Intrarenal localization of angiotensinogen mRNA by RNA-DNA dot-blot hybridization

The renal renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the control of renal hemodynamics and in the etiology of some types of hypertension. Angiotensinogen is the prohormone for angiotensins I and II. In the present communication, we report for the first time the presence of mRNA coding for angiotensinogen in the kidney. Indeed, the intrarenal location appears to be predominantly in the renal medulla. Additionally, an investigation of the effect of uninephrectomy on the intrarenal angiotensinogen mRNA suggests that regulation of mRNA levels in the kidney does occur.