Renin in exocrine glands of different mouse strains

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) controls the regulation of blood pressur e and water-mineral balance. Recently, renin has been reported to be synthe sized and secreted outside the kidney. The present study investigated immun ohistochemically the distribution of renin in exocrine glands, i.e. salivar y glands and coagulating glands, in male mice of 13 strains. In some strain s, renin was detected in the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands, but not in the parotid glands. It was restricted to the striated or granula r portions of excretory ducts. In coagulating glands, variable staining pat terns were found. These results demonstrate the existence of variations in renin content in mouse strains and offered a selection of mouse strains for investigation of exocrine gland renin.