Reversal of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced hypotension in the rat without activation of the renin-angiotensin system.

1. Male Wistar rats were housed individually in glass metabolic cages for 5 days during which time their food and water intakes reached plateau levels and they developed a significant systolic arterial hypertension. 2. After the initial 5-day period, systolic blood pressure and water and electrolyte balances were measured for 4 days before and 7 days after I.P. injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (100 mg/kg). In a separate experiment, plasma renin activity and glomerular filtration rate were measured 1 and 3 days after injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. Haematocrit, plasma volume, osmolality and plasma concentrations of glucose, sodium, potassium and protein were also measured at intervals after treatment. 3. Systolic blood pressure fell within 24 hr after treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine but was restored to pretreatment levels within 7 days. There was also a transient fall in glomerular filtration rate. 4. Plasma volume was significantly expanded on the first day after treatment and there was a fall in haemotocrit together with changes in plasma constituents indicative of a haemodilution, although plasma glucose levels were elevated. 5. There was a significant water retention on the third, fourth and fifth days after treatment but this was not accompanied by any measurable sodium retention and could not be attributed to renal compensation. Furthermore, plasma renin activity showed no significant change following 6-hydroxydopamine treatment. 6. It is suggested that the return of systolic blood pressure to pre-treatment levels was chiefly due to the return of vasoconstrictor function. The changes in plasma composition and volume were probably due to a fall in capillary hydrostatic pressure and an increase in the osmolality of extracellular fluid due to the elevated glucose levels.