Renin Activity Content in Various Tissues of Dogs Under Different Physiopathological States 1

Summary

Plasma renin activity and renin activity content in several tissues of dogs under conditions of severe sodium restriction, congestive heart failure, clipping of one renal artery, and nephrectomy were studied and compared to the values obtained in control dogs. The highest extrarenal RAC was found in adrenal glands followed by liver, spleen, heart, lung, skeletal muscle, and arterial tissue. Severe chronic sodium restriction increased RAC in all tissues, with the exception of the adrenal glands and aorta; whereas, the RAC following nephrectomy did not decrease significantly. In renovascular hypertension secondary to unilateral renal clipping, there is a slight, but not significant, increase in RAC in adrenal glands.