EFFECT OF GONADOTROPINS AND PREGNANCY ON PRORENIN AND RENIN IN THE RAT

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. Stimulation of adult female rats with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorion gonadotropin (hCG) increased active plasma renin about two‐fold, but caused only a slight increase of plasma prorenin. The concentrations of active renin and prorenin in the ovaries, and active renin in the uterus all increased about two‐fold 2 days after stimulation with PMSG. The prorenin in the uterus was below detection in unstimulated rats and did not change consistently after PMSG.2. Active renin and prorenin in plasma were unchanged in relation to pregnancy, except for a slight decrease of prorenin in the third trimester. In the first and third trimester the concentration in the ovaries of active renin and prorenin was decreased to about one‐third of that in normal female rats. In contrast active renin in the uterus was increased about two‐fold in the first trimester, whereas prorenin did not change consistently.3. Our results confirm that gonadotropins and pregnancy affect the renin–angiotensin system in rats. However, the changes in the plasma seem to be much smaller than those previously reported in humans. Accordingly, our results do not support a systemic role of prorenin for reproduction in the rat.