Natriuretic effect of propranolol on dogs with chronic bile-duct ligation

1. Chronic ligation of the bile duct in dogs is associated with salt retention and a blunted natriuretic response to extracellular volume expansion. The mechanism of this phenomenon has not been clarified. 2. We have examined the influence of chronic beta-adrenergic blockade on sodium excretion in dogs with bile-duct ligation during extracellular hypotonic volume expansion. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium and fractional excretion of sodium rose significantly after 5 days of oral DL-propranolol administration to dogs with bile-duct ligation. 4. The antinatriuresis after bile-duct ligation was not followed by a significant alteration in the mean peripheral plasma renin activity as compared with control values. 5. It is suggested that propranolol can partially reverse the antinatriuresis of chronic bile-duct ligation, and that this is mediated by an extrarenal effect of the beta-adrenergic blockade.