Effect of indomethacin on the adrenal renin response to nephrectomy in the rat

The role of prostaglandins in the control of adrenal renin in vivo was evaluated in nephrectomized rats. Nephrectomy increased adrenal renin from 13.2 +/- 1.37 ng angiotensin I/mg protein/hr to 166.5 +/- 17.3 ng angiotensin I/mg protein/hr. Indomethacin treatment significantly suppressed the adrenal renin response to nephrectomy. (47.8 +/- 5.22 ng angiotensin I/mg protein/hr). Adrenal aldosterone was also suppressed by indomethacin. Adrenal prostaglandin E2 increased after nephrectomy and decreased after indomethacin. Plasma corticosterone and serum potassium did not change after indomethacin. These data indicate that inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin partially blocks the adrenal renin response to nephrectomy, suggesting that prostaglandins may play a role in the adrenal response to nephrectomy.