Endocrinology, Vol 117, 872-878, Copyright © 1985 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Studies of the regulation of mouse renin genes by measurement of renin messenger ribonucleic acid

DF Catanzaro, N Mesterovic and BJ Morris

The transcriptional activity of renin genes in the mouse kidney and submandibular gland (SMG) was examined by measurement of renin messenger RNA (mRNA) (nanograms per g tissue) and compared with renin activity (micromoles angiotensin I per h/g tissue). In control adult mice renin mRNA and renin activity (in parentheses) were 1.8 +/- 0.24 (11 +/- 1.1) in male kidney, 3.6 +/- 0.66 (18 +/- 2.8) in female kidney, 230 +/- 34 (903 +/- 59) in male SMG, and 31 +/- 6 (188 +/- 47) in female SMG (mean +/- SE, n = 6). The ratio of renin mRNA among these four tissues was similar to that of renin activity (1:2:100:17, respectively). Although the values in male kidney were one one- hundredth those in SMG, 1000 to 10000 times more SMG cells are involved per gram of tissue so that, per renin-synthesizing cell, kidney values would be 10 to 100 times SMG values. Expression of renin gene(s) in a renal juxtaglomerular cell may thus be higher than in a SMG granular duct cell. Values in adult male SMG were a consequence of a 40-fold rise at puberty, were decreased to 16% (+/- 3.8) by castration, but were not significantly influenced by treatment with testosterone, T4, propylthiouracil, sodium depletion, or spironolactone. Renin mRNA in adult female SMG was 18-fold higher than juvenile values, was increased 10-fold (+/- 1.6) by testosterone (to adult male levels) and 5.5-fold (+/- 0.81) by T4 (P less than 0.005), but was decreased to 42% (+/- 29) of normal by propylthiouracil (P less than 0.05). Propylthiouracil caused a small but significant decrease in testosterone-treated female values. In the kidney renin mRNA was increased 3.0-fold (+/- 0.30) by captopril, 2.3-fold (+/- 0.23) by a low sodium diet, and 1.7-fold (+/- 0.13) by spironolactone after 1 week, whereas T4, testosterone, or propylthiouracil had little or no effect. Sialoadenectomy increased renin mRNA and renin in male but not in female kidney, suggesting that a SMG factor, possibly renin, may have a role in suppression of renin synthesis in male kidney. In conclusion, measurement of renin mRNA suggests that testosterone regulates renin gene expression by a direct effect in male mouse SMG, whereas in the female regulation is by thyroid hormone. In the kidney conditions which increase renin content are accompanied by parallel (5-fold higher) increases in renin mRNA, suggesting enhanced expression of renin gene(s) in renal juxtaglomerular cells in chronic low sodium states.

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				Y. Yan, L. Hu, R. Chen, J. E. Sealey, J. H. Laragh, and D. F. Catanzaro Appropriate Regulation of Human Renin Gene Expression and Secretion in 45-kb Human Renin Transgenic Mice Hypertension, August 1, 1998; 32(2): 205 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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