Key result
Propranolol completely suppresses plasma renin activity in ~40% of rats without affecting tissue isorenins.
Why the study?
The effects of propranolol on plasma renin activity, renal renin content, and adrenal and brain isorenins in rats were studied to understand its antihypertensive mechanism.
Variable propranolol effects on plasma renin in rats warrant caution against clinical extrapolation; leaves open distinct tissue isorenin regulation.
Propranolol administration to rats was studied for its effects on plasma renin activity, renal renin content, and adrenal and brain isorenins. Propranolol was given intraperitoneally at 6 and 30 mg/kg/day for a 15-day period. Pulse rate was significantly decreased. There were no effects on the isorenin content of adrenal or brain tissue or on renal renin content. Rats responded in two completely different ways with respect to plasma renin activity. Two-fifths had a total suppression of plasma renin activity; the rest had concentrations similar to those in controls. These observations are consistent with those seen during chronic administration of propranolol to hypertensive patients and suggest that its antihypertensive effect may in some patients be through the suppression of renin release. Its mechanism of action in most patients remains at present unclear.
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Dornier et al. (1975) studied this question. Propranolol vs. Controls was evaluated on Plasma renin activity, renal renin content, and adrenal and brain isorenins. Propranolol administration in rats completely suppressed plasma renin activity in two-fifths of the animals, with no effect on tissue isorenins.
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