Blood pressure regulation in the kidney

Considering its involvement in blood pressure regulation, the kidney has interested scientists hoping to treat patients with drug-resistant hypertension. One new technique being explored is denervation of the renal artery. In this procedure, nerves on the renal artery that relay signals from the autonomic nervous system to cells deep in the kidney are severed and left unable to propagate an action potential. This interventional strategy is thought to provide better blood pressure control to patients.

The enzyme renin, which is involved in regulating renal blood pressure, is secreted by kidney arterioles in response to a decrease in arterial blood pressure. A nephrologist interested in studying the safety of this procedure measured serum levels of renin from $200$‍ mice and recorded the results in Figure 1 below. These mice are divided into two groups with $100$‍ mice receiving the procedure prior to the experiment, and the other $100$‍ not receiving the procedure.