Role of a humoral Na+ -K+ pump inhibitor in low renin hypertension.

In 1978 we reported that supernate of boiled plasma from acutely volume-expanded animals reduces Na+ -K+ pump activity when applied to an artery from another animal, and then in 1980 we reported that the same is the case for plasma from an animal model of low renin hypertension. Since then, we and a number of other investigators have described Na+ -K+ pump inhibitory activity in the plasma of animals and humans with hypertension, particularly of the low renin variety. The activity results from a heat-stable small molecule, probably the putative natriuretic hormone. We here review these and other studies.