A new mechanism in one-kidney, one clip hypertension.

The renin-angiotensin system does not appear to be involved in the maintenance of elevated blood pressure in experimental one-kidney, one clip hypertension. Paradoxically, direct immunization with purified hog kidney renin lowers the blood pressure of rabbits with this form of hypertension. Antirenin antibodies were removed and the IgG fraction prepared from the plasma of such immunized rabbits. The antibodies thus obtained lowered the blood pressure of other hypertensive rabbits. The same antibodies, detected with a fluorescein-labeled second antibody, stained the cytoplasm of smooth muscle and certain other cells in sections of kidney, aorta, carotid artery, heart, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, and small intestine from normal and hypertensive rabbits. We suggest that renin is converted into a form that is present most conspicuously in arterial and arteriolar smooth muscle. Its function in this location is unknown but must involve vasoconstriction as its neutralization by specific antibody lowers the blood pressure of one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rabbits.