Role of the renin-angiotensin system in the blood pressure rebound to sodium nitroprusside in the conscious rat.

Intravenous infusions of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at doses of 20, 40 or 80 micrograms/kg min-1 for 30 min produced dose-related decrements in blood pressure in conscious rats fitted with indwelling aortic and vena caval catheters. Immediately upon termination of SNP infusions, blood pressure rebounded to levels which were significantly above pre-SNP control values. The following evidence indicates that the rebound increase in blood pressure was due to increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system: (1) plasma renin activity was increased approximately four-fold by SNP, (2) rebound did not occur in nephrectomized rats, (3) rebound was markedly attenuated in animals treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, SQ14225, (D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-L-proline) and (4) beta-adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol reduced the rebound response. In addition, the magnitude of the rebound following SNP infusions was directly related to the dose of SNP infused. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that renin accumulates during SNP infusion more rapidly than it is metabolized. Consequently, the accumulated renin elicits a hypertensive response when SNP treatment is withdrawn.