Regulation of renin release and renal hemodynamics during acute and chronic verapamil administration

The effects of short- and long-term administration of the calcium-entry blocker verapamil on regulation of renal hemodynamics and renin release were analyzed in anesthetized dogs at controlled levels of renal perfusion pressure between 110 and 60 mmHg. The following three groups of dogs were studied: a control group, an acutely treated verapamil group (initial dose of 150 micrograms/kg followed by 4 micrograms.kg-1.min-1), and a chronically treated verapamil group (240 mg per os twice each day). At 110 mmHg the renal blood flow (RBF) in the acutely and chronically treated groups was 53% greater than (P less than 0.03) and 79% greater than (P less than 0.01) that of the control group. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the acutely and chronically treated groups was 64 and 92%, respectively, greater than (P less than 0.01 for both) that of the control group. Autoregulation of RBF and GFR was extremely effective in the control group, whereas it was severely impaired by acute and long-term treatment with verapamil. Renin release at 110 mmHg in the control and the acutely treated groups were similar, 3.36 +/- 0.96 and 4.46 +/- 0.64 U.min-1.g-1, respectively, although in the chronically treated group the rate of release was 8.89 +/- 2.60 U.min-1.g-1 (P less than 0.03). As perfusion pressure was reduced, the rate of release from the acutely treated group rose to higher levels than that of the control group; at 70 mmHg release from the acutely treated group was 88% greater than that of the control group (P less than 0.01). Verapamil profoundly alters regulation of renal hemodynamics and renin release and the effect is prominent during both short- and long-term administration.