of moxonidine (1 nmol) also increased free water clearance. 4. In a second series of experiments, the effects of idazoxan on the natriuretic response to i.c.v. moxonidine were determined. Moxonidine (0.3 nmol) again increased sodium and water excretion as compared to the i.c.v. saline control animals. Pretreatment with i.c.v. idazoxan (0.3 nmol), at a dose which alone failed to alter sodium and water excretion, completely attenuated the renal response to moxonidine. These results are consistent with central I1-imidazoline receptors mediating a moxonidine-induced increase in sodium and water excretion at doses that do not alter blood pressure.

Based on previous studies we postulated that, whereas the natriuresis observed following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) moxonidine was mediated by a decrease in renal sympathetic nerve activity, the natriuresis observed following intrarenal (i.r.) infusion of moxonidine was mediated by a direct stimulation of renal I1-imidazoline preferring receptors. Sprague-Dawley rats were unilaterally nephrectomized and i.c.v. cannulated 7 to 10 days and 3 days prior to the day of the experiment, respectively. On the day of the experiment, rats were anesthetized (pentobarbital) and the renal function was isolated. Administration of i.c.v. as well as i.r. moxonidine produced an increase in sodium excretion and urine flow fate. Pretreatment with intravenous prazosin (0.15 mg/kg) completely attenuated the response to i.c.v. moxonidine (1 nmol/5 microliters) but only slightly altered the response to i.r. moxonidine (3 nmol/kg/min). Conversely, intravenous pretreatment with the imidazoline preferring receptor antagonist idazoxan (0.3 mg/kg) completely blocked the response to i.r. moxonidine (3 nmol/kg/min) without altering the response to i.c.v. moxonidine (0.3 nmol/kg). These results would be consistent with the natriuresis observed following i.c.v. moxonidine as being mediated by imidazoline preferring receptors located centrally, whereas that following i.r. moxonidine was mediated directly by renal imidazoline-preferring receptors, with a small component of this response conceivably due to activation of central imidazoline preferring receptors. In summary, the antihypertensive effect of imidazoline preferring receptor agonists may be associated with a natriuresis that is due to stimulation of these receptors, found both peripherally (renal) and centrally.

1. Moxonidine has been found to have an approximately 600 fold greater affinity for I1 imidazoline preferring sites as compared to alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the rat kidney. The effects of an intrarenal infusion of moxonidine in an anaesthetized rat preparation were investigated and contrasted with the effects previously reported for alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. 2. An intrarenal infusion of moxonidine (1, 3 and 10 nmol kg-1 min-1) produced an increase in urine flow rate and sodium excretion. Moxonidine increased urine volume through an increase in osmolar clearance rather than an increase in free water clearance as previously reported for alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. 3. The effects of moxonidine also appeared to be unique from the effects of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. An imidazoline preferring site specific blocking dose of idazoxan (0.3 mg kg-1), but not an alpha 2-adrenoceptor specific blocking dose of rauwolscine (0.3 mg kg-1) attenuated the renal effects of moxonidine (3 nmol kg-1 min-1). Moreover, unlike alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, the effects of moxonidine were not altered by prior treatment with a V2 vasopressin receptor antagonist. 4. These results indicate differences between stimulation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and I1 imidazoline preferring sites in the rat kidney and suggest a direct physiological function of renal imidazoline preferring sites.