Stimulation by hCG of ovarian inactive renin synthesis in rabbit preovulatory theca cells

The origin of ovarian renin and its regulation by hCG were investigated in rabbit periovulatory follicles and cultured preovulatory follicular cells. Intracellular content of renin in thecal cells was 8-fold greater than of granulosa cells. In vivo, administration of hCG increased intracellular content of renin in thecal but not granulosa cells. Similar results were obtained for cultured follicular cells, from which renin was partly released into the medium. In vitro, hCG increased intracellular renin content of thecal but not granulosa cells, without obvious effect on release. Approximately 95% of ovarian renin was inactive, but could be activated by trypsin. Thecal renin was antagonized in vitro by renin antiserum, indicating a specific renin activity. Our study establishes in the rabbit the thecal cell origin of ovarian inactive renin and demonstrates hCG regulation of its synthesis.