Stretch receptor control of renin release in perfused rat kidney: effect of high perfusate potassium.

1. These studies were conducted in the isolated perfused rat kidney to determine the effect of high perfusate K on the renin release induced by low perfusion pressure, renal vasoconstriction and isoprenaline, and to determine whether the magnitude of the K‐induced inhibition equalled that observed with renal vasodilation and high perfusion pressure. 2. Raising perfusate K concentration from 4.2 to 56 mM suppressed basal renin release, and the 56 mM‐K inhibited the renin release induced by low perfusion pressure (50 mmHg) or phenylephrine (0.83 micrometers). 3. Isoprenaline (0.79 micrometers) induced a marked increase in renin release; but high perfusate K, propranolol (0.28 mM), papaverine (0.39 mM), or high perfusion pressure (150 mmHg) inhibited this effect. 4. It is concluded that high perfusate K has a powerful inhibitory effect on the renin release induced by renal hypotension, vasoconstriction, and isoprenaline infusion, and that this effect may be mimicked by high perfusion pressure or renal vasodilation. A mechanism is proposed whereby these signals may inhibit renin release by depolarizing the juxtaglomerular granular cells.