ABSTRACT
A few years after the role of the circulating renin angiotensin system (RAS) in the regulation of aldosterone synthesis had been discovered1-4 Ryan5 and Ganten et al.6 described the existence of a renin-like enzyme within the adrenal gland and proposed that the secretory function of the gland could be modulated by a local RAS.5,7 Renin was further detected in human adrenal tissues and adrenal tumors.8-10 Also angiotensinogen has been co-localized with renin in human adrenals.11 Furthermore, in rat angiotensin (Ang) II remained detectable even 20 hours after bilateral nephrectomy, a procedure which removes the source for circulating renin.12 This surely indicated local Ang production.
