Temperature-induced conversion of the renal adrenoreceptor: modulating renin release.

The release of renin from dog cortical kidney slice preparations incubated in a physiological salt solution can be modulated by alpha- and beta-adrenergic drugs. When given to slices maintained at 37 degrees C, the beta-agonists isoproterenol (ISP) and norepinephrine stimulated renin release from the slices. When the slices were maintained at 20 degrees C, the beta-agonists had no effect on renin release. However, the alpha-agonist phenylephrine inhibited renin release from the slices incubated at 20 degrees C in a dose-dependent manner, whereas its effect on slices incubated at 37 degrees C was less pronounced. The change in response of the slices from beta dominant at 37 degrees C to alpha dominant at 20 degrees C appeared to be a receptor phenomenon. When the cortical slices were incubated with the irreversible alpha-antagonist phenoxybenzamine (POB) at 20 degrees C for 1 h, they were unable to respond to ISP when returned to 37 degrees C. However, POB had no effect on the response of slices to ISP when given at 37 degrees C. It appears that with a decrease in temperature the renal beta-receptors demonstrate properties normally associated with alpha-receptors, namely the potential to be blocked by POB. This may be due to an interconversion of the renal alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors.