Renin and prorenin in hog brain: ubiquitous distribution and high concentration in the pituitary and pineal.

With the objective of clarifying the nature of renin-like activity in the brain, we have devised methods to distinguish true renin from acid protease. These methods were used to determine the regional distribution of true renin in hog brain. The pineal was found to be the richest source of renin followed by the adenohypophysis and choroid plexus. The hypothalamus, cerebellum and amygdala contained moderately high concentrations of renin. Renin concentration in the neurohypophysis was negligible. Many regions contained activatable prorenin. The molecular weight and the pH-dependence of the brain renin were identical to these same properties of renal and plasma renins. Based upon its specific affinity to concanavalin A, brain renin was judged to be a glycoprotein. The electrofocusing pattern of renin from different regions of the brain differed from that of plasma and kidney renins, a discrepancy which could be interpreted as evidence for the endogenous synthesis of renin in the brain.