Most investigators have come to stress two different concepts of mechanism controlling renin release; intrarenal baroreceptor theory and the macula densa theory(Vander 1967, Thurau and Masson 1974). In the macula densa theory, the specific macula densa parameter, most commonly suggested as a possible signal, is either the osmolality or the concentration of sodium in the tubular fluid (Thurau1964, Vander and Miller 1964, Reeves and Sommers 1965). It has been shown that sodium plays an important role in the release of renin either in vivo (Thurau 1964, Vander and Miller´ 1964, Thurau et al 1972) or, in vitro experiments(Oelkers et al 1970, Hammerson et al 1971, "Michelakis 1971). On the other hand the osmolality appears-to have no effect on the release of renin in vivo (Vander,..1967, Thurau and Masson 1974). However, there has been little attempt to study the effect of osmolality on. in :vitro renin release.
We therefore undertook the present investigation to elucidate the. effect Of osmolality on renin release and to further test the sodium influence upon the release of renin from isolated kidney slice preparations.
Isolated renal cortical slices were washed with normal Krebs-Hensenleit bicarbonate buffer solution and incubated for 30 minutes in a medium containing an appropriate concentration of sodium and.osmolality. The renin released into the medium was measured by the method of radioimmunoassay(Haber et al 1969).
The results obtained are. as. follows;
1. The release. of renin from. renal cortical slices was progressively inhibited as the-sodium concentration in the- medium . increased.
2. No significant alteration in renin release was observed when osmolality of the medium was changed.
These results suggest that the release of renin from the renal cortical slices is directly affected-by the changes in sodium .concentration in the medium, but is not influenced by the alterations in osmolality.
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