Endogenous sodium-potassium pump inhibitor in low renin hypertension

In 1978, we reported that plasma supernate from acutely volume expanded animals reduces Na+-K+ pump activity when applied to blood vessels from another animal and then in 1980 we reported that the same is the case for plasma from an animal model of low renin hypertension. Since then, we and a number of other investigators have described Na+-K+ pump inhibitory activity in the plasma of animals and humans with hypertension, particularly of the low renin variety. The activity results from a heat stable small molecule, probably the putative natriuretic hormone. We here review these and other studies.