Plasma Prorenin Response to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Ovarian-Hyperstimulated Women: Correlation with the Number of Ovarian Follicles and Steroid Hormone Concentrations

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1987-10, Vol.84 (20), p.7285-7289
• Main Authors: Itskovitz, Joseph, Sealey, Jean E., Glorioso, Nicola, Rosenwaks, Zev
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood plasma; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Chorionic Gonadotropin - therapeutic use; Corpus luteum; Corpus Luteum - drug effects; Corpus Luteum - metabolism; Enzyme Precursors - blood; Estradiol - blood; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - therapeutic use; Follicles; Gonadotropins; Human resources; Humans; Infertility, Female - blood; Infertility, Female - drug therapy; Luteal phase; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Luteinizing Hormone - therapeutic use; Menstrual cycle; Natural cycles; Ovarian Follicle - drug effects; Ovarian Follicle - metabolism; Ovarian follicles; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Progesterone - blood; Renin - blood
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.84.20.7285

Plasma prorenin and active renin were measured before and after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration in two groups of patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for 4-6 days with follicle-stimulating hormone alone or in combination with luteinizing hormone, for in vitro fertilization. Baseline total plasma renin (prorenin plus active renin; n = 12) averaged 25 ± 8 ng/ml per hr (mean ± SD). Total renin did not change during ovarian stimulation but it increased to 46 ± 16 ng/ml per hr (P < 0.05) 1 or 2 days later, just before hCG administration. Thirty-six hours after hCG administration, just before laparoscopy and egg retrieval, total renin was 123 ± 97 ng/ml per hr; a peak of 182 ± 143 ng/ml per hr occurred 2-6 days later--i.e., during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In eight of the patients who did not conceive, total renin returned to baseline 14 days after hCG administration. In four who conceived, a nadir was reached (57 ± 13 ng/ml per hr) 8-12 days after hCG administration and then total renin increased again as the plasma β hCG measurement began to rise. By day 16 it averaged 225 ± 157 ng/ml per hr. In a second group of five patients active renin and prorenin were measured separately. Active renin comprised