Elevation of plasma renin activity by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists in conscious dogs

Experiments were performed in conscious trained dogs to determine whether renal alpha-adrenergic receptors mediate stimulation or inhibition of renin release. All dogs were uninephrectomized and surgically prepared with chronically indwelling catheters in the aorta, vena cava, and remaining renal artery at least 8 days before experiment. Direct renal artery (ia) infusion of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, 0.25 or 0.50 microgram X kg-1 X min-1 for 30 min, increased plasma renin activity (PRA) to 145 +/- 13 and 212 +/- 28% of control, respectively, within 5 min of drug infusion (P less than 0.01) in conscious sodium-replete dogs. In contrast, intravenous phenylephrine infusion decreased PRA by 50% (P less than 0.001). The increase in PRA observed during ia phenylephrine infusion was prevented by renal alpha-adrenoceptor blockade with phenoxybenzamine but not by beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol. Methoxamine, another alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, also increased PRA when infused ia in both sodium-replete dogs and in dogs maintained on a low-sodium diet. In dogs with renal arterial electromagnetic flowprobes, ia phenylephrine infusion increased PRA without decreasing total renal blood flow. In summary, stimulation of renal alpha-adrenoceptors increases PRA in conscious dogs. This stimulation can occur in the absence of significant changes in total renal blood flow.