Split Renal and Peripheral Vein Renin Activity in the Unilateral Renovascular Hypertensive Rabbits

Abstract

Divided renal and peripheral vein plasma renin activity (PRA) and it's relation to the onset or course of renovascular hypertension induced experimentally were investigated. Constriction of the unilateral renal artery in the rabbits was produced with the silver clip, the opposite kidney being left intact. Five of the 15 rabbits thus operated showed sustained hypertension, mean arterial blood pressure being more than 150 mmHg 2 months after the clipping. Five showed a transient rise followed by gradual fall in blood pressure, and the rest of 5 no changes. In these all 15 rabbits, PRA was determined in three different venous bloods, d) : clipped side renal, , i) : contralateral renal and p) : peripheral vein. In those with sustained hypertension PRA was significantly higher in the clipped side renal vein than contralateral side or peripheral vein, A(d>i≅p) pattern. On the contrary, rabbits with transient hypertension and no change in blood pressure showed either B(d, i>p) or C(i>d≅p) but no A(d>i≅p) pattern of PRA. The significance of PRA pattern in three different veins in pathogenesis of renal hypertension was discussed. This observation is in accord with the finding obtained in our clinical experience that patients with d>i≅p PRA pattern are surgically curable in renovascular hypertension.