The role of left atrial receptors in the regulation of renin release in anesthetized dogs

Abstract

Experiments were performed on anesthetized dogs to further define the role of left atrial cardiopulmonary receptors in the reflex neural control of renin release. Non‐hypotensive arterial hemorrhage produced reversible decreases in left atrial pressure and increases in renin release without significant changes in mean arterial pressure or renal blood flow. When non‐hypotensive arterial hemorrhage was performed, while keeping left atrial pressure constant via left atrial balloon inflation, no increase in renin release was observed. These experiments indicate that changes in blood volume unaccompanied by changes in arterial pressure are sensed by left atrial cardiopulmonary receptors, which results in renin release mediated by a neural reflex arc involving in the vagus as the afferent pathway and the renal sympathetic nerves as the efferent pathway.