Effect of the catecholestrogen 2-hydroxyestradiol on the renin-angiotensin system in the rat.

The effects of the catecholestrogen 2-hydroxyestradiol (250 and 500 micrograms/day, each for 7 days) on plasma renin substrate (PRS), activity (PRA) and concentration (PRC) were studied in male rats as compared with those of estradiol (250 micrograms/day, for 7 days) and vehicle alone (for 7 days). Pre-treatment levels of PRS, PRA, PRC and the PRA/PRC ratio were similar in four groups. After vehicle treatment, PRS, PRA, PRC and the PRA/PRC ratio remained unchanged. Estradiol treatment, however, produced an increase in PRS, an increase in PRA but no change in PRC. The PRA/PRC ratio after estradiol treatment was high. On the other hand, 2-hydroxyestradiol treatment caused no increase in PRS at a daily dose of 250 micrograms and a slight but significant increase in PRS at a daily dose of 500 micrograms. This treatment also produced increases in PRA as well as PRC at the two daily doses. These increases in PRA and PRC tended to be higher at a daily dose of 500 micrograms than at a daily dose of 250 micrograms. The PRA/PRC ratios after 2-hydroxyestradiol treatment were unaltered at the two daily doses. It is concluded that, while 2-hydroxyestradiol is less active in increasing PRS than estradiol, the compound is capable of increasing PRC.