Plasma Renin Activity, Aldosterone, and Cortisol Responses to Intravenous Adrenocortical Hormone in Five Patients Plasma Renin Activity, Aldosterone, Cortisol, Time, min 1.5-5.2 ng 70-350 pmole/L 150-500 nmole/L Pheochromocytoma 0...5.0...624...144.7 30...2.4...1,077...896.4 600.4...1,085...1,122.0 Pheochromocytoma 0...5.7...136...280.7 30...5.4...410...611.1 60...0.5...569...789.2 Normal (control patient) 0...8.7...141...219.7 30...8.0...160...646.0 60...7.1...298...867.8 Prerenal dehydration 0...37.0...1,427...457.8 30...1.4...2,208...740.5 60...1.4...2,563...719.5 Zona glomerulosa defect 0...89.7...<69...316.3 30...18.2...<69...328.6 60 8.6 <69 483.9 Range of plasma renin activity is in nanograms of angiotensin l per milliliter per hour.
Diamond and Huddle present interesting data concerning the effects of cosyntropin on plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and cortisol concentrations in five patients. Their observations suggest a potent inhibitory effect of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the secretion of renin, which appears to be independent of the effects of ACTH on aldosterone and cortisol secretion.
There have been other reports of the effect of ACTH on renin secretion. In general, the results differ from those of Diamond and Huddle. In normal human