Influence of Altering Total Body Sodium on Angiotensin I Systemic Converting Activity 1

Summary

Studies were carried out in the dog to determine the extent to which alterations in total body sodium influence the systemic conversion of angiotensni I. When the animals were maintained on a high salt diet and DOCA, conversion of angiotensin I increased significantly and returned to control levels when a normal salt diet was provided. When another group of animals were provided a low salt diet and mercuhydrin, angiotensin I conversion decreased significantly, although returning the animals to a normal salt diet had no further influence upon conversion. These experiments indicate that there is a direct relationship between total body sodium and the systemic conversion of angiotensin I.