Kallikrein on Arterial Hypertension:1. Kallikrein-Like Activity in the Urine of Figure-in-Eight Ligature in one Kidney

Abstract

Most data at present point to the kidney as the most important final arbiter in determining the long term basal level of arterial pressure, but the renin angiotensin theory cannot explain all the facts (Guyton et al., 1969). Kallikrein obtained from different sources induces vascular reactions which are opposite to that elicited by renin. Kinins promote in the kidneys an increase of blood flow and a striking natriuresis (Webster and Gilmore, 1964). On the other hand kallikrein is present in the renal tissue and shows pharmacological properties which are similar to that found in the urine (Croxatto and Noé, 1970).These results lead us to investigate whether urinary kallikrein undergoes changes in the rat which develops renal hypertension when the circulation of the kidney is impaired. This study brought out clear evidence that a typical decrease in kallikrein activity of the urine is present in any rat which develops hypertension caused by unilateral nephrectomy and a figure-in-8 ligature applied to the contralateral organ.