STUDIES ON EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION : XX. THE BIOASSAY OF RENIN

A simple, rapid method for the bioassay of renin has been presented. Reliable and consistent results are obtained by this method whereby an arbitrary dog unit of renin has been established. The response of normal unanesthetized dogs to renin is independent of the body weight of dogs weighing between 10 and 25 kilos. An estimate of potency of renin per kilo of body weight of the test animals is therefore not only unnecessary but misleading. A dog unit of renin has been defined as that amount which raises the blood pressure at least 30 and not more than 35 mm. Hg within 3 minutes in at least three unanesthetized dogs. The potency is expressed as dog units of renin per cubic centimeter. The determination of the amount of renal substance represented by a cubic centimeter of extract and the number of dog units per cubic centimeter give an estimate of the yield of renin which can be expressed as dog units of renin per gram of original renal tissue. By determination of the number of dog units per cubic centimeter and the amount of nitrogen in milligrams per cubic centimeter in any renal extract the purity of the renin can be determined and expressed as dog units of renin per milligram N. The establishment of a standard method for the bioassay of renin is considered highly desirable and the method outlined in this paper is suggested for this purpose.