High-Renin Essential Hypertension: Adrenergic Cardiovascular Correlates

1976 ◽  
Vol 51 (s3) ◽  
pp. 181s-184s ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Esler ◽  
S. Julius ◽  
O. Randall ◽  
V. Dequattro ◽  
A. Zweifler

1. Patients with mild essential hypertension and elevated plasma renin activity, when compared with normal subjects and hypertensive subjects with normal plasma renin, demonstrated features of sympathetic nervous cardiovascular excitation, accompanied by a raised plasma noradrenaline concentration. 2. An elevated heart rate at rest, shortened cardiac pre-ejection period, and greater heart rate reduction with acute β-adrenoreceptor blockade (intravenous propranolol) in high-renin essential hypertension were indicative of adrenergic cardiac excitation. An elevated total peripheral vascular resistance at rest and a greater fall in peripheral resistance with α-adrenoreceptor blockade (intravenous phentolamine) suggested the existence of a neurogenic increase in arteriolar resistance. 3. Blood pressure was normalized by ‘total’ autonomic blockade (atropine plus propranolol plus phentolamine) in the hypertensive subjects with elevated plasma renin activity. 4. These findings suggest that in mild high-renin essential hypertension increased adrenergic drive to the heart and resistance vessels exists. The elevation of blood pressure is sustained predominantly by neurogenic mechanisms. The high plasma renin activity is seen as an expression of sympathetic nervous system overactivity.

1981 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Mathias ◽  
H. L. Frankel ◽  
I. B. Davies ◽  
V. H. T. James ◽  
W. S. Peart

1. The effect of endogenous sympathetic stimulation (induced by urinary bladder stimulation) and intravenous infusion of noradrenaline and isoprenaline on blood pressure, heart rate and levels of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were studied in six tetraplegic patients. Data from infusion studies were compared with data from six normal subjects studied in an identical manner. 2. Bladder stimulation in the tetraplegic patients caused a marked rise in blood pressure and fall in heart rate, but no change in plasma renin activity or plasma aldosterone. 3. Noradrenaline infusion resulted in an enhanced pressor response in the tetraplegic patients when compared with the normal subjects. Heart rate fell in both groups. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone did not change in either group. 4. Isoprenaline infusion caused a fall in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the tetraplegic patients, unlike the normal subjects in whom there was a rise in systolic and a fall in diastolic blood pressure. Heart rate and plasma renin activity rose in both groups. Plasma aldosterone did not change in either group. 5. We conclude that in tetraplegic patients neither endogenous sympathetic stimulation by bladder stimulation nor infusion of noradrenaline raises plasma renin activity. Isoprenaline increases plasma renin activity to the same extent as in normal subjects. Renin release mechanisms in tetraplegic patients therefore do not appear to be hypersensitive to catecholamines. Plasma aldosterone is not influenced by any of the stimuli.


1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (s5) ◽  
pp. 149s-152s ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Morganti ◽  
T. G. Pickering ◽  
J. Lopez-Ovejero ◽  
J. H. Laragh

1. To evaluate the effects of converting-enzyme inhibition on the sympathetic nervous system, on renin and on the other known regulators of aldosterone secretion, we measured blood pressure, heart rate, plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline, renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol and serum potassium in 15 sodium-repleted hypertensive patients in supine position and during 30 min of 65° head-up tilt before and during treatment with SQ 14 225. 2. SQ 14 225 produced significant decreases in supine blood pressure and plasma aldosterone and significant increments in plasma renin activity and potassium; in contrast, heart rate, noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol were unchanged. 3. While in control tilt studies blood pressure was always maintained, during treatment three of 15 patients had vasovagal syncopes. In the remaining 12 blood pressure was maintained during tilt on SQ 14 225; however, while the tilt-induced responses in heart rate and adrenaline were as in control studies, the 30 min increments in noradrenaline were significantly higher. 4. Both before and during treatment the responses of plasma renin activity and aldosterone to tilt were parallel, and correlated with each other, and cortisol and potassium changed only slightly. 5. It is concluded that the SQ 14 225-induced fall in blood pressure occurs without a concomitant rise in sympathetic nervous activity; thus the increase in supine plasma renin activity, being a reflection of the interruption of the angiotensin feedback mechanism on renin release, indicates an effective suppression of angiotensin II formation. 6. During SQ 14 225 the persistence of aldosterone response to tilt and its relationship with renin activity suggest that the enzymatic blockade is over-ridden; however, in the presence of a reduced formation of angiotensin II a more pronounced response of the sympathetic nervous system is required to defend blood pressure against postural changes.


1980 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Mathias ◽  
N. J. Christensen ◽  
H. L. Frankel ◽  
W. S. Peart

1. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the release of renin during head-up tilt has been studied in five normal subjects and in four tetraplegic patients with cervical spinal-cord transection above the sympathetic outflow. Blood pressure, heart rate and concentrations of plasma noradrenaline, plasma adrenaline and plasma renin activity were measured during head-up tilt to 45° before and after acute β-adrenoreceptor blockade with intravenous propranolol. 2. In the normal subjects there were minimal changes in blood pressure during head-up tilt and there was a rise in both plasma noradrenaline concentration and plasma renin activity. After propranolol values of plasma renin activity at rest fell with little change occurring during head-up tilt. 3. In the tetraplegic patients there was a substantial fall in blood pressure during head-up tilt. Concentrations of plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline did not change but there was a marked increase in plasma renin activity. Values of plasma renin activity both at rest and during head-up tilt were unaffected by propranolol. 4. We conclude that in tetraplegic patients renin release during head-up tilt may occur independently of sympathetic nervous activity and is probably largely dependent on activation of renal vascular receptors.


1976 ◽  
Vol 51 (s3) ◽  
pp. 177s-180s ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gordon ◽  
Freda Doran ◽  
M. Thomas ◽  
Frances Thomas ◽  
P. Cheras

1. As experimental models of reduced nephron population in man, (a) twelve men aged 15–32 years who had one kidney removed 1–13 years previously and (b) fourteen normotensive men aged 70–90 years were studied. Results were compared with those in eighteen normotensive men aged 18–28 years and eleven men aged 19–33 years with essential hypertension. 2. While the subjects followed a routine of normal diet and daily activity, measurements were made, after overnight recumbency and in the fasting state, of plasma volume and renin activity on one occasion in hospital and of blood pressure on five to fourteen occasions in the home. Blood pressure was also measured after standing for 2 min and plasma renin activity after 1 h standing, sitting or walking. Twenty-four hour urinary aldosterone excretion was also measured. 3. The measurements were repeated in the normotensive subjects and subjects in (a) and (b) above after 10 days of sodium-restricted diet (40 mmol of sodium/day). 4. The mean plasma renin activity (recumbent) in essential hypertensive subjects was higher than in normotensive subjects. In subjects of (a) and (b) above, it was lower than normotensive subjects, and was not increased by dietary sodium restriction in subjects of (a). 5. The mean aldosterone excretion level was lower in old normotensive subjects than in the other groups, and increased in each group after dietary sodium restriction. 6. Mean plasma volume/surface area was not different between the four groups and in normotensive, essential hypertensive and nephrectomized subjects but not subjects aged 70–90 years was negatively correlated with standing diastolic blood pressure.


1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Soon Kyu Suh ◽  
Sae Wha Yoo ◽  
Soon Chang Park ◽  
Joon Sock Kim ◽  
Kyung Ho Kang ◽  
...  

1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (6) ◽  
pp. R823-R831
Author(s):  
W. J. Ray ◽  
M. L. Zatzman

The effects of low doses of norepinephrine (NE) and furosemide and a volume load (nonhibernators only) on plasma renin activity (PRA), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), left renal (RBF) and right iliac (IBF) blood flow, cardiac index (CI), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were determined in euthermic and hibernating marmots. In nonhibernating marmots NE produced an increase in CI and TPR and a decrease in RBF. In hibernators this dose of NE caused an increase in MAP, HR, and renal resistance, whereas it decreased PRA and did not alter iliac resistance. Furosemide infusions led to an increase in PRA in both groups and an increase in TPR in nonhibernators. The volume load in nonhibernators produced only a decrease in PRA. A comparison of control data from the two groups indicated that the renal and iliac beds contribute only a small portion to the increase in TPR that occurs during hibernation.


1985 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Worth ◽  
J. N. Harvey ◽  
J. Brown ◽  
M. R. Lee

1. γ-l-Glutamyl-l-dopa was given by intravenous infusion to eight normal subjects at doses of 12.5 and 100 μg min−1 kg−1. 2. Both doses of the dipeptide resulted in an increase in mean urinary sodium excretion. 3. Mean effective renal plasma flow rose at both doses, but mean glomerular filtration rate increased only at the lower dose. 4. There was a fall in mean plasma renin activity after the infusion of both 12.5 and 100 μg min−1kg−1. 5. Mean urine free dopamine excretion increased by 280- and 2500-fold at infusion rates of 12.5 and 100 μg min−1 kg−1 respectively. 6. Mean plasma free dopamine rose at both doses but the increase at 12.5 μg min−1 kg−1 was not to a level previously associated with systemic effects of the catecholamine. 7. On administration of the dipeptide at 12.5 μg min−1 kg−1 there were no changes in blood pressure or heart rate, but at the higher dose there was a fall in diastolic blood pressure. 8. At a dose of 12.5 μg min−1 kg−1 in man, there is kidney specific conversion of gludopa to dopamine.


1988 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadao Nakajima ◽  
Hiromichi Suzuki ◽  
Yo Kageyama ◽  
Takashi Takita ◽  
Takao Saruta

Abstract. The effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine and arginine vasopressin were studied in 6 anuric subjects receiving regular hemodialysis. An iv bolus injection of 8 nmol of ANP followed by infusion at 32 pmol·kg−1·min−1 for 1 h in the pre- and posthemodialysis period was performed. Basal plasma ANP was higher before than after hemodialysis. ANP administration produced a reduction in mean arterial blood pressure accompanied by an elevation of norepinephrine and of plasma renin activity (from 2.49 ± 0.52 to 3.39 ± 0.85 nmol·l−1·h−1 predialysis and from 2.78 ± 0.71 to 3.15 ± 0.86 nmol·l−1·h−1 postdialysis, respectively, mean ± sem; P < 0.05). Plasma aldosterone and cortisol were significantly decreased. Plasma epinephrine and AVP remained unchanged. These hemodynamic and hormonal changes were similar in the pre- and the postdialysis period. These results suggest that 1) ANP causes a fall in mean arterial blood pressure, which in turn induces reflex tachycardia and activation of the sympathetic nervous system without diuresis; 2) the activated sympathetic nervous system as reflected in elevation of plasma norepinephrine may increase plasma renin activity; 3) reduced plasma aldosterone is not influenced by enhancement of the reninangiotensin system; therefore, 4) reduction of plasma aldosterone as well as cortisol is probably due to direct action of ANP, and finally 5) AVP had no direct relation with ANP administration.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (1) ◽  
pp. R74-R77 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Schwartz ◽  
I. A. Reid

The role of vasopressin in the regulation of blood pressure during water deprivation was assessed in conscious dogs with two antagonists of the vasoconstrictor activity of vasopressin. In water-replete dogs, vasopressin blockade caused no significant changes in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, plasma renin activity (PRA), or plasma corticosteroid concentration. In the same dogs following 48-h water deprivation, vasopressin blockade increased heart rate from 85 +/- 6 to 134 +/- 15 beats/min (P less than 0.0001), increased cardiac output from 2.0 +/- 0.1 to 3.1 +/- 0.1 1/min (P less than 0.005), and decreased total peripheral resistance from 46.6 +/- 3.1 to 26.9 +/- 3.1 U (P less than 0.001). Plasma renin activity increased from 12.4 +/- 2.2 to 25.9 +/- 3.4 ng ANG I X ml-1 X 3 h-1 (P less than 0.0001) and plasma corticosteroid concentration increased from 3.2 +/- 0.7 to 4.9 +/- 1.2 micrograms/dl (P less than 0.05). Mean arterial pressure did not change significantly. When the same dogs were again deprived of water and pretreated with the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, the heart rate and PRA responses to the antagonists were attenuated and mean arterial pressure decreased from 103 +/- 2 to 91 +/- 3 mmHg (P less than 0.001). These data demonstrate that vasopressin plays an important role in blood pressure regulation during water deprivation in conscious dogs.


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