Temperature sensitivity of the renin-angiotensin system in Ambystoma tigrinum

The presence of a renin-angiotensin system was demonstrated in the poikilotherm Ambystoma tigrinum, commonly called the tiger salamander. Standard radioimmunoassay techniques were employed to measure the intrarenal renin activity (IRA) and the plasma renin activity (PRA) of A. tigrinum kept at either 5 or 20 degrees C. Basal IRA and PRA values were not affected by the temperature at which the animals were maintained. Intraperitoneal injection of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, however, increased PRA only in those animals maintained at 20 degrees C. This is consistent with the hypothesis of a temperature sensitivity of the renal adrenergic system in vivo. In addition, we were able to demonstrate the existence of a contractile response of Ambystoma vascular smooth muscle to angiotensin II that was blocked by the competitive inhibitor saralasin.