Cause of increased plasma angiotensinogen after nephrectomy. The renin-system in normal, renal hypertensive and DOCA + salt treated rats after unilateral or bilateral nephrectomy or shamoperation.

Abstract

24 hours after nephrectomy there is an increase in plasma angiotensinogen which is 2 to 3 times increased in unilaterally nephrectomized rats and 5 to 12 times increased in bilaterally nephrectomized rats. In normal rats, DOCA + salt treated rats and renal hypertensive rats, the postnephrectomy changes are about the same, independent of the marked differences in their pre-operative plasma and renal renin. The postnephrectomy increase in angiotensinogen must therefore be due to loss of some internal factor other than renin or to loss of some external renal function. Both shamoperation and unilateral nephrectomy are followed by a marked decrease in plasma renin, the postoperative fall being more pronounced after removal of a clamped kidney than after removal of a normal.