Influence of adrenal enucleation of plasma renin substrate concentration in saline loaded and unilaterally nephroadrenalectomized rats.

The influence of adrenal enucleation on plasma renin substate (PRS) concentration was investigated by comparison with sham operation (control) or adrenalectomy in unilaterally nephroadrenalectomized rats given 1% saline for drinking. Two days after adrenal enculeation or adrenalectomy, a significant increase in plasma renin activity (PRA), with a concomitant decrease in PRS, was observed. Those changes were less pronounced in adrenal enucleated rats than in adrenalectomized ones. Ten days later PRA markedly decreased to the control level in both groups. PRS rose to the control level at 10 days after adrenal enucleation without increasing further, while that in the adrenalectomized rats remained low as before. These results suggest that the fall in PRS occuring immediately after adrenal enucleation may be due both to enhanced PRS consumption resulting from increased PRA and to diminished PRS production caused by corticosteroid deficiency, and that restoration of corticosterone secretion by the enucleated adrenal gland may account for recovery of PRS.