Psychosocial stimuli and human plasma renin activity

The effects of several types of acute psychosocial stimuli on plasma renin activity (PRA) were studied in normotensive healthy subjects. Puzzle-solving produced an increase in blood pressure but no significant change in PRA, although two of seven subjects did respond with large increases in PRA. Watching a disturbing movie also raised blood pressure, but did not alter PRA. In contrast, a combination of novelty, fear, and/or anticipation did constitute a significant stimulus for renin secretion; this was evidenced by the fact that naive subjects (who were not told in advance what to expect) had significantly higher PRAs on the first day of the 2-day puzzle-solving study. PRA on this day correlated strongly with anxiety proneness, as did the decrease from day 1 to day 2. We conclude that meaningful psychosocial stimuli can enhance renin secretion in susceptible individuals.