The effect of sampling conditions on rat plasma renin

1. Renin concentration and activity were measured in blood samples taken in the animal house from 3 groups of rats. The first group received no anesthesia, the second group was anesthetized with ether, while the third group was sampled during pentobarbital anesthesia. After 1 week the same procedure was performed 1 hr after the rats were transferred to the research laboratory. 2. Renin concentration and activity increased after pentobarbital anesthesia, while only renin activity was increased during ether anesthesia. 3. Transport had no additional effect on unanesthetized or ether anesthetized rats, while an additional activity was observed after pentobarbital.