Detection of renin mRNA in mouse testis by hybridization with renin cDNA probe

Using 32P-labeled DNA complementary to mouse submaxillary gland renin mRNA, we probed mRNA gel blots from mouse testis and kidney tissues. Poly(A)-RNA from testis contained a hybridizable RNA species which was blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. The molecular size of testicular renin mRNA (approximately 1600 nucleotides in length) was not significantly different from tht of kidney renin mRNA. Densitometric scan revealed that the content of renin mRNA in mouse testis was approximately 5-fold lower than that in mouse kidney. These results support the proposal that mouse testicular cells synthesize renin.