The albuminuria occurring after swimming in splenectomized dogs was investigated. Swimming in splenectomized dogs induces metabolic acidosis, a decrease in renal vascular conductance, and an increase in plasma renin activity, all three factors possibly implicated in the occurrence of albuminuria. The administration of sodium bicarbonate prior to swimming reduced the magnitude of the acidosis and eliminated the increase in albuminuria after swimming. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent that maintains the renal blood flow during exercise also blocked the increase in albuminuria despite a decrease of blood pH during swimming. However, after metoprolol, a beta 1-adrenergic blocking agent that blocks the rise in plasma renin activity during exercise, swimming causes a threefold increase in albuminuria (P less than 0.01). The albuminuric response to swimming preceded by saline was also significant (P less than 0.05). It is likely that post-swimming albuminuria in splenectomized dogs is linked to the decrease of renal vascular conductance or to the decrease in blood pH rather than to the rise in plasma renin activity.

died at the voung age of 46 years. He was a fascinating man who combined a rigorous scientific approach with clinical acumen. He excelled in the fields of hypertension research and nephrological research. He was an inspiring investigator whose untimely death is mourned by many colleagues in European nephrology. NDT commemorates the outstanding contributions of our former subject editor in the field of hypertension by a contribution bearing on the major research topic of the late Professor Raine, i. e. the interrelation of kidney and blood pressure. E. Ritz This short overview is dedicated to the memory of Tony Raine, who, within his wide field of interest, contributed so much to the understanding of pathogenesis and consequences of hypertension [1]. As life merges with death, our reflections will cover past, present and future.