Abstract
Summary: In 149 children between 6 days and 15 years of age, plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (PA) were measured by radioimnunoassay and plasma dopamine β hydroxylase activity (OBH) by the method of Nagatsu. PRA and PA decreased with age from 496 ± 119 ng/1/min for PRA and 643 ± 158 pg/ml for PA in 6 to 30 day-old newborns to 37.8 ± 4.7 ng/1/min for PRA and 43.1 ± 8.3 pg/ml for PA in 9 to 15 year-old children. DBH increased with age from less than detection limit values (< 2 IU) in 6 day to 3 month-old newborns to 17.2 ± 5.1 IU in 9 to 15 year-old children. In addition a significant relationship was found between PRA and PA (log PA = 0.99 log PRA -0.058, r = 0.732, n = 104, p < 0.001) and PRA and DBH (log DBH = -0.41 log PRA + 1.62, r = 0.404, n = 80, p < 0.001). These results demonstrate the opposite evolution of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and of the sympathoadrenal system during development.
Speculation: The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS) is activated in the newborn. Possible reasons include a compensatory mechanism for an imnature sympathoadrenal system since it was shown that from infancy to childhood, PRA and PA decrease while DBH increases. Thus the RAAS could well represent an important factor in the control of sodium balance and blood pressure at this time of the development.
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Vincent, M., Dessart, Y., Annat, G. et al. PLASMA RENIN ACTIVITY, ALDOSTERONE and DOPAMINE β -HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY AS A FUNCTION OF AGE IN NORMAL CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 14, 894–895 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.1980.226
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.1980.226
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