The hemodynamic and humoral effects of the specific human renin inhibitor R-PEP-27 were studied in six normal human subjects on low and high sodium intake diets. An intravenous infusion of R-PEP-27 (0.5 to 16 μg/min/kg body wt) reduced blood pressure in a dose-dependent fashion; the mean arterial blood pressure at the end of the infusion fell from 128 ± 4/83 ± 4 to 119 ± 3/71 ± 3 mm Hg (mean ± SEM) (P < .01) during the low sodium intake diet. R-PEP-27 had no effect on blood pressure during the high sodium intake diet. R-PEP-27 significantly reduced plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone concentrations. The temporal response to R-PEP-27 suggests that it is a shortlived although highly potent competitive inhibitor of renin; this peptide is a valuable and specific physiologic probe of the renin-angiotensin system. Am J Hypertens 1994;7:295-30
