Effect of propranolol on blood pressure and plasma renin concentration in renovascular hypertensive rats.

The effect of chronic oral administration of propranolol (39--80 mg/Kg/day, for 21--27 days) on blood pressure, plasma renin concentration, and heart rate were studied in 2 types of renovascular hypertensive rats; one-kidney type with normal plasma renin and two-kidney type with high plasma renin. No significant change was observed in the blood pressure of either model during the administration of propranolol in spite of a significant reduction of heart rate. Plasma renin concentration showed a trend of suppression in two-kidney type rats, but this change was not significant. There was no suppression in one-kidney type rats. These results suggest that the beta-adrenergic system may not play a major role either in regulating plasma renin level or in maintaining the blood pressure in renovascular hypertensive rats.