[Modulation of the secretion of active renin in human decidual cells by progesterone]

Uterine decidua is a major source of renin, both active and inactive. Active renin cleaves angiotensinogen to produce angiotensin I and exerts its effect on the expression of angiotensin II in the local tissue. Our experiments showed that (1) in the decidua of early pregnancy the contents of active renin increased gradually with advancing pregnancy, and at 8th week of gestation the level of active renin reached to a maximum (63.37 +/- 12.84) AI ng/gww.h(-1); (2) active renin accounted for about 1/4 of the total renin; and (3) the synthesis and secretion of active renin were regulated by progesterone in incubated decidual cells. These data indicate that a high level of active renin in decidual tissue at early pregnancy plays an important role in the uterine renin-angiotensin system during pregnancy.