Effect of prostaglandin inhibition by indomethacin on plasma active and inactive renin concentration in men

Abstract

The effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin on active renin and on acid-activable inactive renin was studied in nine healthy, sodium-replete men, both at rest and exercise. These volunteers were investigated after pretreatment with placebo or indomethacin, 150 mg daily for 3 days. Indomethacin induced a decrease in active (p = 0.004), total (p < 0.001), and inactive (p = 0.02) renin at rest recumbent on average by 42, 19, and 8%, respectively, and at rest sitting on average by 45, 15, and 3%, respectively. Inhibition of prostaglandins with indomethacin reduced (p < 0.001) active and total renin at each level of work load but not (p = 0.32) inactive renin. However, the exercise-induced stimulation (p < 0.05) of active and total renin still occur during indomethacin. Indomethacin reduced (p < 0.001) at rest sitting and at maximal exercise the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive prostaglandins E2 by 50 and 54%, respectively, prostaglandin F2α by 36 and 39%, respectively, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin Fα by 38 and 60%, respectively. The urinary excretion of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 and F2α was also reduced.Key words: indomethacin, prorenin, active renin, prostaglandins.