The intrarenal renin-angiotensin-system. An immunocytochemical study on the localization of renin, angiotensinogen, converting enzyme and the angiotensins in the kidney of mouse and rat.

The localization of renin, converting enzyme (CE) and angiotensin II (ANG II) in the kidneys of rats and mice was investigated with immunocytochemical methods. According to the presence and specific intrarenal localization of these components of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) our results suggest that in addition to the well known systemic effects of the RAS, there are interactions of its components inside the kidney. These interactions may lead to the generation of an extra portion of ANG II in the renal blood stream with its target cells determined by the localization of CE at the luminal side of well defined endothelial areas. These intrarenal-intravasal reactions may or may not reinforce the action of "systemic" ANG II, generated prerenally. In addition, the existence of true intrarenal-interstitial interactions, with the different components and actions of this intrarenal RAS restricted entirely to the kidney is suggested by our results, particularly the demonstration of ANG II within epitheloid cells and the dissociation of systemic renin and ANG II from their local concentrations in renal hypertensive rats.