1. Epidemiological studies indicate that a reduced birthweight increases the likelihood of human cardiovascular disease later in life. The role of hormonal factors in this finding is not known. Given that angiotensin II is believed to be a fetal regulator of growth, we have examined in the hypertensive Ren-2 transgenic rat whether it has active renin in its amniotic fluid and whether this is associated with fetal underdevelopment. 2. We found that while the Sprague-Dawley rat contained no active renin in its amniotic fluid near term (20 days), Ren-2 amniotic fluid contains high levels of active renin and is associated with a reduced fetal weight. 3. This is the first report of active renin in the rat and allows the possibility that renin overproduction plays a role in reduced fetal growth and the prenatal 'programming' of essential hypertension that has been proposed to occur in humans.