Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase as an index of sympathetic nervous system activity in man.

77 subjects including 41 normal volunteers, 8 adrenalectomized patients, 4 patients with severe diabetic autonomic neuropathy, 7 patients with low renin essential hypertension, and 17 patients with normal renin hypertension.

Physiological stimuli including dietary sodium depletion and 4 hours of ambulation

Baseline/supine state

Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activitysurrogate