Cellophane perinephritis hypertension and its reversal in rabbits. Effect on plasma renin, renin substrate, and renal mass.

Plasma renin activity and renin substrate levels were measured during the development of cellophane perinephritis hypertension induced by either a bilateral renal wrap procedure or a wrap-nephrectomy procedure in 28 rabbits. Unoperated and unilaterally nephrectomized controls were also studied. Plasma renin concentration was derived from plasma renin activity and plasma renin substrate levels using a measured K^ of 2.3 X K H M . All surgical operations were followed by a transient increase in plasma renin substrate levels and a fall in plasma renin concentration. Unilateral nephrectomy in normotensive controls suppressed plasma renin activity and concentration for a 20-day period. Similar suppression occurred during the onset of hypertension in rabbits subjected to the wrap-nephrectomy procedure. Decapsulation accompanied by a fall in blood pressure again suppressed plasma renin activity and concentration. With bilateral wrapping, hypertension developed gradually without a change in renin levels. Decreased renin secretion during the evolution of perinephritis hypertension probably reflects a decreased renal excretory capacity for salt and water that overrides the renin-releasing effect of renal compression.