Cyclical Secretion of Prorenin during the Menstrual Cycle: Synchronization with Luteinizing Hormone and Progesterone

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1985-12, Vol.82 (24), p.8705-8709
• Main Authors: Sealey, Jean E., Atlas, Steven A., Glorioso, Nicola, Manapat, Henrietta, Laragh, John H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminoacids, peptides. Hormones. Neuropeptides; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Blood; Blood plasma; Enzyme Precursors - metabolism; Female; Follicular phase; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones; Humans; Luteinization; Luteinizing Hormone - metabolism; Medical sciences; Menstrual cycle; Menstruation; Periodicity; Pregnancy; Progesterone - metabolism; Proteins; Renin - blood; Renin - metabolism; Secretion
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.82.24.8705

Plasma prorenin, a high molecular weight precursor form of renin, (renin, EC 3.4.23.15; old number, EC 3.4.99.19), was measured three times weekly in normal young women during the menstrual cycle and was related to changes in luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone. In all subjects a stable baseline level of prorenin occurred during the follicular phase. Then, simultaneously or soon after the luteinizing hormone peak, plasma prorenin consistently increased about 2-fold. Baseline prorenin ranged from 18 to 40 ng per ml per hr, and peak prorenin ranged from 35 to 65 ng per ml per hr. The maximum increase in prorenin averaged 80%. Prorenin remained elevated during the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and returned to baseline during the late-luteal phase in coordination with the decrease in progesterone. The changes in prorenin were not synchronized with changes in active renin which was significantly increased only during the mid-luteal phase. These findings suggest that prorenin may be involved in reproductive physiology.