Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 65, 349-354, Copyright © 1987 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Source of plasma prorenin in early and late pregnancy: observations in a patient with primary ovarian failure

FH Derkx, AT Alberda, FH de Jong, FH Zeilmaker, JW Makovitz and MA Schalekamp

The plasma levels of enzymatically active renin (active renin) and inactive renin (prorenin) were measured in a woman with primary ovarian failure, in whom pregnancy was established by the induction of an artificial cycle and in vitro fertilization of a donated oocyte fertilized with the sperm of her husband. The results were compared with those in nine normal pregnant women. Prepregnancy plasma active renin and prorenin levels were normal in the patient. Active renin rose 2-fold during pregnancy in both the patient and the normal pregnant women. In the first 8 weeks of pregnancy prorenin rose by 156 microU/mL in the patient, whereas it rose by 869 +/- 169 microU/mL (mean +/- SD) in the normal pregnant women. Thus, the rise in prorenin in our patient was much less than normal. Prorenin remained abnormally low throughout the pregnancy, which lasted 40 weeks. Therefore, the high prorenin levels that occur normally during pregnancy may depend on normal ovarian function. Amniotic fluid prorenin in the patient was similar to that in normal pregnant women and was 75 times higher than that in plasma. This finding suggests that prorenin production by the chorionic cells was normal in the patient and that chorionic prorenin does not contribute in any major degree to the level of prorenin in maternal plasma. Because of these findings and in light of recent evidence that the ovary secretes prorenin and produces high plasma prorenin levels in women with hyperstimulated cycles, we conclude that the ovary is the main source of the elevated plasma prorenin levels in pregnant women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Nguyen and A. H. J. Danser Prorenin and (pro)renin receptor: a review of available data from in vitro studies and experimental models in rodents Exp Physiol, May 1, 2008; 93(5): 557 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Jan Danser, W. W. Batenburg, and J. H. M. van Esch Prorenin and the (pro)renin receptor--an update Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., May 1, 2007; 22(5): 1288 - 1292. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Paul, A. Poyan Mehr, and R. Kreutz Physiology of local Renin-Angiotensin systems. Physiol Rev, July 1, 2006; 86(3): 747 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.H. J. Danser and J. Deinum Renin, Prorenin and the Putative (Pro)renin Receptor Hypertension, November 1, 2005; 46(5): 1069 - 1076. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Saris, F. H. M. Derkx, J. M. J. Lamers, P. R. Saxena, M. A. D. H. Schalekamp, and A. H. J. Danser Cardiomyocytes Bind and Activate Native Human Prorenin : Role of Soluble Mannose 6-Phosphate Receptors Hypertension, February 1, 2001; 37(2): 710 - 715. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Itskovitz-Eldor, S. Kol, N. Lewit, and J. E. Sealey Ovarian Origin of Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid Prorenin in Early Pregnancy and in Patients with Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1997; 82(2): 461 - 464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]