The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in cardiovascular and fluid homeostasis. The major biologically active peptide of the RAS is angiotensin II, which acts through G protein-coupled receptors of two pharmacological classes, AT(1) and AT(2). AT(1) receptors, expressed in brain and peripheral tissues, mediate most classically recognized actions of the RAS, including blood pre...

Previous studies indicate that angiotensin (AT)(1) receptor-induced activation of phospholipase D (PLD) may importantly contribute to vascular hypertrophy, injury, and contraction. However, the role of AT(2) receptors in regulating AT(1) receptor-induced PLD activation is unknown. In this study, we identified angiotensin II receptors on cultured preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells (PGSMC...

The role of angiotensin receptor subtypes 1 and 2 was assessed on neointima formation after injury in rat carotid artery. The effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition by perindopril (3 mg.kg-1 x day-1 p.o.) and selective blockade of angiotensin subtype 1 receptors by DuP 753 (5 and 30 mg.kg-1 x day-1 p.o.) were compared on proliferative response to balloon injury. In rats treated 6 d...

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of invalidism and death in industrialized countries. There are conflicting reports about the effects of Angiotensin II on ischemia-reperfusion brain injuries and most data have come from chronic hypertensive rats. In this study, hypotensive and non-hypotensive doses of candesartan were used to investigate the effects of angiotensin II AT1 receptor b...

1. When the renin-angiotensin system of rats had been suppressed by a high salt diet or by bilateral nephrectomy, large doses of angiotensin I1 antiserum were required to block the pressor action of exogenous angiotensin 11. Infusion of renin profoundly lowered the blocking requirement of such animals. 2. It is postulated that renin bound to blood vessels generates angiotensin locally which is ...

Levels of angiotensin II immunoreactivity in the rat adrenal gland are over one hundredfold higher than those in plasma. It is unclear, however, whether the major source of adrenal angiotensin II immunoreactivity is intracellular synthesis by a local renin-angiotensin system, uptake by angiotensin II receptors, or both. Our studies show that angiotensin II immunoreactivity in the adrenal gland ...

This study explored the hypothesis that a portion of angiotensin II-induced contractions is dependent on superoxide generation and release of a previously unidentified arachidonic acid metabolite that activates vascular smooth muscle thromboxane receptors. Treatment of rabbit aorta or mesentery artery with the thromboxane receptor antagonist SQ29548 (10 μM) reduced angiotensin II-induced contra...