Endocrine control of renal vasculature

Abstract Circulating hormones form one of the major control systems of the kidney, both with respect to the control of the excretory process and the control of renal blood vessels. Many hormones have direct actions on the renal vessels, while the effects of others are secondary to their systemic effects. Recent studies using real-time analysis of blood flow show that not only do many hormones have organ-specific effects on the vasculature, but within the kidney itself, some hormones may have differential effects on specific vessels. Such differential effects have yet to be tested for many hormones. While a number of hormones, their agonists and antagonists have been described to affect renal blood flow, intrarenal blood flow, distribution, or GFR, it is more difficult to define any role for these systems in the normal physiological control of these parameters. Included in the latter group, however, are the glucocorticoids, angiotensin 11, and possibly AVP.