Effects of renal denervation on renin release induced by intracerebroventricular administration of biological active peptides in conscious rats.

Experiments were performed to determine whether the renal nerve mediates the renin release induced by intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensin II (ANG II), bradykinin (BK), leucine-enkephalin (Leu-ENK) and neurotensin (NT). In sham-operated rats, both ANG II and NT suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA), BK did not affect PRA, and Leu-ENK increased PRA. Renal denervation abolished the increase in PRA by Leu-ENK. Suppression of PRA by ANG II was attenuated in denervated rats. Renal denervation did not influence the renin release by BK or NT. These results suggest that the renal nerve plays an important role in elevating PRA after central stimulation by Leu-ENK. Although suppression of PRA is mainly mediated by mechanisms other than the renal nerve, the renal nerve partially participates in suppression of PRA by ANG II.