title: Serotonergic regulation of the release of renin is not mediated by the autonomic nervous system but involves beta adrenoceptors.
abstract: p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA) which releases serotonin is known to increase the activity of plasma renin in conscious rats by stimulating serotonergic neurotransmission in the brain. The present studies were designed to investigate whether this effect is mediated from the serotonin receptors in the brain to the kidneys via the sympathetic nervous system. The effect of PCA on the activity of plasma renin was completely blocked by the beta receptor blockers sotalol and atenolol, but was not prevented by the sympathetic inhibitor, bretylium tosylate. In additional studies, chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine, combined with adrenal medullectomy did not prevent the effect of PCA on the activity of plasma renin even though the renal content of norepinephrine was reduced to undetectable levels. Furthermore, complete transection of the spinal cord between the first and second thoracic vertebrae did not prevent the effect of PCA on the activity of plasma renin, suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal catecholamines do not mediate the effect of PCA. Studies by others have suggested that extrarenal beta receptors play an important role in the regulation of secretion of renin. The results of the present study support this possibility. The role of the parasympathetic nervous system in the rise in the activity of plasma renin induced by PCA was investigated by pretreatment of the rats with the peripheral muscarinic receptor blocker, methyl atropine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001286:Atropine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001950:Bretylium Tosylate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D001286:Atropine Derivatives; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D001950:Bretylium Tosylate; C006649:methylatropine; D012083:Renin; D010134:Fenclonine