Renin immunohistochemistry in the adrenal gland of the mouse fetus and neonate

Abstract

The development of renin-containing cells in fetal and neonatal adrenal glands of the mouse was studied using immunohistochemistry. On days 13-14 of gestation, immunoreactivity for renin was first observed in a few cortical cells of the gland, appearing as small patchy or granular reaction products in the perikaryon. The mitotic configurations of the cells demonstrating immunoreactivity were noted. On day 16 of gestation, a number of intensively immunoreactive cells were distributed in the aortal side of the cortical zone. On day 18 of gestation, and day 1 postparturition, a small number of potent immunoreactive cells were still found in the cortical area. Immunoreactivity of the cytoplasm was observed in the cells, some showing an intensive reaction and others possessing numerous tiny granules just below the cell membrane. On days 3, 5, and 7 after birth, no renin-containing cells were found in the adrenal gland. The ratio of the numbers of renin-positive cells in certain areas to the numbers in the entire cortical area was significantly increased on day 16 of gestation, but there was no sexual difference in the ratios. The ratios were decreased subsequently until day 1 after birth. The possible significance of renin synthesis in specific adrenal cells in fetal life is discussed with respect to an important involvement of angiotensin II in the morphogenesis of the adrenal gland of the mouse.

Increased Renin Production in Mice With Deletion of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ in Juxtaglomerular Cells

“…The same may be the case with other organs where the renin gene is expressed, such as brain or testis, but where no PPARγ recombination was found 17. Consistent with this suggestion, the robust expression of renin in the adrenal cortex during fetal life occurs mostly in the large fetal zone which regresses after birth and is replaced by other cells presumably originating from the outer cortex 27,28. In adult life, cells that expressed renin (and therefore cre recombinase) persist in some stripes along the adrenal cortex with numerous adrenal cells in between that never expressed renin and/or cre (spared zones) 17…”

Effect of Rat Atrial Natriuretic Factor on in vivo and in vitro Aldosterone and Corticosterone Secretions in the Rat during the Perinatal Period

“…In the adult rat, Izumi et al [ 16] have shown a possible role of adrenal renin in the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of ANF on aldosterone secretion in vivo. The fact that renin-contain ing cells were detected by immunohistochemistry in the cortical adrenal gland of the fetal mouse [ 17] suggests a possible paracrine func tion of adrenal renin in the control of aldoste rone secretion in vivo during fetal life. Unfor tunately, the activity of renin in adrenals and plasma was not measured in our present study and we cannot draw conclusions about the inhibitory effect of ANF on aldosterone secre tion in vivo.…”

Renin Release: Sites, Mechanisms, and Control

“…In addition, cells in the anterior pituitary (4,5) and, in states of kidney disease, cells of the distal tubule express (pro)renin (7,8). Adrenal renin expression is substantial during fetal development but falls to low levels after birth (9). However, renin expression can be strongly reinduced in the adrenal gland in states of threatened sodium homeostasis (10)(11)(12) in a fashion very similar to the kidney (see Section 3,below).…”