Renin processing and secretion in adrenal and retina of transgenic (mREN-2)27 rats

Abstract

Two extrarenal tissue sources of renin were studied using quantitative assays and immunocytochemicaI methods during 12 hours following binephrectomy (BNx) in anesthetized hypertensive homozygous Ren-2 transgenic (TG) rats maintained off hypotensive drugs for three weeks. Compared to normal rats, circulating active renin was depressed 50% in conscious TG rats and prorenin was 5- to 10-fold higher. Post-BNx, arterial active and prorenin increased progressively to 10-fold, at which time adrenal venous outputs were 0.1 and 20 mGU/min, respectively. The ratio of active to prorenin (3.1 ± 0.6%) remained unchanged with increasing plasma levels. Thus, either intrinsic enzyme activity of the transgen..