Renin activity and norepinephrine, cation, and water contents of cardiovascular tissue of dogs with congestive heart failure and ascites

Abstract

Six dogs with congestive heart failure and ascites were studied for (a) renin, norepinephrine, water, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents in cardiovascular tissues; (b) plasma renin activity and renin substrate; (c) renal renin activity, juxtaglomerular index, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in macula densa cells, and α-glycero-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in macula densa cells and juxtaglomerular bodies. The most important findings were: (a) a significant decrease in renal renin activity and in the juxtaglomerular index coinciding with increased activities of glucose-6-phosphate and α-glycero-6-phosphate dehydrogenases in macula densa cells when compared with normal renal tissue; (b) a highly significant increase in norepinephrine content in branches of mesenteric veins combined with a decrease in norepinephrine content in most arteries studied; (c) a significant increase in the sodium content of most arteries studied, without any change in water content.