Changes in plasma aldosterone levels and renin activity after bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy in two strains of rats.

Superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) of Wistar rats brought about a significant increase of plasma renin activity (PRA) 9 or 15 days later, an effect not observed 48 days after surgery. The same surgical procedure performed in Chbb Tom rats did not result in significant modification of PRA. In both strains of rats immobilization stress induced a 2.3-3.3-fold increase of PRA regardless of whether the animals had intact superior cervical ganglia. The injection of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril to SCGx Wistar rats at the time of elevated PRA induced a severe hypotension, while it did not affect blood pressure in sham-operated animals. In both strains of rats SCGx resulted in depressed circulating aldosterone levels at all studied times after surgery.