Effect of high sodium load and volume depletion on renin mRNA expression and plasma Ang II production in wild-type and VDR^–/– mice. (a) Northern blot analysis of renal renin mRNA from mice treated, for different numbers of days as indicated, with the normal rodent diet supplemented with 8% NaCl. Each lane represents an individual mouse. Control mice were untreated. (b) Plasma Ang II concentrations in the 8% NaCl diet–treated animals. White bars, wild-type mice; black bars, VDR^–/– mice. *P < 0.01 vs. corresponding wild-type mice at the same time point; **P < 0.05 vs. untreated control wild-type mice; n = 3 in each genotype at each time point. (c) Northern blot analysis of renal renin mRNA expression in mice dehydrated for 24 hours (24 h). Each lane represents an individual mouse. Control mice were untreated. (d) Plasma Ang II levels in untreated control and dehydrated (24 h) mice. White bars, wild-type mice; black bars, VDR^–/– mice. *P < 0.01 vs. corresponding wild-type mice; **P < 0.01 vs. untreated control wild-type mice; n = 3 in each genotype in each group.