[Angiotensin I biosynthesis and electrolytes]

An influence on the production of Angiotensin-I by different ions is demonstrated. Plasma Renin activity was thereby measured by the methods of Boyd et al. (pH 7.5) and of Fyhrquist et al. (pH 6.0) at a concentration of each ion of 50 mmol/L. Ions of different size were used, ranging from Lithium to the Ammonium-ion. A definitive dependency of this effect on the Angiotensin production by the ion size could be shown. With Sodium the concentration in serum was varied at 5 levels (130-170 mmol/L) and Renin measured at Potassium concentrations in low (3.4-3.7 mmol/L) or high (4.8-5.1 mmol/L) so-called normal ranges. A marked increase of the production of Angiotensin-I with increasing sodium concentrations at a low Potassium range was observed and the opposite was true at high Potassium concentrations. These effects have to be taken into account when assaying Plasma Renin activity. In addition, they offer also an explanation of the well-known but unsolved facts of the influence of Sodium and Potassium on the pathogenesis of hypertonia.