Search

Central cardiovascular effects of the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) inhibitor, ouabain, were investigated by injecting it intracerebroventricularly (ICV) using conscious Wistar rats. Ouabain, 0.1-10 micrograms injected ICV, produced dose-related pressor responses attaining peak elevations after about 5 min. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of these central pressor responses, angiotensin II blockers were injected ICV before the injections of ouabain. 1-Sar, 8-Ile angiotensin II (ang IIa), 50 micrograms, given 3 min before the ouabain, abolished the pressor responses to ouabain, 5 micrograms. Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI, captopril), 100 micrograms, also significantly attenuated the pressor responses to ouabain. Since previous results with ICV injections of ouabain suggested that the pressor responses are mediated via a release of brain angiotension II, and the site of action of brain angiotensin II is believed to be the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) area of the brain, ICV injections of ouabain were repeated using rats whose AV3V areas had been destroyed electrically. The pressor responses were smaller in the AV3V lesioned rats than in sham-operated rats. The abdominal sympathetic nerve activity was recorded using three conscious, normotensive Wistar rats. ICV injections of ouabain, 5 micrograms, elicited pressor responses as described above and these were accompanied by a corresponding increase in the nerve firing, lasting for 5-7 min. These responses were again abolished by pretreatment with an angiotensin II antagonist. These results suggest that centrally administered ouabain elicits vasopressor responses which increase peripheral sympathetic nerve activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to evaluate the role of the renin-angiotensin system and the sympathetic nervous system in the maintenance of blood pressure in the sodium-depleted state, the changes of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma noradrenaline (PNA) were examined in unanesthetized dogs after the administration of furosemide. Furthermore, the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the increased sympathetic nerve activity induced by furosemide was assessed by using Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II, an angiotensin II antagonist. When a dose of 0.8 mg/kg of furosemide was injected intravenously, 3 times every 15 minutes, PRA and PNA were significantly increased with a concomitant increase in PAC. Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II induced a significant increase in PAC and a slight increase in PRA, while no changes were found in PNA and the mean blood pressure. The increase in PNA induced by furosemide was inhibited dose-dependently by Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II, through PRA and PAC were further increased. There results suggest that an administration of furosemide induced the increase in PNA and the increase in PNA by furosemide might by mediated by the renin-angiotensin system.

Intracisternal injections of hypertonic NaCl elicited the pressor responses in urethane anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar rats. The intracisternal pretreatment of 1-Sar-8-Ile-angiotensin II, angiotensin II analog, could abolish the pressor responses to intracisternal injections of 5% NaCl in urethane anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats, while basal blood pressure was not affected by these pretreatment. Both intracisternal and intravenous administration of captopril, an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor, did not alter the pressor effect of hypertonic NaCl in normotensive rats. Basal blood pressure was lowered by intravenous injection of captopril. The involvement of angiotensin II in the pressor mechanism of hypertonic NaCl was confirmed by the enhanced pressor responses to intracisternal injections of 5% NaCl in urethane anesthetized rats pretreated intracisternally with angiotensin II. These findings suggest that angiotensin II itself could play an important role in the pressor responses to intracisternal injections of hypertonic NaCl without involving a converting enzyme system.

Acute effects of captopril (SQ 14 225) on blood pressure were investigated in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. Intravenous captopril (0.1-3 mg/kg) caused reduction of blood pressure dose-independently, while dose-dependent attenuation of exogenous angiotensin I-induced pressor response and potentiation of bradykinin-induced reduction of blood pressure were observed wih the same doses of this agent. This acute decrease in blood pressure was partially inhibited by a pretreatment with any one of aprotinin, Sar1-Ile-8-angiotensin II and indomethacin. More significant inhibition of the blood pressure decrease was observed after the combined pretreatment with Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II and indomethacin or that with all the three drugs, though no complete abolition of the blood pressure decrease was achieved. These results suggest that captopril may decrease blood pressure in anesthetized dogs through other mechanism(s) in addition to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, including the prostaglandin release probably from the kidney.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, electrolyte and water balance, body fluid, and neurogenic tone and reactivity of the vasculature were studied in hypertension induced in uninephrectomized rats by repeated injection of renin-rich kidney extract and 1% saline drinking. The control rats were injected with physiological saline. Various measurements were made in conscious rats on the 10th day of the treatment. As compared with the control, plasma renin concentration and serum sodium increased significantly, while plasma aldosterone and renal excretory function did not differ. Blood volume (BV) expressed as per body weight increased significantly, but absolute BV, absolute or body weight-related plasma volume and hematocrit were not significantly different. The hypotensive effect of 1-Sar-8-Ile-angiotensin II was negligible 12 hours after the preceding injection of kidney extract. It was small but significant 1 hour after the injection. Increase in water turn-over and fractional sodium excretion occurred during the development of hypertension. Spironolactone did not significantly modify the developmental course. We observed increased depressor response to hexamethonium and increased reactivities to noradrenaline and angiotensin II (A II); these response curves relatively resembled those of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertensive vascular changes were seen in the kidney and heart by histology. Thus, it was suggested that a direct vascular action of A II played a partial role in this hypertensive process while aldosterone played little role. The significance of BV increase and possible contribution of A II's other actions were discussed.