Correct option is D
Statement A: "Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and endothelin constrict renal blood vessels and decrease GFR." (Correct)
- Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (from the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla) cause vasoconstriction of renal arteries, reducing renal blood flow (RBF) and GFR.
- Endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor, is released in response to stress and injury, further reducing GFR.
Statement B: "Endothelin dilates renal blood vessels to increase GFR." (Incorrect)
- Endothelin is a vasoconstrictor, not a vasodilator.
- It reduces renal blood flow and GFR, particularly in disease conditions (e.g., acute kidney injury).
Statement C: "Norepinephrine and endothelin constrict renal blood vessels and decrease GFR, while epinephrine dilates renal blood vessels to increase GFR." (Incorrect)
- The first part is correct (NE and endothelin cause vasoconstriction).
- However, epinephrine does not always dilate renal blood vessels.
- At low doses, epinephrine increases renal perfusion slightly.
- At high doses, epinephrine causes vasoconstriction, decreasing renal blood flow and GFR.
- Since epinephrine’s effect is dose-dependent, the statement is not fully correct.
Statement D: "Prostaglandin (PGE₂) and bradykinin decrease renal vascular resistance and increase GFR." (Correct)
- Prostaglandins (PGE₂, PGI₂) are vasodilators that help maintain GFR by counteracting excessive vasoconstriction caused by angiotensin II and norepinephrine.
- Bradykinin is also a vasodilator that increases renal blood flow and GFR.
Information Booster
Here are some key concepts related to hormonal regulation of GFR:
Vasoconstrictors (Decrease GFR & Renal Blood Flow):
- Norepinephrine & Epinephrine (sympathetic activation) → constrict afferent arterioles, reducing GFR.
- Endothelin → a powerful vasoconstrictor, reducing renal blood flow.
- Angiotensin II → at high levels, it constricts efferent arterioles, reducing GFR.
Vasodilators (Increase GFR & Renal Blood Flow):
- Prostaglandins (PGE₂, PGI₂) → dilate renal arterioles, preventing excessive vasoconstriction.
- Bradykinin → increases renal perfusion and GFR.
- Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) → dilates afferent arterioles, increasing GFR.
Epinephrine’s Role:
- Low doses → mild dilation of renal vessels, increasing GFR.
- High doses → vasoconstriction, reducing renal blood flow and GFR.
Glomerular Filtration Regulation:
- Autoregulation mechanisms (myogenic response, tubuloglomerular feedback) help stabilize GFR.
- Hormonal control fine-tunes filtration based on the body's needs.
Clinical Relevance:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit prostaglandins, potentially reducing GFR.
- ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril) block angiotensin II, preventing excessive vasoconstriction.


