Cellophane Perinephritis Hypertension and Its Reversal in Rabbits

Plasma renin activity and renin substrate levels were measured during the development of cellophane perinephritis hypertension induced by either a bilateral renal wrap procedure or a wrap-nephrectomy procedure in 28 rabbits. Unoperated and unilaterally nephrectomized controls were also studied. Plasma renin concentration was derived from plasma renin activity and plasma renin substrate levels using a measured K m of 2.3 x 10 -6 M. All surgical operations were followed by a transient increase in plasma renin substrate levels and a fall in plasma renin concentration. Unilateral nephrectomy in normotensive controls suppressed plasma renin activity and concentration for a 20-day period. Similar suppression occurred during the onset of hypertension in rabbits subjected to the wrap-nephrectomy procedure. Decapsulation accompanied by a fall in blood pressure again suppressed plasma renin activity and concentration. With bilateral wrapping, hypertension developed gradually without a change in renin levels. Decreased renin secretion during the evolution of perinephritis hypertension probably reflects a decreased renal excretory capacity for salt and water that overrides the renin-releasing effect of renal compression.