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Trypsin-activated renin (inactive renin) was detected in the break-through fraction when dog plasma or renin extracted from renin granules (stored renin) was applied to a pepstatin column, respectively. The appearance of the renin activity by trypsin treatment was not due to acid protease. Production of angiotensin I from homologous renin substrate by the trypsin-activated renin was proportional to the time of incubation. The trypsin-activated renin had an affinity for the pepstatin column. The maximum amount of trypsin-activated renin was obtained with incubation for 15 min at 37 degrees C at 1000 micrograms/ml in plasma or at 100 micrograms/ml in case of stored renin. The ratio of inactive to active renin was calculated to be 1.6 or 0.002 in plasma or stored renin, respectively, under conditions of a standard sodium diet.

To clarify the role of renal prostanoid in hyperreninemia and high blood pressure in human renovascular hypertension, we measured prostaglandin E2 and renin activity in renal venous and abdominal aortic plasma before and after the intravenous administration of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, aspirin DL-lysine. Subjects were six patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension and six with essential hypertension. In patients with renovascular hypertension, prostaglandin E2 concentration in renal venous plasma from the stenotic kidney was 9.25 +/- 1.48 pg/ml, which was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than the concentration in the renal venous plasma from the normal kidney (4.97 +/- 1.02 pg/ml) or in the aortic plasma (2.59 +/- 0.15 pg/ml). Plasma renin activity was also higher in the renal vein of the stenotic kidney than in the other two sites. The stenotic side/normal side ratio of the renal venous prostaglandin E2 correlated significantly with a renin ratio greater than 1.5 (r = 0.8211, p less than 0.05). Intravenous injection of aspirin DL-lysine (18 mg/kg) 30 minutes later markedly suppressed prostaglandin E2 and renin levels at all sites and clearly lowered arterial blood pressure (mean: from 120 +/- 6 to 110 +/- 5 mm Hg, p less than 0.01). The reduction in blood pressure correlated significantly with the suppression of plasma renin activity in the aorta (p less than 0.05) and in the renal vein of the stenotic kidney (p less than 0.01). Conversely, in patients with essential hypertension, aspirin had little effect on renin levels and increased mean blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kallikrein-kinin and renin-angiotensin systems in rat renal lymph. Rat renal lymph contains 254 ± 17 ng/ml (x ±SEM, N = 20) of immunoreactive glandular kallikrein. Like the immunoreactive glandular kallikrein in plasma, it is biologically inactive. Gel filtration of renal lymph reveals profiles for immunoreactive glandular kallikrein, protein, and inhibition of trypsin and kallikrein which resemble those seen for plasma except that high molecular weight plasma components are reduced or missing in renal lymph. In contrast, gel filtration of thoracic lymph reveals immunoreactive glandular kallikrein and protein profiles which are indistinguishable from those seen with plasma. Renin levels are 170-fold higher in renal lymph than in thoracic lymph while angiotensin-converting enzyme levels are only 16% those of thoracic lymph. In keeping with the high renin and low converting enzyme activities, renal lymph contains high levels of angiotensin I. Immunoreactive glandular kallikrein levels in renal lymph, thoracic lymph and plasma do not show the striking differences observed for renin.Les systèmes kallikréine-kinine et rénine-angiotensine dans la lymphe rénale de rat. La lymphe rénale de rat contient 254 ± 17 ng/ml (xSEM, N = 20) de kallikréine glandulaire immunoréactive. Comme la kallikréine glandulaire immunoréactive plasmatique, elle est biologiquement inactive. La filtration sur gel de lymphe rénale révèle des profils de kallikréine glandulaire immunoréactive, de protéines, d'inhibiteurs de la trypsine et de kallikréine qui ressemblent à ceux vus pour le plasma, à l'exception que des constituants plasmatiques de haut poids moléculaire sont diminués ou absents dans la lymphe rénale. A l'opposé, la filtration sur gel de lymphe thoracique révèle des profils de kallikréine glandulaire immunoréactive et de protéines qui ne sont pas distinguables de ceux du plasma. Les niveaux de rénine sont 170 fois plus élevés dans la lymphe rénale que dans la lymphe thoracique, tandis que les niveaux d'enzyme de conversion de l'angiotensine sont seulement 16% de ceux de la lymphe thoracique. En même temps qu'une rénine élevée et que de faibles activités d'enzyme de conversion, la lymphe rénale contient des niveaux élevés d'angiotensine I. Les niveaux de kallikréine glandulaire immunoréactive dans la lymphe rénale, la lymphe thoracique et le plasma ne montrent pas les différences frappantes observées pour la rénine.

1. Angiotensin (ANG) levels were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of 15 patients with essential hypertension on a high sodium diet for 1 week and on a low sodium diet for a further week. ANGs were determined using a system of extraction by Sep-Pak cartridges followed by h.p.l.c. combined with radioimmunoassay. 2. Sodium depletion resulted in increases of ANG II in the cerebrospinal fluid from 1.16 ± 0.38 (sem) to 1.83 ± 0.43 fmol/ml (P < 0.01) and of ANG III from 0.65 ± 0.11 to 0.86 ± 0.15 fmol/ml (P < 0.01). 3. The ANG II level in the cerebrospinal fluid was found to be unchanged and recovery of added ANG II was approximately 90%, even after incubation for 3 h, on both diets. Thus, it is unlikely that ANG II is produced or degraded in the cerebrospinal fluid in vitro. 4. There was no significant correlation between the cerebrospinal fluid and the plasma ANG II concentration on the low sodium diet. 5. These results suggest that the cerebrospinal fluid ANG II level increases with sodium depletion, and that the effect of the level of ANG II on the activity of the angiotensin-forming system in the central nervous system may be assessed by determination of ANG II in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with essential hypertension.

1. A soluble fraction of renal cortical homogenate (cytosol) and renin extracted from isolated renin granules of the dog kidney were kept at 0°C. 2. Although the molecular weight of the renin in the cytosol on day 1 was estimated to be about 40 000 by gel filtration, the renin was completely converted into a higher—molecular—weight form (60 000) by day 7. The renin in the granules kept its molecular size of 40 000 during cold storage. 3. This type of molecular—weight conversion could be performed without protease inhibitors. 4. Dithiothreitol neither inhibited the conversion into the higher—molecular—weight form of renin during cold storage nor led to a reduction in the molecular weight of renin, although the oxidation of thiol groups has been proposed as the mechanism for the molecular—weight conversion of renin. 5. Keeping a mixture of renin from the granules and crude renin—binding substance at 0°C for 7 days resulted in the conversion of the renin into the higher—molecular—weight form, indicating that the renin—binding substance we have previously described is required for the conversion during cold storage. 6. Acidification caused the higher—molecular—weight form of renin formed in the cytosol to change to the lower—molecular—weight form, with a concomitant increase in activity of about 50%.

We examined the inactive to active renin ratio in the renin granules of the cadaver kidneys and the plasma in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The inactive renin in the break-through fraction when the plasma or the renin from the renin granules was put into a pepstatin column was determined. The inactive renin in this fraction was activated by trypsin. Concerning plasma, the inactive to active renin ratio was 90 in the patients and 9 in the normal subjects. On the other hand, this ratio was 0.29 in the patients' kidneys and 0.28 in the control kidneys. These results suggest that the increase of the inactive to active renin ratio in plasma of diabetic nephropathy does not result from the change of the renin storage in the kidneys.

We compared the effects of intrathecal administration of antiserum against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) between thermo- and mechano-nociceptive responses, using experimental hyperalgesic rats. An intrathecal administration of anti-CGRP antiserum, but not antiserum absorbed by synthetic CGRP, normalized either adjuvant- or carrageenin-induced hyperalgesia both in the paw radiant heat and the paw pressure tests, with little effect on non-hyperalgesic paws. These results suggest that endogenous CGRP, probably present in primary afferents, promotes both thermo- and mechano-nociceptive transmission in the spinal dorsal horn, at least in the hyperalgesic states with inflammations.

We measured endogenous angiotensins (ANGs) I, II&III using a system of extraction by Sep-Pak column followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with radioimmunoassay (RIA). An excellent separation of ANGs was obtained by HPLC. The recovery of ANGs I, II&III was 80–84%, when these authentic peptides were added to 6 ml of plasma. The coefficient of variation of the ANGs was 0.04–0.09 for intra-assay and 0.08–0.13 for inter-assay, thereby indicating a good reproducibility. Plasma ANGs I, II&III measured by this method in 5 normal volunteers were 51,4.5 and 1.2 pg/ml. In the presence of captopril, ANGs II&III decreased by 84% and 77%, respectively, while ANG I increased 5.1 times. This method is therefore useful to assess the precise levels of plasma ANGs.

We determined concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), angiotensin (Ang), norepinephrine (NE) and electrolyte in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to study possible roles of these substances within the brain in human hypertension. Blood and CSF samples were obtained from 10 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (EHT) aged 40-65 y and 10 age-matched normotensive subjects (NT) on a regular salt diet (8 g/day). Levels of ANP, NE, Na, K, Ca and Cl in CSF and plasma were comparable between EHT and NT. Plasma renin activity, plasma and CSF Ang II were lower in EHT than NT. CSF Ang III tended to be lower in EHT. There was no correlation between CSF and plasma ANP, or between CSF and plasma Ang II. Our results indicate that CSF levels of ANP may not be altered in middle aged patients with mild to moderate hypertension. It is also suggested that Ang II, NE and sodium in the central nervous system may not have important roles in hypertension of those patients.

Red cell sodium (RBC-Na+) concentrations were measured using 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), without the destruction of erythrocyte membranes. Subjects were categorized into four groups: 20 normotensive subjects (NT group), 20 age-matched essential hypertensive patients (EHT group), 10 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA group), and 18 patients treated with digoxin (DIG group). Although RBC-Na+ concentrations were similar between the NT group (6.14 +/- 0.80 (Mean +/- SD) mmol/l) and the EHT group (5.92 +/- 0.99), they were significantly higher in both the PA group (7.55 +/- 0.88, p less than 0.001) and the DIG group (8.43 +/- 3.81, p less than 0.02). In the PA group, RBC-Na+ concentrations decreased significantly after resection of the adenoma, and there was an inverse relationship between serum potassium and RBC-Na+ concentrations (r = -0.65, p less than 0.01). In the DIG group, RBC-Na+ concentrations tended to increase in proportion to serum digoxin levels (r = 0.53, p less than 0.05). These results support the view that RBC-Na+ concentrations are determined primarily by Na+/K+-pump activity of red cell membranes. This study showed also that Na+ NMR is an useful method determining intracellular Na+ concentrations.

Against the current concept of abortive regeneration of axotomized neurons in the mammalian central nervous system, the occurrence of remarkable axonal regeneration of cerebellothalamic projection neurons following transection of the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle was proved in kittens morphologically by utilizing anterograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and electrophysiologically by recording the cerebellar-induced cerebral cortical potential. Following axotomy, not only axonal regeneration occurred but also retrograde degeneration of somata which was apparently noticeable as cell loss. The extent of cerebellar nuclear cell loss was inversely related to the extent of regeneration of cerebellofugal axons.

We examined the diuretic effects of a second infusion of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP). Intrarenal infusion of ANP (50 ng X kg-1 X min-1) for 30 min to anesthetized dogs had no significant effect on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), whereas there was an increase in urine flow (V) and urinary excretion of sodium (UNaV) from 7.5 +/- 1.5 to 34.1 +/- 9.4 microliters/g X min, from 0.97 +/- 0.20 to 4.38 +/- 1.32 microEq/g X min, respectively. When the same dose of ANP was infused 1 h after the first administration, V and UNaV were increased from 12.4 +/- 1.8 to 62.5 +/- 18.8 microliters/g X min, from 1.72 +/- 0.57 to 7.18 +/- 2.68 microEq/g X min, respectively. A second infusion of ANP caused a greater absolute increase in UNaV than did the first infusion but proportionally the increase in UNaV with the second ANP infusion was much the same. The present study shows that acute ANP infusion has no tachyphylaxis on the natriuretic response. These data will aid in establishing a bioassay for natriuretic response in vivo, thereby leading to elucidation of the physiological action of ANP.

To examine the influence of dietary sodium, prostaglandin, and captopril on vascular reactivity, 12 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and seven normotensive subjects (NT) were given a high sodium diet and thereafter a low sodium diet, each for ten days. Indomethacin (IND) (150 mg/d) was administered during the last three days of each dietary period. Blood pressure and cardiac output (CO) (by impedance cardiography) were measured during the angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion before and after the IND treatment of each dietary period. In eight patients with EH, captopril 100 mg was given before Ang II infusion. EH patients were classified as either salt sensitive (SS) or nonsalt sensitive (NSS). The mean blood pressure (MBP) response to Ang II was significantly higher on high sodium intake than on low sodium intake in NSS and NT, but not in SS. IND significantly increased the MBP response to Ang II on low sodium intake in NSS and NT, but not in SS. IND significantly increased the TPR response to Ang II on low sodium intake, remarkably in NSS and NT compared with SS. Salt sensitivity (% decrease in MBP from high to low sodium intake) highly correlated with the increase in the TPR response to Ang II by IND on low sodium intake (r = -0.90). After captopril administration, IND still increased the MBP and TPR response to Ang II on low sodium intake. These results suggest that the modulation of the vascular responsiveness to Ang II by prostaglandins is altered by sodium balance and salt sensitivity in EH.

A woman was operated on for pulmonary metastasis four years after a radical resection of the rectum, and four years thereafter a solitary metastasis to the left adrenal was found. An elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level indicated the lesion. Adrenalectomy was performed and the patient has been well with no further evidence of disease.

A normal size form of renin, which seems to be a storage form in renin granules, changed neither in molecular weight nor activity by acidification to pH 3.0. High molecular weight (HMW) renin fractionated by gel chromatography from crude renal extract prepared with thiol group blockers was converted into normal size renin by acdification, accompanied with an increase in renin activity by about 50%. The molecular weight conversion by acidification appeared due to destruction or loss of binding ability of the renin binding substance which was present in the cytosol of renal cortical tissue. Renin and renin binding substance could combine into HMW renin at neutral pH in the presence of thiol group blockers and renin activity decreased.

1. The low-molecular-weight (40 000) form of renin was converted into the high-molecular-weight (60 000) form of renin with sulphydryl oxidation, and the high-molecular-weight form of renin was re-converted into the low-molecular-weight form with a reduction of disulphide bonds in the renal cortical homogenate of the dog. Therefore, the low- and high-molecular-weight forms of renin were interconvertible. 2. The formation of high-molecular-weight form of renin required a renin binding substance which was found to be included in the cytosol fraction of kidney cortex of the dog. 3. The renin binding substance of the dog was unstable to heat and low pH, but vitally resistant to Triton X-100 and chloroform. It did not bind to concanavalin A Sepharose 4B. 4. The renin binding substance was eluted in the molecular-weight region between 156 000 and 60 000 on Sephadex G-200, and such apparent molecular weight was not altered by urea at 4 mol/l; thus molecular weight greater than the theoretically expected value of 20 000 was indicated.

Effects of calmodulin antagonists on renin release from isolated rat glomeruli were examined. The calmodulin antagonists used were N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-naphthalene-1-sulfonamide (W-7), triflupromazine and trifluoperazine. These drugs induced renin release from isolated glomeruli in a dose-dependent manner. The threshold concentration for renin release in the calcium-containing medium was 50 microM for W-7, 5 microM for triflupromazine and 2 microM for trifluoperazine respectively. The threshold concentrations were 2-5 times less in the calcium-free medium. The maximum levels of renin release by the three antagonists were similar in both calcium-containing and calcium-free media. In the absence of these antagonists, the basal rate of renin release in the calcium-free medium was markedly higher than in the calcium-containing medium. These results suggest that the calcium-calmodulin system inhibits renin release and that renin release is regulated by a mechanism different from the calcium-stimulated exocytotic mechanism by which many hormones are released.

In order to verify the contribution of right atrial pressure to atrial natriuretic polypeptides (ANP) release, we measured plasma levels of immunoreactive (ir)-ANP when graded rise of right atrial pressure was executed in anesthetized dogs. Increasing right atrial pressure (RAP) from 2.7 +/- 0.6 to 9.0 +/- 0.7 mmHg, plasma levels of ir-ANP in aorta tended to increase by 33% but not significantly (p greater than 0.05). However, when RAP was increased from 9.0 +/- 0.7 to 17.0 +/- 1.1 mmHg, ir-ANP levels in aorta were significantly (p less than 0.05) increased by 132% of control within 5 min from the start of RAP elevation. The RAP elevation produced a sustained increase in plasma levels of ir-ANP. There was a positive correlation between right atrial pressure and plasma levels of ir-ANP. The plasma levels of ir-ANP were similar between aorta and pulmonary artery. These results demonstrate that increasing atrial pressure is closely correlated with ANP release and ANP is not greatly metabolized by pulmonary circulation.

Our recent findings on molecular weight conversion in the case of renin are summarized and reviewed herein. The molecular weight of renin extracted from isolated renin granules from dogs and rats is approximately 40,000. This renin reacts with a constituent of kidney extract to form a high molecular weight renin of approximately 60,000. This constituent was termed a renin binding substance. This substance is probably contained in the cytosol of kidney cortex, and its characteristics are (1) heat instability, (2) non-dialyzability, (3) loss of binding ability by acidification at pH 3.0 and (4) apparent molecular weight is over 47,000. The binding reaction is mediated in two different ways; thiol oxidation with sodium tetrathionate and exposure of the reaction mixture at 0 degrees C for several days without thiol oxidation.

Renin granules were isolated by the combination of discontinuous and continuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The peak fraction containing the highest concentration of renin granules was found to contain the highest concentration of both angiotensin I and II immunoreactive substances. The identity of the immunoreactive peptides was further confirmed as angiotensin I and angiotensin II by high pressure liquid chromatography in reference to standard compounds. The coexistence of angiotensins I and II with renin indicates the formation of angiotensin II in renin granules. These findings clarify the mechanism of intracellular formation of angiotensin II as opposed to its formation in plasma and provide evidence against the internalization of angiotensin II, a hypothesis supported by the failure to detect angiotensin I in renin granules. Angiotensin II was increased by a low sodium diet while a high sodium diet did not affect its content.

We measured components of the cerebrospinal fluid renin-angiotensin system from patients with essential hypertension under different dietary sodium intakes. The cerebrospinal fluid concentration of angiotensin II (Ang II) from the patients on a normal-sodium diet was 1.36 +/- 0.41 fmol/ml (n = 5). Neither the inactive nor the active form of renin was detected by the enzymatic activity or by the immunoreactivity, whereas angiotensinogen was detected (38.6 +/- 3.1 pmol/ml, n = 5). The Ang II level remained unchanged even after incubation of the cerebrospinal fluid at 37 degrees C for 3 h. Further, when authentic Ang II was added to the cerebrospinal fluid followed by incubation for 3 h at 37 degrees C, more than 90% of the added Ang II remained unchanged. Thus, the cerebrospinal fluid Ang II level may be reflected by the activity of the brain Ang II-forming system, as it was not affected by the cerebrospinal fluid constituents. The circulating renin-angiotensin system was stimulated by sodium depletion, and the cerebrospinal fluid concentration of Ang II also increased significantly. Sodium depletion may stimulate the brain Ang-II forming system, as it does the circulating renin-angiotensin system.

We isolated renin granules from cadaver kidneys using discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and investigated the storage form of the renin from these granules. Approximately 23% of the total renin activity in the original homogenate was obtained from the surface phase between 1.6 and 1.7 M sucrose (Fraction 6). Granule renin extracted from the granules in Fraction 6 was separated into active and inactive renin using pepstatin affinity chromatography. Only the active renin had an affinity for pepstatin. The inactive renin, albeit activated by trypsin, was little activated by acidification. The proportion of inactive renin was about 25% of the total granule renin (active renin + inactive renin). Trypsin concentrations over 10 micrograms/ml resulted in a decrease in the renin activity of the trypsin-activated renin, but the enzymatic activity of active renin was decreased by trypsin. With gel filtration, the inactive renin revealed a single peak, and the molecular weight (MW) was 48,000. The active renin had a MW of 44,000. The inactive renin could be activated by trypsin without an apparent change in molecular weight.

1. Renal cortical homogenates of the dog were subjected to sieve separation, a Nucleopore Filter being used to separate the renin granules. 2. The molecular weight of renin in the granules was estimated to be about 40 000 by gel filtration. Renin was converted into a higher-molecular-weight form (60 000) by mixing with cytosol in the presence of sodium tetrathionate, a thiol inhibitor. 3. When cytosol was pretreated with acid (pH 30) or heating (100°C), the molecular-weight conversion did not occur. 4. Cytosol was separated into three parts by gel filtration. Fraction A included substances with a molecular weight of over 47 000, fraction B from 47 000 to 32 000, and fraction C from 32 000 to 15 000. The mixture of renin in the granules with fraction A and sodium tetrathionate resulted in the formation of a higher-molecular-weight form of the enzyme, but no change in molecular weight was detected when renin was mixed with fractions B or C and sodium tetrathionate.

To assess the released form of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) during atrial distension, we compared the form of ANP before and during atrial distension in anesthetized dogs, using radioimmunoassay combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). When increasing the left atrial pressure (LAP) from 2.2 +/- 0.9 mmHg to 9.4 +/- 1.3 mmHg, the plasma ANP concentration in the coronary sinus was increased by 190% over the control, during left atrial distension. The major form of the released ANP extracted in the blood sample obtained from the coronary sinus was alpha-form. However other unidentified immunoreactive peaks, preceding and following the main peak were also discernible. These results suggest that the major form of ANP released during left atrial distension was the alpha-form.

The enzyme renin has been purified and characterized by structural analysis. Pure renin protein was used to produce a specific antibody to renin, which was useful in demonstrating the presence of a specific renin in many tissues other than kidney. Further, in these cells angiotensins I and II and converting enzyme all were found to coexist with renin by immunohistochemical studies, indicating the local production of renin, angiotensinogen and angiotensins in these cells. Angiotensin II produced in the cultured cells was secreted to the outside of the cells. Secretion of angiotensin II from the angiotensin-producing cells was demonstrated with perfused mesenteric artery. The secretion of angiotensin II from the vascular beds was inhibited by converting enzyme inhibitors, and was stimulated by the adrenergic beta-agonist isoproterenol. These studies demonstrate local production and controlled secretion of angiotensin II and define its physiologic role.

We examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on pressor and natriuretic responses induced by i.c.v. angiotensin II (Ang II) or hypertonic NaCl. Conscious male Wistar rats were given one of the following solutions into the lateral ventricle: artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); rat ANF (99-126) 1.0 microgram/kg per min; Ang II 100 ng/kg per min; 0.6 mol/l NaCl; Ang II plus ANF, and 0.6 mol/l NaCl plus ANF. The i.c.v. infusion of artificial CSF or ANF alone did not cause significant changes in mean blood pressure, urinary volume or sodium excretion (UNaV). The i.c.v. infusion of Ang II or 0.6 mol/l NaCl raised mean blood pressure, decreased urinary volume and increased UNaV. When ANF was administered with Ang II, the Ang II-induced responses were diminished significantly (delta mean blood pressure, +10 +/- 3 versus +20 +/- 4 mmHg; delta urinary volume, -38 +/- 9 versus -78 +/- 5 microliters/min; delta UNaV, +0.49 +/- 0.51 versus +2.28 +/- 0.58 mumol/min). The centrally administered ANF opposed the effects of 0.6 mol/l NaCl, though the effect was significant only in respect of blood pressure. Our results indicate that the brain ANF may have an antinatriuretic role in some conditions.

We examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on pressor and natriuretic responses induced by i.c.v. angiotensin II (Ang II) or hypertonic NaCl in conscious male Wistar rats. The i.c.v. artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or ANF alone did not cause recognizable changes in mean blood pressure (MBP), urinary volume (UV), or sodium excretion (UNaV). The i.c.v. Ang II or 0.6 M NaCl raised MBP, decreased UV, and increased UNaV. When ANF was administered with Ang II, the Ang II-induced changes in MBP, UV, and UNaV were diminished significantly. ANF also opposed the effects of 0.6 m NaCl, though the effect was significant only in the case of blood pressure. Our results indicate that brain ANF may have antipressor and anti-natriuretic roles.

A high-molecular-weight form of renin, has been reported to be detectable in kidney cortex (1), amniotic fluid (2), and plasma (3). However, little is known of its relevance in physiology and pathology, including the mechanism of formation.

To study the circulating humoral factor modifying transmembrane sodium transport, plasma was obtained from 12 patients with essential hypertension (EH) fed a high sodium diet (NaCl 15 to 17 g/d) for seven days and thereafter a low sodium diet (NaCl 2 to 3 g/d) for seven days. Ouabain-sensitive {sup 86}Rb+ influx into the red blood cells (RBC) obtained from a healthy subject, and incubated with the plasma obtained during the high sodium diet was significantly lower than that incubated with the plasma obtained during the low sodium diet (3.74 +/- 0.26 v 3.97 +/- 0.30 nmol/10(8) cells, P less than .05). The changes in mean blood pressure from the high to low sodium diet showed a significant positive correlation with the changes in the ouabain-sensitive Rb influx into RBC in the plasma from the high to low sodium diet. These results suggest that a humoral factor modifying the sodium pump might be altered by sodium balance in EH, especially in salt-sensitive hypertension.

The causative mechanisms of hypertension were investigated by studying the renal function (pressure-natriuresis) curve in patients with primary aldosteronism (n = 6) and renovascular hypertension (n = 6). Before and after radical operation (removal of adenoma in primary aldosteronism and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renovascular hypertension), dietary NaCl intake was altered from 10 to 13 g/day in Week 1 to 1 to 3 g/day in Week 2. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and urinary sodium excretion were measured on the last 3 days of each week. By restricting sodium intake before operation, MAP was reduced from 122 +/- 7 to 113 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.025) in primary aldosteronism but not in renovascular hypertension (130 +/- 6 to 128 +/- 5 mm Hg). The renal function curve was drawn by plotting urinary sodium excretion on the ordinate and MAP on the abscissa before and after operation. The slope of the curve was analyzed between the plotted points, and each curve was extrapolated to zero sodium excretion as an estimate of the degree of shift of the curve along the MAP axis. Before, as compared with after operation, the extrapolated x-intercept of the curve was shifted rightward in both primary aldosteronism (111 +/- 7 vs 87 +/- 4 mm Hg; p less than 0.025) and renovascular hypertension (128 +/- 5 vs 95 +/- 2 mm Hg; p less than 0.025) and the slope was depressed in primary aldosteronism (16 +/- 1 vs 40 +/- 17 [mEq/day]/mm Hg; p less than 0.025) but not in renovascular hypertension (130 +/- 75 vs 40 +/- 13 [mEq/day]/mm Hg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To examine the role of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we measured angiotensin II contents and tubular 125I-angiotensin II binding sites in the kidney of SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In prehypertensive (4-week-old) SHR, not only the kidney angiotensin II content but also the angiotensin II receptor density in brush border membranes were significantly higher than in the WKY. In contrast, angiotensin II levels in the 20-week-old SHR kidneys were significantly lower than in the WKY. Acceleration of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system and the increased density of tubular angiotensin II receptors in young SHR may therefore play an important role in the development of high blood pressure in SHR.

The hypotensive effects of some antihypertensive drugs are augmented under sodium restriction, while those of others are not. The mechanisms of these interactions were theoretically analyzed based on the arterial pressure-natriuresis relationship. Four-week studies were performed in 24 patients with essential hypertension who were given a regular sodium diet (12-15 g of NaCl/d) in the first and third weeks and a sodium-restricted diet (1-3 g/d) in the second and fourth weeks. One of three antihypertensive drugs, 60 mg/d of nicardipine (Ca-antagonist), 120 mg/d of propranolol (beta-blocker) or 150 mg/d of captopril (converting-enzyme inhibitor) was administered in the third and fourth weeks. The mean arterial pressure and urinary sodium excretion were measured on the last three days of each week. The degree of interaction between the antihypertensive drugs and sodium restriction was statistically compared. The hypotensive effect of nicardipine and propranolol did not differ with the change in sodium intake, whereas that of captopril was greater under sodium restriction than under the regular sodium diet. Urinary sodium excretion was plotted on the ordinate as a function of arterial pressure before and after administration of the antihypertensive drugs. The pressure-natriuresis curve was shifted left, without a change in the slope, by nicardipine and propranolol and also left, but with a decrease in the slope, by captopril. The hypotensive effect of nicardipine and propranolol, being independent of the amount of sodium intake, was based on the leftward shift of the pressure-natriuresis curve that was probably due to the decrease in renal vascular resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mature renin granules were isolated by the combination of discontinuous and continuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Stored renin in the renin granules was found to consist of isoelectrically seven different forms. The seven different isoelectric points (pIs) were 5.6, 5.35, 5.2, 5.0, 4.8, 4.6 and 4.4. Approximately 70% of the stored renin as the total enzymatic activities from all isoelectric peaks was found in a peak which pI corresponded to be 5.35. Renin secreted from isolated glomeruli was also focused into seven peaks possessing identical values. However, the distribution pattern of renin peaks was quite different from that of stored renin. In the secreted renin, peaks of 5.35 (pI) and 5.2 (pI) showed high renin activity and each had approximately 30% of released renin as the total recovered. These results indicate multiple forms of renin are stored and secreted by rat kidney. As the distribution pattern of enzymatic activities in renin peaks between stored renin and secreted renin are different, it is probable that renin may not secreted through mature renin granules by exocytotic mechanism.

The effects of intrarenal administration of isoproterenol on excretion of urinary enzymes were examined in dogs. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) originated from lysosomes and the brush border membrane of the kidney, respectively. NAG excretion was elevated for 10 min by isoproterenol (0.2 microgram/kg/min) without a drastic change in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. This elevation was inhibited by pretreatment with d,l-propranolol (0.6 mg/kg bolus injection 0.3 mg/kg/30 min) but less so by d-propranolol. Urinary gamma-GTP excretion was little affected by isoproterenol. In light of these findings, the possibility that beta-receptors may be involved in the excretion of NAG has to be considered.