Regulation of renin gene expression in rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells

Our previous studies indicated that the amount of renin present in cultured adrenal zona glomerulosa cells increased after stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium. In the present study, we investigated the effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium on renin gene expression in cultured rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. The amount of rat renin messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by complementary DNA synthesis and the competitive polymerase chain reaction method. The effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium on adrenal zona glomerulosa cell renin activity and renin mRNA content were compared with the activity and content of control cells. After 1 and 4 hours of stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium, total renin in the medium increased slightly; at the same time, the percent change in the amount of renin mRNA was 281% and 291%, respectively, in the adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated group and 218% and 348%, respectively, in the potassium-stimulated group. Twenty-four hours after adrenocorticotropic hormone or potassium stimulation, total renin in the medium increased significantly, by 689% and 220%, respectively; percent change in the renin mRNA content was 754% and 278%, respectively. These results demonstrate that adrenocorticotropic hormone and potassium increased the activity of adrenal renin through an increase in the level of renin mRNA.