Specific renin has been identified in the outer layers of the adrenals of rat, mouse, and human and the inner cortical layers but not in the medulla of mouse adrenals. Nephrectomy causes a marked elevation of adrenal renin, presumably through hyperkalemia. The subcellular distribution of adrenal renin was investigated by Percoll density gradient. The renin activity in the dense granules from the capsules of nephrectomized rats was 15 times greater than that of intact rat. Most of the active form renin was found in dense renin granules. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the dense granules increased in number after bilateral nephrectomy. Immunogold staining of these granules showed unequivocally the presence of renin therein. Adrenal capsules in organ culture were found to release renin at a steady rate. Renin release from bilaterally nephrectomized rat adrenals was 46 times greater than from the organs of intact animals. The mechanism of the control of renin secretion from the adrenal gland was different from the kidney in that the secretion was stimulated by potassium chloride (10 mol/L) or angiotensin II (10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L) but not by ACTH (10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L), suggesting stimulation by intracellular calcium. These results provide evidence that the adrenal synthesizes renin, stores it in specific secretory granules, and secretes it in a regulated manner. Prorenin in the adrenal tissue accounted for only 10% of the total renin whereas 90% of the secreted renin was inactive.