The aims of the present study were therefore: (a) to evaluate the influence of renal blood flow on renalase synthesis using a unilateral renal artery stenosis model; (b) to ascertain the relationship between renal perfusion flow and renal metabolism of norepinephrine using an in vitro kidney perfusion model; and (c) to investigate the relationship between the expression and activity of renalase in the kidney and the plasma as well as the concentration of plasma norepinephrine in an animal model of heart failure. The gene discussed is RNLS; the disease is heart failure.