Renal Vein Renin and Juxtaglomerular Activity in Sodium-Depleted Subjects

Abstract

Ten patients requiring surgery for renal cysts or calculi and having no evidence of secondary hyperaldosteronism were divided, as volunteers for special study, into experimental and control groups. After base line studies, the experimental group was given a diet containing 87 mEq of sodium and 1.0 g of chlorothiazide daily for ten days. Control subjects ate a normal diet. At operation, samples of peripheral and renal venous blood were obtained for measurement of renin activity and renal biopsy was taken for determination of the juxtaglomerular index. Increased renin in renal venous plasma and hypergranularity of the juxtaglomerular apparatus were found in sodium-depleted subjects but not in control subjects. These findings confirm results previously found in animals.