Drug effects on plasma renin activity in the mouse

To investigate the possible effects of newly synthesized beta-adrenergic blockers on plasma renin activity, an assay was developed using unanesthetized mice and radioimmunoassay. Renin activity was significantly increased by the administration of hydralazine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), furosemide (20 mg/kg, i.v.), and isoproterenol (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.). Unlike isoproterenol, norepinephrine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) and epinephrine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) were active but considerably less effective stimulants. The increase caused by isoproterenol was blocked by clonidine, pindolol, bunolol, atenolol, and l-propranolol, but not d-propranolol. The beta-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity such as pindolol were found to increase renin activity when given alone, but blocked an increase in renin activity when given prior to isoproterenol. In general, nonselective beta-blocking drugs possessing both beta 1- and beta 2-(vascular) blocking activity were found to be most effective in blocking plasma renin activity on oral administration.