Abstract
SUMMARY Values of plasma renin-substrate concentration in man vary widely according to the method of measurement used. Potential sources of variation have been tested and, as far as possible, excluded in the method described here. Blood was diluted rapidly in an angiotensinase-inhibitor solution containing EDTA and phenanthroline; plasma was separated by centrifugation and the renin-substrate in the specimen was hydrolysed by renin to angiotensin I which was identified as such by chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Angiotensin I was used as a standard to determine the amount of angiotensin formed on incubation. Use of angiotensin II for a standard, as in other methods, led to falsely low values of plasma renin-substrate concentration. Recovery of added substrate was 94%. Changes of plasma renin-substrate concentration in some physiological and pathological states are reported briefly.