In Vitro Stimulation of Renin Production by Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Cyclic AMP

Summary The preparation of a dog renal cell suspension suitable for the study of renin production is described. This suspension was utilized to study the in vitro effects of agents that have previously been shown to affect renin production in vivo. Since production and destruction of renin could not be separately quantified, data were limited to “net production” of renin. Incubated controls had only slightly higher renin content than did the nonincubated controls, but the addition of epinephrine, norepinephrine or cyclic AMP caused striking increases in “net production” of renin. The effects of these agents on “net renin production” were abolished by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. It is suggested that the reninstimulating effect of catecholamines in the intact animal might be due, at least in part, to a direct chemical action on the renal cells. Cyclic AMP may play a role as an intracellular mediator of the action of catecholamines.