[Tissue concentration and secretion of renin in human placental villi during early pregnancy].
In this study, tissue concentrations of renin and angiotensins in human placental villi during early pregnancy and contents of renin and angiotensin I (A I) secreted by cultured chorion were measured by radioimmunal assay (RIA). The results are as follows. During early pregnancy, the human chorion contains renin and A II. The activity of renin is much higher at 6th week of gestation, but as gestation proceeds, it decreases gradually, while A II shows somewhat increased change. The activity of renin secreted by cultured chorion can also be measured. A I in human placental villi can not be detected by RIA in chorion leaves or their culturing fluid. These results indicate that renin-angiotensin system may exist independently in human placental villi during early pregnancy.