Bleeding and Plasma Renin Activity in the Rat: The Role of ACTH,Glucocorticoids and the Sympathetic Nervous System 1

Summary

The rise in PRA levels caused by bleeding was diminished by hypophysec–tomy and by the administration of dexameth–asone and pentolinium. Although ACTH and the sympathetic system participate in the release of renin induced by bleeding, it is likely that the rise in PRA is also dependent on changes in renal blood flow. It is suggested that dexamethasone inhibits the release of renin induced by bleeding by a direct effect on the receptor sites within the juxtaglomerular cells.

Aminoglutethimide (Elipten) was kindly supplied by Dr. J. J. Chart, Director of Endocrinology, Ciba Pharmaceutical Company, Summit, NJ. We thank Dr. Norman S. Fleischer's laboratory for providing the plasma renin assays.