Effect of KCl infusion on renin secretory rates and aldosterone excretion in dogs

The effects of unilateral intrarenal arterial KCl infusion in dogs (12 mueq/kg per min) on bilateral renal function, renin secretory rates, and aldosterone excretion were studied. During KCl infusion, infused-side renal arterial plasma [K+] increased by 2.2 +/- 0.6 meq/liter. Systemic plasma [K+] simultaneously rose by 0.6 +/- 0.1 meq/liter. Plasma renin activity decreased 29 +/- 9%, and the decrease correlated with the increases in plasma [K+]. Renin secretory rate decreased bilaterally, the decrease being greater in each experiment on the infused side. Aldosterone excretion increased during KCl infusion by 72 +/- 17%, despite a decrease in plasma renin activity. With KCl infusion there was a bilateral increase in K+ excretion, and a positive correlation was observed between the net alterations in K+ and Na+ excretion. No significant alterations in systemic blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, total renal blood flow, or intracortical renal blood flow distribution were observed. These studies suggest that K+ inhibits the release of renin by an intrarenal mechanism, which may be related to a K+-induced alteration in Na+ absorption.