Effect of angiotensin, noradrenaline, vasopressin and aldosterone on urinary kallikrein excretion in the rat.

In male Wistar rats, under osmotic diuresis, the effect of angiotensin II, noradrenaline, vasopressin and aldosterone on urinary kallikrein excretion were evaluated. Angiotensin II did not modify but all the others drugs used increased significantly the urinary kallikrein excretion. In all the groups studied the urinary sodium excretion increased. No modifications were observed in urine flow, glomerular filtration rate, urine osmolality and potassium excretion. The urinary kallikrein excretion was always positively correlated with the urinary flow and urinary sodium excretion. No correlation was observed with the other parameters studied. These findings suggest that noradrenaline, vasopressin and aldosterone are important stimulators of the urinary kallikrein excretion. Probably, kallikrein is one of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of urinary sodium excretion.