OBJECTIVES We tested the hypothesis that pravastatin (PRA) activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). BACKGROUND Pravastatin has been found to have clinical benefits beyond those predicted by its actions in reducing plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). Both PRA and simvastatin (SIM) are equally effective in reducing LDL, but only PRA reduces platelet aggregation and is a...

Continuous 6-h infusions of the beta adrenergic blockers d,l-propranolol or oxprenolol significantly reduced plasma renin activity (PRA) and mean blood pressure in the resting rabbit and prevented the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol on renin release and heart rate. These actions were due to blockade of beta receptors, for the inactive isomer, d-propranolol, had no effect. Despite sustained...

We studied plasma renin activity (PRA) in eight children before and after surgical correction of aortic coarctation. These eight children underwent a combination of low-sodium diet and diuresis before surgery, and PRA was measured shortly thereafter. Thirty-two to 51 months after successful surgical correction, PRA was measured again. The mean PRA was 21.4 +/- 1.3 ng/ml/hour (+/- SD) preoperati...

These studies were undertaken to clarify the role of the central and peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the renin-aldosterone system on the onset and maintenance of high blood pressure in essential hypertension (EH), and the following examinations were performed: 1) Urinary free norepinephrine and epinephrine excretion (UNEf and UEf), urinary conjugated norepinephrine and epinephrine exc...

Subcutaneous vaccination with recombinant antigen 2/PRA (rAg2/PRA) protected BALB/c mice against intranasal infection with Coccidioides immitis. Subcutaneously vaccinated C57BL/6 mice and intranasally vaccinated BALB/c mice were protected against larger numbers of infecting spores. Weight loss correlated with lethality, but histologic appearance did not. These studies support rAg2/PRA vaccinati...

OBJECTIVE To comparatively examine the effects of adiposity on the levels of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) in young black and white children. STUDY DESIGN We prospectively assessed 248 black and 345 white children and adolescents. A novel analytical technique was used to assess the concurrent influences of age and body m...

Plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone secretion rate (ASR) were measured in 22 patients in balance on a 100 mEq sodium diet during the malignant phase of hypertension and at intervals during long-term follow-up on pharmacological therapy. Three patients had normal PRA and ASR during malignant hypertension. Eighty-six per cent of patients had an increased ASR, but only in 36% was PRA conco...

The role of renal prostaglandins and the adrenergic nervous system in the control of renin release was studied in conscious dogs with thoracic caval constriction. Indomethacin reduced plasma renin activity (PRA) in intact animals with thoracic caval constriction by 43% but failed to change PRA after surgical renal denervation and during chronic propranolol administration; adrenergic blockade re...

Sodium depletion was induced in dogs to raise plasma renin activity (PRA) from 1.11 to 26.48 ng/ml/hr. Little overall change in blood pressure (BP) occurred, but cardiac output (CO) and central venous pressure fell, while total peripheral resistance and heart rate (HR) increased. A nonapeptide converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI) produced a fall in BP which was linearly related to log. PRA; the in...

MODULATION OF RENIN SECRETION BY RENAL CORTICAL INTERSTITIALCALCIUMby DOUGLAS K. ATCHISONMay 2012Advisor: Dr. William BeierwaltesMajor: PhysiologyDegree: Doctor of PhilosophyRenin is secreted from the juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of the afferent arteriole of thekidney, and is the rate-limiting enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system. Renin is quantified invi...