To examine the sequential renal hemodynamic changes in experimental renovascular hypertension, the uninephrectomized dog was studied immediately after renal artery constriction, throughout chronic benign hypertension, and during malignant hypertension. Intrarenal resistance fell immediately after renal artery constriction, but rose above control within hours. Intrarenal infusion of teprotide resulted in vasodilatation during the first 3 days but failed to do so during the chronic phase of benign hypertension. During the transition from benign to malignant hypertension, angiotensin II-dependent renal vasoconstriction developed associated with natriuresis, plasma volume contraction and a vicious cycle of hyperreninemia and severe vascular damage.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Is renin a factor in the etiology of essential hypertension?

The widespread clinical study of converting-enzyme inhibitors has shown that they are effective antihypertensive drugs even in patients who may manifest either normal or decreased plasma renin activity. This suggests either that renin in a site other than plasma may play a contributory role in essential hypertension or that the hypotensive effect is caused by increased concentrations of kinins and prostaglandins, both demonstrated consequences of converting-enzyme inhibitor administration. Specific renin inhibitors appropriate for studies in humans would aid in the resolution of this question. Four classes of compounds have been demonstrated to be renin inhibitors of high potency: specific antibody, general peptide inhibitors of acid proteases, analogs of angiotensinogens, and peptides that are related to the amino-terminal sequence of prorenin. With the purification of renin, specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies have become available. The former have already been used extensively in physiologic studies in intact animals. Pepstatin is an inhibitor of many acid proteases. Its in vivo application has been retarded by its relative insolubility, but recent chemical modifications, particularly the addition of charged amino acids at the carboxy terminus, have rendered it more useful. The minimal substrate for renin is an octapeptide segment of the protein substrate: His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr. Variants of this sequence have resulted in competitive inhibitors that are useful in vivo. Recently, remarkably active inhibitors have been synthesized by reducing the peptide bond that is cleaved by renin, producing what may be a transition state inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Contributions of basic biomedical research to human welfare. Introductory remarks.

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Biology↗