Glycerol-induced acute renal failure after acute plasma renin activity suppression

The influence of acute plasma renin activity (PRA) depression on the development of glycerol-induced acute renal failure was evaluated in rats. Desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), 15 mg. subcutaneously, and substitution of 1 per cent NaCl solution as drinking fluid for 30 hours resulted in a 61 per cent PRA decrease to 0.7 ± 0.1 ng. per milliliter per hour (sham group-1.8 ± 0.4 ng. per milliliter per hour). Renal renin concentration after DOCA + NaCl was 146 ± 30 U. per gram, not significantly different from the value of 142 ± 25 U. per gram in the sham group. This suggests that short-term DOCA + saline primarily inhibits renin release without markedly altering renin synthesis. Acute renal failure was induced by the intramuscular injection of 50 per cent glycerol in tap water, 10 ml. per kilogram of body weight. In comparing sham and DOCA + NaCl groups of animals, no differences in mean blood urea nitrogen concentration were observed 6, 24, or 48 hours after glycerol injection. Acute PRA depression without altering renin content does not protect against the development of glycerol-induced acute renal failure. These data suggest that if the renin-angiotensin system participates in the pathogenesis of glycerol-induced acute renal failure in the rat, it must exert its influence via intrarenal renin rather than circulating renin.