Aldosterone Secretion in Dogs Immunized with Hog Renin

Abstract

Confirming previously reported observations, the plasma of dogs treated for prolonged periods with hog renin was found to neutralize the pressor and aldosterone-stimulating activities of hog and dog renin. The neutralizing activity was presumably due to antirenin antibodies, since the activity was found in the 7S γ-globulin fraction of the plasma. Sodium and potassium excretion and aldosterone secretion were studied in dogs with high circulating antirenin titers. These immunized dogs conserved sodium normally and increased their aldosterone secretion rate when fed a low sodium diet. However, aldosterone secretion was also increased when these dogs were hypophysectomized and subjected to constriction of the aorta just above the openings of the renal arteries. The immunized dogs were found to have high renal renin contents, the amount of renin paralleling the antirenin titer in the blood. Since there is good evidence that aortic constriction increases renin secretion, the data suggest that dogs immunized with hog renin do secrete large enough amounts of renin to increase aldosterone secretion in spite of circulating antirenin antibodies. (Endocrinology76: 1141, 1965)