Endocrine Factors in Experimental Renal Hypertension

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Abstract
Crude beef anterior pituitary extract produces an anti-hypertensive effect in renal hypertensive dogs. The mechanism of the effect is unknown, but is believed to depend on the action of one or more anterior pituitary factors. While adrenocortico-trophin is present in the extract, purified adrenocorticotrophin does not appear to be as effective as the crude extract. Repeated courses of treatment with anterior pituitary extract were more effective than single courses of treatment. The involvement of antihormones is suggested as a possible explanation of the mechanism of the antihypertensive effect. Alterations in the renal clearance of creatinine and PAH were not correlated with the antihypertensive response. No evidence of an alteration in the renin mechanism during the antihypertensive effect was obtained. Assays of serum adrenocorticotrophin and adrenal ascorbic acid concn. provided no evidence for an alteration in pituitary-adrenal function in exptl. renal hypertension. Evidence was obtained for a probable interrelation between the pituitary-adrenal system and the renin mechanism. Renin stimulates the pituitary-adrenal system; desoxycorticosterone acetate produces a decrease in renal renin concn. in the absence of a detectable increase in renin secretion. However, desoxycorticosterone acetate did not hinder, and may have enhanced, the development of exptl. renal hypertension.