NG-monomethylarginine (L-NMA) and asymmetric NG, NG-dimethylarginines (ADMA) are endogenous
inhibitors of cellular L-arginine uptake and/or nitric oxide (NO) synthesis that are
implicated in renal parenchymal and Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension. Since the L-arginine:(L-NMA
+ ADMA) ratio determines NO synthase (NOS) activity, we compared the immunohistochemical
distribution of NOS with NG, NG-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), which
inactivates dimethylarginines (DMA) and L-NMA by hydrolysis to L-citrulline. Neuronal
NOS (nNOS) was expressed predominantly in tubular epithelial cells of macula densa
(MD), endothelial NOS (eNOS) in vascular endothelial cells (EC), and inducible NOS
(iNOS) quite widely in tubular epithelium, including proximal tubules (PT), thick
ascending limbs of Henle (TAL), distal convoluted tubule and intercalated cells (IC)
of the collecting duct. Immunostaining for DDAH was present in PT, TAL, MD, and IC,
and was also present in the glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, and endothelium of blood
vessels. DDAH was detected in small vesicles of TAL and PT by electron microscopic
(EM) immunocytochemistry. To study the effects of methylarginines on tubuloglomerular
feedback (TGF) response, vehicle or methylarginines (10(-3) M) were added to artificial
tubular fluid (ATF) perfused orthogradely from the late PT at 40 nl. min-1 while assessing
changes in glomerular capillary pressure from proximal stop flow pressure (PSF). Whereas
the maximal TGF responses were unchanged by vehicle (delta TGF 0 +/- 0%) or symmetric
DMA (SDMA; +1 +/- 2%, NS), they were enhanced by L-NMA (+22 +/- 4%, P < 0.001) and
asymmetric DMA (ADMA; +28 +/- 3%, P < 0.001). Since L-arginine transport can regulate
renal epithelial NO generation, methylarginines (10(-3) M) or vehicle were co-perfused
orthogradely with [3H]-L-arginine from the late PT and collected at the early distal
tubule to study arginine uptake from the perfused loop of Henle. All methylarginines
reduced fractional loop [3H] absorption significantly (P < 0.001; vehicle, 84 +/-
6; ADMA, 49 +/- 6; SDMA, 56 +/- 6; L-NMA, 41 +/- 6%). In conclusion, sites of DDAH
expression in the vasculature or nephron are all sites of expression of an isoform
of NOS. L-NMA, ADMA, and SDMA all inhibit renal tubular L-arginine uptake, whereas
L-NMA and ADMA, but not SDMA, enhance TGF responses. Therefore, DDAH may regulate
the cellular L-arginine: methylarginine levels in specific renal cells, thereby governing
cell-specific L-arginine uptake and NO generation in renal tubular epithelium.