Prostaglandins and renin release in vitro.

The present studies were undertaken to explore further the role of prostaglandins in the release of renin from the renal cortex. To provide the best assessment of renin release, renin was determined by a radioimmunoassay for the direct measurement of renin. Slices of mouse renal cortex were incubated at 37 degrees C with arachidonic acid (AA), 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), indomethacin, prostaglandins, and synthetic prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue (EPA). Our results showed that AA at 1.5 X 10(-8) M significantly increased renin release at 10 and 30 min of incubation. This renin increase ws abolished by either ETA or indomethacin. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) also significantly stimulated renin release at 10 and 60 min. PGE2 and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (DMPGE2) showed much less renin release-stimulating activity. EPA and PGI2 on the other hand very strongly stimulated renin release. However, at higher concentrations the stimulating effect of PGI2 and EPA disappeared and even became inhibitory in the case of EPA. Other prostaglandins were found to have no effect on renin release. The results suggest that the prostaglandin system directly affects renin release from the juxtaglomerular cells independent of systemic neurogenic and hemodynamic influences.