A Kinetic Study of Plasma Renin and Aldosterone During Changes of Posture in Man

Cardiovascular parameters, hematocrit (Ht), plasma electrolytes, renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone concentration (PAC) were measured in 12 normal human subjects (6 males and 6 females) eating an ad lib diet. At 8 am, volunteers assumed the following postural changes: 1 hour supine, then 2 hours upright and finally 1 hour supine. Orthostatism induced the following changes: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased immediately; Ht rose significantly at the 5th min in males but not in females; Plasma sodium showed no variations but potassium increased after 30 min; PRA rose significantly at the 5th min and, after 120 min of orthostatism, was found to be 3 times greater than its value after recumbency; and PAC increased significantly at the 15th min and exhibited a plateau 4.5 times its basal values after 90 min of upright posture. When subjects returned to the supine position all the parameters, except PAC decreased. During active orthostatism, a significant correlation was found between...