Pathways of Adrenaline Action on Renal Function With Observations on a Blood Pressure Reflex Regulating Water and Electrolyte Excretion

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Abstract
Effects of epinephrine and l-epinephrine on renal hemodynamics, water and Na excretion were examined under a wide variety of experimental conditions in unanesthetized and anesthetized dogs, some of which were subjected to acute unilateral renal denerva-tion. In well hydrated, intact animals infusion of epinephrine at 021-0.35 [mu]g/kg body weight/minute (3-4 [mu]g/dog/minute) led to parallel decrease in blood pressure, renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate with no change in filtration fraction. This renal hemodynamic response was believed to be secondary to the change in blood pressure and /or to direct action of epinephrine on the kidney vasculature. Epinephrine was found to have both direct and indirect effects on Na excretion, the direct, invariably tending to decrease Na excretion. The direct effect could not be dissociated from change in glomerular filtration rate and may have been dependent thereon. Indirect effects of epinephrine infusion occurred both during and after the period of epinephrine infusion and both types were dependent on an intact sympathetic nervous system. During the period of epinephrine infusion directional change in Na excretion was correlated with directional change in blood pressure. Evidence favors the conclusion that neural control of Na excretion was functionally distinct from renal vasomotor control.