Circulating angiotensin II and adrenal receptors after nephrectomy

Mineralocorticoid secretion is predominantly controlled by the octapeptide angiotensin II, which exerts trophic actions on the adrenal glomerulosa and acute regulatory effects on aldosterone biosynthesis. The trophic actions include stimulation of angiotensin II receptors and enzymes of the aldosterone biosynthetic pathway, with corresponding enhancement of the aldosterone secretory capacity of the adrenal gland. The positive regulatory action of angiotensin II on its adrenal receptors occurs with elevations of the circulating peptide concentration within the physiological range and probably contributes to the increased sensitivity of the adrenal during sodium deficiency. In this action, angiotensin II differs from other hormones which decrease their target-cell receptors. However, the increase in adrenal angiotensin II receptors following nephrectomy has been interpreted as evidence for a tonic down-regulating effect of angiotensin II on its adrenal receptors. To clarify these conflicting views we evaluated the effects of nephrectomy on adrenal angiotensin II receptors in relation to blood angiotensin II and plasma electrolyte levels. We show here that hyperkalaemia contributes markedly to the post-nephrectomy increase in adrenal angiotensin II receptors, and that circulating angiotensin II levels persist for an unexpectedly long period after nephrectomy, presumably due to tissue generation of the octapeptide.