AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 244, Issue 3 262-E265, Copyright © 1983 by American Physiological Society
Role of renal kallikrein in control of renin release in conscious rats
M. Kobayashi, S. Suzuki and K. Hashiba
Renal kallikrein was reported to activate human inactive renin and to
release active renin from rat renal cortical slices. To evaluate the role
of renal kallikrein in the control of renin release in vivo, Trasylol and
soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) were used to determine whether they can
inhibit renin release stimulated by the administration of furosemide and a
2-wk low-sodium diet. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was increased by
furosemide and also by the low-sodium diet. Urinary kallikrein excretion
was increased by the sodium depletions. Trasylol did not affect basal PRA;
however, it inhibited PRA and urinary kallikrein excretion, when stimulated
by furosemide and by a low-sodium diet. These results suggest that
furosemide and low-sodium diet act on the kidney to release renin via
protease production. Because SBTI affected neither PRA nor urinary
kallikrein excretion stimulated by these sodium depletions, it is suggested
that renal kallikrein may play an important role in the control of renin
release stimulated by furosemide and by low-sodium diet.
