Abstract
Plasma renin activity, serum electrolytes and hematocrit were serially measured during the period from the 2nd to 70th day after renal artery clipping in rabbits with intact contralateral kidney (18 animals) and those with contralateral nephrectomy (16 animals). Hypertension developed in both groups. Plasma renin activity was increased in about half of animals with intact contralateral kidney during the first 14 days and in 4 of them on the 70th day, but it remained unchanged or rather reduced in animals with contralateral nephrectomy throughout the observation period. Serum sodium showed an initial increase only in animals with contralateral nephrectomy. Serum potassium was gradually decreased during the first 14 days in animals with intact contralateral kidney but remained unchanged in those with contralateral nephrectomy. Hematocrit was progressively increased from 40.6±0.7(SE)% to 48.3±1.4% in animals with intact contralateral kidney, whereas it remained unchanged in those with contralateral nephrectomy. These results revealed striking contrasts in plasma renin activity, serum electrolytes and hematocrit between 2 types of renovascular hypertension.
