Effects of calcium on renin and aldosterone in the rat

CaCl2 suppresses the plasma renin activity (PRA) response to Na+ deprivation in the rat. The purpose of the present study is:1) to determine if the effect of Ca2+ on PRA is modified by the anion delivered with Ca2+, and 2) to evaluate the effect of Ca2+ loading on aldosterone production. PRA and in vitro aldosterone production by adrenal quarters were measured after a 7-day balance study. On a low Na+ diet, PRA of animals drinking 1% CaCl2 (13.1 ng/ml per h +/- 1.3 SE), but not of animals drinking 1% calcium gluconate, was suppressed (P less than 0.05) compared to that of water-drinking controls (20.9 ng/ml per h +/- 2.1 SE). Aldosterone production of calcium gluconate and CaCl2-loaded animals was greater than that of controls (P less than 0.01). K+ balance of CaCl2 and calcium gluconate-drinking animals was more positive than that of controls (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, inhibition of PRA by CaCl2 but not by calcium gluconate indicates that the effect of Ca2+ on PRA is modified by the accompanying anion. Both CaCl2 and calcium gluconate stimulate aldosterone production, independent of changes in PRA, possibly due to an effect of Ca2+ on K+ balance.