Induction of angiotensinogen mRNA in hepatocytes by angiotensin II and glucocorticoids.

In isolated rat hepatocytes, exposed to angiotensin II and glucocorticoids, angiotensinogen mRNA increased within 30-60 min, and angiotensinogen secretion with a time lag of about 2 hours. After 4 hours, angiotensinogen mRNA, estimated by liquid hybridization with radiolabeled cRNA, was 5.9 +/- 0.4 in control, and 10.8 +/- 0.8, 11.7 +/- 0.4, 16.1 +/- 0.8 and 21.7 +/- 0.2 pg/micrograms of total RNA in cells exposed to angiotensin II (9 nM and 90 nM), hydrocortisone (100 microM) and dexamethasone (10 microM) respectively. The corresponding secretion rates of angiotensinogen were 72 +/- 7, 124 +/- 4, 132 +/- 12, 220 +/- 19 and 217 +/- 18 fmol angiotensinogen/mg wet weight/hour. Thus, angiotensin II stimulates angiotensinogen synthesis and secretion by acting at a pretranslational site.