Active and acid-activable inactive renin during inhibition by indomethacin of prostaglandin synthesis in sodium-replete man.

The effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin on active renin and on acid-activable inactive renin was studied in nine healthy, sodium-replete men, both at rest and exercise. These volunteers were investigated after pretreatment with placebo or indomethacin, 150 mg daily for 3 days. Indomethacin induced a decrease in active (P = 0.004), total (P less than 0.001) and inactive (P = 0.02) renin at rest recumbent and at rest, sitting. Inhibition of prostaglandins with indomethacin reduced (P less than 0.001) active and total renin at each level of work load but not (P = 0.32) inactive renin. However the exercise-induced stimulation (P less than 0.05) of active and of total renin still occur during indomethacin. Indomethacin reduced (P less than 0.001) at rest, sitting and at maximal exercise the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive prostaglandins E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha and 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F alpha; the urinary excretion of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha were also reduced.