Adrenal cortex and renal pressor function.

• The concept of an endocrine relationship between adrenals and kidneys has recently received considerable support. Adrenalectomy causes an increase in granularity of the juxtaglomerular cells and in pressor substances contained in kidneys; desoxycorticosterone has the opposite effects while cortisone and cortisol are reported, without supporting data, to have no effects.' It is not clear what these results mean in the absence of direct evidence that morphology of the juxtaglomerular cells and hormonal content accurately reflect secretion. The purpose of the present experiments was to determine the pressor activity of the renal vein effluent during adrenal insufficiency and hyperactivity, and to explore by sequential determinations of pressor substances contained and released by the kidney during desoxycorticosterone treatment, the validity of the assumption that renin content is an index of the renal pressor function.