Prorenin is present in plasma from nephrectomized rats: interfering sulphydryl enzyme

The aim was to demonstrate whether prorenin is present in plasma from 24-h nephrectomized rats. Its existence and concentration is currently under debate.

Determination of the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) values for inhibition of plasma renin in intact and 24-h nephrectomized rats. The potent and specific rat renin inhibitor CH-732 was used.

Our previously published method for the determination of rat prorenin was used. It is characterized by removal of an interfering trypsin-formed angiotensin I immunoreactive material before the renin incubation step.

The trypsin-activated prorenin-like activity of 24-h nephrectomized plasma was due only to a minor degree to real prorenin as judged by CH-732 inhibition. The major part of the prorenin-like activity was due to a hitherto unknown sulphydryl enzyme, which could be blocked by N-ethylmaleimide. In normal plasma all prorenin was real prorenin. The plasma concentration of real prorenin in 24-h nephrectomized rats was approximately 10% of that in intact rats.

Prorenin is definitely present in nephrectomized plasma, but in low concentrations. The data support the concept that the major part of plasma prorenin in intact rats originates from the kidneys. The previously published values for prorenin in intact rats were correct, whereas those in 24-h nephrectomized rats were too high. If N-ethylmaleimide is added to our previously published method for rat prorenin, it overcomes the three known problems with prorenin determination in rat plasma: trypsin generation of angiotensin I immunoreactive material; trypsin destruction of angiotensinogen; and interference in trypsin-activated nephrectomized plasma of a sulphydryl enzyme, which generates an angiotensin-I-like material.