Augmented plasma renin levels in dehydrated sheep with periventricular lesions

Ablation of tissue in the midline anterior wall of the third ventricle (AV3V) of sheep did not consistently alter baseline plasma renin concentration (PRC) in water replete animals, but caused a greatly augmented increase in PRC in response to water deprivation. PRC might increase in these sheep in order to maintain blood pressure, however it is possible that a central inhibitory influence on renal renin release, operative during dehydration, is disrupted by AV3V-lesions.