Renin-angiotensin and development of collateral circulation after renal ischemia

Aortic ligation between the origins of the renal arteries in the rat produces a left renal ischemia, renin-dependent hypertension, and a transitory hindlimb paralysis of less than 2 h. Removal of the left ischemic kidney at the time of aortic ligation curtails the rise of blood pressure, plasma renin activity is normal, and paralysis is still present 24 h after surgery. Administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or saralasin also prevents recuperation from paralysis after aortic ligation. Independent manipulation of the mean arterial pressure or plasma renin activity by pretreatment with reserpine or deoxycorticosterone before surgery shows that the presence or absence of paralysis is dependent on the plasma renin activity and not on the high blood pressure. Blood flow measurements show that paralysis is due to a persistent impairment of blood supply to the hindlimb muscle and not to ischemia of the spinal cord. Infusion of angiotensin II to aortic-ligated, left-renoprival animals tends to restore blood flow to muscle. It is concluded that after renal ischemia the renin-angiotensin system, independent of its hypertensive effect, restores blood flow by stimulating the development of collateral circulation.