Angiotensin receptors in smooth muscle cell membranes

High-salt diet and hypertension: focus on the renin-angiotensin system

A high-salt diet is one of the major risk factors in the development and maintenance of hypertension. Numerous experimental and observational studies have confirmed the association of sodium intake with blood pressure levels. The effects of a high-salt diet are related to the function of the renin-angiotensin system, which is normally suppressed by a high-salt diet. Endothelial dysfunction probably plays an important role in the influence of high sodium intake on blood pressure, although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Genetic factors are known to be very important, and various consomic and congenic rat strains as animal models have proven to be very useful in bringing us a step closer to understanding the interaction between salt intake and hypertension. In this article, experimental data obtained in studies on animals and humans, as well as epidemiological data are reviewed.

Symmetrical features in polypeptide hormone-receptor interactions

Symmetrical features were observed in the amino acid sequences of some biologically active peptides. It is suggested that this approximate symmetry is reflected in the conformations of the peptides at their respective biological receptors, and has arisen by natural selection as both peptides and receptors evolved to optimise their mutual fit. It follows that the binding site for each peptide at its receptor would share the same symmetry element. This would arise if the peptide binds to two symmetrically related similar or identical submits in the receptor.

Computational molecular modeling in peptide drug design

The review concentrates on practical applications of computer molecular modeling in peptide drug design. The examples of the predictions (successful or not) made by computational modeling before synthesis of peptide analogs, not the explanations provided after synthesis and biological testing of peptides, are discussed. The review spans over 20 years of predictions made by computer molecular modeling for bradykinin, angiotensin, thyrotropin-releasing factor, tuftsin, substance P, CCK-related peptides, luliberin, alpha-melanotropin and opioid peptides. The described examples are discussed in terms of finding the optimal way to use computer modeling for peptide design. The step-by-step 'technology' of peptide design is outlined in detail.

Effect of sodium balance and calcium channel blocking drugs on blood pressure responses

To study the role of calcium movements in mediating the effects of sodium chloride on the response of blood pressure to angiotensin II (ANG II), we infused ANG II before and after giving calcium channel blocking drugs (nifedipine and diltiazem) and calcium infusions to normal subjects during high and low sodium intakes. ANG II was also in nine patients with essential hypertension eating a low sodium diet. In preliminary studies, the effects of nifedipine, 20 mg p.o., on blood pressure and plasma renin activity were determined. Sensitivity to infused ANG II was calculated as the slope of the linear regression of the increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) expressed as a function of the ANG II infusion rate (mm Hg/ng ANG II/kg/min). During intake of a high sodium diet (Na, 200 mEq/day) both drugs significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced ANG II sensitivity, while on a low sodium diet (10 mEq Na), neither drug reduced ANG II sensitivity. There was a significant (p less than 0.001) inverse correlation between the initial ANG II-DBP sensitivity and the change in sensitivity induced by the calcium channel blocking drugs in normal subjects (r = -0.78) and in hypertensive patients (r = -0.70). Five hypertensive patients had greater than normal ANG II-DBP sensitivity that was significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced by nifedipine. Calcium infusion did not affect the ANG II-DBP sensitivity on either diet. The results suggest that in normal subjects increased DBP responses to ANG II, induced by an increase in sodium intake, are partially mediated by increased extracellular to intracellular calcium movements, since they are blocked by the structurally different calcium channel blocking drugs nifedipine and diltiazem. In hypertensive patients on a low sodium diet, increased DBP responses to ANG II infusion were blocked by nifedipine, indicating they are at least partly mediated by increased extracellular to intracellular calcium flux.

Withdrawal of magnesium enhances coronary arterial spasms produced by vasoactive agents

1 The influence of external magnesium ions ([Mg2+]o) on the sensitivity (i.e. EC50) and contractility (maximum response) of isolated large and small coronary arteries of the dog, obtained from different regions of the myocardium, to vasoactive agents was studied. 2 Removal of [Mg2+]o from the physiological salt solution enhanced, while elevation in [Mg2+]o to 4.8 mM, lowered the contractile sensitivity to three different agents, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), angiotensin II and KCl. 3 Contractility, of both large and small coronary arteries, to 5-HT and angiotensin II was potentiated and depressed, respectively, by withdrawal and elevation of [Mg2+]o; maximum responses to KCl were not altered by 0 or 4.8 mM [Mg2+]o. 4 Cumulative concentration-contractile effect curves to CaCl2 were shifted leftward on removal of [Mg2+]o; elevation of [Mg2+]o to 4.8 mM shifted the CaCl2 concentration-effect curves to the right. Maximal contractile responses to CaCl2 were enhanced by removal of, and reduced by elevation of, [Mg2+]o. 5 The calcium channel blocking agent, verapamil (10(-6)M), inhibited completely contractile responses to KCl; contractile responses elicited by angiotensin II and 5-HT were attenuated by verapamil. 6 A variety of pharmacological antagonists (phentolamine, propranolol, methysergide, atropine, diphenhydramine), as well as use of a prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, did not modify the altered contractile responses evoked by angiotensin II or KCl in different concentrations of Mg2+. 7 These results suggest: (1) [Mg2+]o may exert considerably greater influence on receptor-operated rather than membrane-potential sensitive channels involved in Ca2+ transport in coronary arterial smooth muscle; (2) Mg2+ interferes with the affinity (binding) of certain agonists (5-HT and angiotensin II) for their respective receptors in coronary vascular muscle; and (3) a functional pool of Ca2+ which is resistant to Ca2+-depletion, but accessible to activation by 5-HT and angiotensin II is present in canine coronary arterial smooth muscle.

Functional angiotensin II receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

To study cellular mechanisms influencing vascular reactivity, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were obtained by enzymatic dissociation of the rat mesenteric artery, a highly reactive, resistance-type blood vessel, and established in primary culture. Cellular binding sites for the vasoconstrictor hormone angiotensin II (AII) were identified and characterized using the radioligand 125I-angiotensin II. Freshly isolated VSMC, and VSMC maintained in primary culture for up to 3 wk, exhibited rapid, saturable, and specific 125I-AII binding similar to that seen with homogenates of the intact rat mesenteric artery. In 7-d primary cultures, Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high-affinity binding sites with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.8 +/- 0.2 nM and a total binding capacity of 81.5 +/- 5.0 fmol/mg protein (equivalent to 4.5 x 10(4) sites per cell). Angiotensin analogues and antagonists inhibited 125I-AII binding to cultured VSMC in a potency series similar to that observed for the vascular AII receptor in vivo. Nanomolar concentrations of native AII elicited a rapid, reversible, contractile response, in a variable proportion of cells, that was inhibited by pretreatment with the competitive antagonist Sar1,Ile8-AII. Transmission electron microscopy showed an apparent loss of thick (12-18 nm Diam) myofilaments and increased synthetic activity, but these manifestations of phenotypic modulation were not correlated with loss of 125I-AII binding sites or hormonal responsiveness. Primary cultures of enzymatically dissociated rat mesenteric artery VSMC thus may provide a useful in vitro system to study cellular mechanisms involved in receptor activation-response coupling, receptor regulation, and the maintenance of differentiation in vascular smooth muscle.

Sequence-dependent conformations of short polypeptides in a hydrophobic environment

Surfactants, which provide a hydrophobic environment, may induce an ordered conformation in polypeptides and proteins that contain a sequence with helix-or beta-forming potential. This hypothesis has been illustrated in circular dichroic studies of oligopeptides and short polypeptides. These peptide-surfactant complexes can form (1) a helix, (2) a beta-form, (3) either form (depending on experimental conditions), or can remain in (4) an ordered form. The induced helix is stable in a surfactant solution below or above its critical micellar concentration, whereas the induced beta-form is usually converted back to an unordered form when the surfactant used is above its critical micellar concentration, or it is transformed into a helix in excess surfactant solution if the peptide has both the helix- and beta-forming potential. In most cases the observed conformations agree with those predicted from the amino acid sequences of the peptides. The induced conformation of a peptide can be destabilized by charges on the side groups having the same sign as that of surfactant ions. Disulfide bonds can inhibit the formation of induced conformation because of steric hindrance. The terminal effect can prevent a peptide from forming an ordered conformation near the NH2- and COOH-terminus.

Angiotensin II immunoreactivity coexists with renin in the juxtaglomerular granular cells of the kidney

The multiple physiologic functions of angiotensin II(AII) are generally supposed to be mediated by the peptide generated in the blood circulation. In addition to this extracellular mechanism of AII formation, we have obtained immunohistochemical evidence for the intracellular synthesis of AII in the kidney. Rats were perfused with fixative, and paraffin sections of the kidneys were processed with antisera against renin (EC 3.4.99.19), AII, and other components of the renin--angiotensin system. Renin immunoreactivity was regularly observed in the epithelioid granular cells in the media of the afferent vessel of the glomerulus. AII immunoreactivity was found to coexist within the same cells. This observation points to an intracellular production of AII in the juxtaglomerular epitheloid granular cells. AII may then be released concomitantly with renin in the interstitial fluid and in the blood. The paracrine secretion of AII could exert a local regulatory influence on the tonus of the glomerular vessels.

Identification of an angiotensin receptor in rabbit renomedullary interstitial cells in tissue culture. Correlation with prostaglandin biosynthesis

High affinity binding sites of angiotensin II (A II) have been characterized in rabbit renomedullary interstitial cells in tissue culture. Binding was rapid, specific, and saturable. Scatchard analysis of steady state saturation binding data at 22 degrees C indicated a single binding site with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 3.1 mM. The binding inhibition activities of analogues of angiotensin II correlated with their biological potencies: [Sar1, Ala8]A II greater than [des-Asp1]A II greater than greater than 3--8 hexapeptide. The biologically inactive 1--7 heptapeptide failed to displace the labeled angiotensin II from its binding sites. Angiotensin II directly stimulated prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis by the rabbit renomedullary interstitial cells in tissue culture. The concentration of angiotensin II that resulted in half maximal stimulation of prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis (6.5 nM) correlated with the concentration of angiotensin II that resulted in half maximal occupancy of binding sites (3.1 nM). The relative potency of [des-Asp1] A II as a stimulus for prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis was proportional to its relative binding inhibition activity. These findings demonstrate the biological significance of the angiotensin II binding sites in the rabbit renomedullary interstitial cells in tissue culture and suggest that the cells may provide a homogeneous model tissue for the study of the angiotensin receptor.

Specific membrane-binding of angiotensin II--the role of degradative enzymes

The possible role of degradative enzymes was examined in the specific binding of angiotensin II (AII) to cell membranes. Red blood cell membranes did not bind AII specifically under any of the ambient conditions studied, indicating a lack of AII receptors and no role for the degradative enzymes in specific binding. Rabbit aorta smooth muscle cell membranes bound AII specifically, and this binding had similar characteristics to those previously described for this preparation. It is concluded that specific binding of AII to cell membranes does not involve degradative enzymes, and probably represents binding to the biologically active receptor.

Biochemical and morphological characterization of subcellular fractions isolated from rabbit colon muscle

From a homogenate of rabbit colon muscle subcellular fractions were isolated by differential centrifugation. The crude microsomal fraction could be separated into subfractions, a fraction of vesicular microsomes at 35% sucrose, a fraction containing sarcolemma, mitochondrial fragments and microsomal vesicles at 35--45% sucrose and a small protein fraction at 45--55% sucrose. Their biochemical properties and their morphological characterization were investigated. The cholesterol and the phospholipid content was equally distributed between the microsomal fractions 35% and 35--45% while the RNA was localized to the mitochondria and the microsomal fraction 35%. The enzyme cytochrome c oxidase was found to be concentrated in the mitochondria while a high contamination was found in the microsomal fractions 35--45%. The NADH-oxidase activity was highest in the 35% fraction and the 5'-nucleotidase activity in the 40,000 X g supernatant. The microsomal subfractions contained the enzymes ATPase, adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase. In the 35% fraction Ca stimulated the hydrolysis of ATP. The binding of [3H]-ouabain and the incorporation of [3H]-leucine was most pronounced in the 35% fraction. In a K+-free Krebs Ringer medium the binding of the glucoside was stimulated in all the fractions. From these results we concluded that the fraction 35% sucrose may be mainly derived from the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane while the 35--45% originates from the plasma membrane, mitochondria and to a lesser extent the endoplasmic reticulum.

Quantitative 250 MHz proton magnetic resonance study of hydrogen-deuterium exchange. Angiotensin II hormone in trifluoroethanol

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange kinetics of (Asn1-Val5) angiotensin II has been investigated by proton magnetic resonance at 250 MHz in deuterated trifluoroethanol, as an approach to the "in situ" hormone conformation. An interactive program was specially developed to perform the data analysis on a computer similar to those used for spectroscopic data acquisition. Nine exchange sites are evidenced and characterized by their individual kinetic parameters. Three of them are assigned to peptide NH hydrogens, and the six remaining to slowly exchanging side chain protons. At 11 degrees C, more than three peptide hydrogens, sterically hindered or involved in hydrogen bonds, do not exchange. These results corroborate previous circular dichroism and infrared investigations performed in the same solvent, and suggest a family of well-folded conformations, stabilized in trifluoroethanol by internal hydrogen bonds, involving both the backbone and the side chain hydrogens.

A study of releasable Ca fractions in smooth muscle cells of the rabbit aorta

The distribution of Ca in the cellular compartment of smooth muscle cells of the rabbit aorta has been studied by analyzing the effect of norepinephrine, caffeine, and DNP on 45Ca exchange and on the pattern of tension development. These three substances increase the release of 45Ca from the tissue, but DNP acts more slowly than norepinephrine or caffeine. Also, the effect of norepinephrine and caffeine on tension development occurs almost immediately, while that of DNP appears only after a delay of 5 min. Study of the effect of these substances on the Ca efflux has shown that norepinephrine and caffeine act probably on the same Ca compartment, while DNP seems to act on a different compartment with a slower exchange rate. The difference between these two pools could be further demonstrated by studying Ca release after loading the tissues with tracer in either K-rich solution or in a solution with reduced [Ca]o. The K depolarization results in an excessive loading of the cells with 45Ca. Exposing these cells during the efflux procedure to a solution containing DNP causes a much larger release of 45Ca than that observed after a loading procedure in normal solution. In contrast, the release of 45Ca elicited in such tissues by norepinephrine or caffeine disappears. This disappearance is due to the prolonged increase of the Ca exchangeability induced by K depolarization. During initial exposure to PSS the increased exchangeability causes an accelerated loss of tracer from the tissue compartment on which norepinephrine and caffeine act, while the DNP sensitive compartment is not affected. It is suggested that noradrenaline and caffeine act on the same calcium pool close to the membrane and that DNP acts mainly on the mitochondria.

George C. Griffith lecture. The role of renin in normal and pathological cardiovascular homeostasis

Recently, the availability of a number of specific inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system has made it possible to address certain critical questions concerning the role of angiotensin II in physiologic homeostasis and in a number of pathologic states. These studies indicate that angiotensin II does not have an obligatory role in blood pressure maintenance in the normal, sodium replete individual, but it is essential following sodium depletion. The role of angiotensin II in feedback control of renin secretion is confirmed as is its importance in aldosterone stimulation both in relation to posture and sodium depletion. Angiotensin II is responsible for the initial pressor response of experimental renovascular hypertension and appears to be important in the initiation of chronic renovascular hypertension. Converting enzyme blockers and competitive inhibitors of angiotensin II are helpful in the diagnosis of clinical renovascular hypertension and in the identification of renin dependent hypertensives. Homeostatic mechanisms leading to maintenance of blood pressure and accumulation of edema in experimental congestive heart failure appear to be dependent on angiotensin II.

Angiotensin receptors in vascular tissue

The biologic effect of angiotensin II is triggered by its interaction with components of target organs, which specifically recognize the hormone. These receptors have been studied with the use of radioactive angiotensin and, as for other peptidic hormones, have been localized in the plasma membrane of target cells. Such angiotensin receptors have been characterized in three target organs: vascular tissue, uterus and adrenal cortex. The binding characteristics differ in contractile tissue and in adrenal glands, the N and C terminal ends of angiotensin being involved in the former, whereas the N terminus does not appear to have the same importance in the latter. Numerous factors, including ionic composition, seem to be able to modify angiotensin-receptor interaction in vascular smooth muscle. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for angiotensin binding and for the transmission of the signal determined by receptor-angiotensin interaction are not yet understood. As observed with other peptidic hormones, the number of angiotensin receptors seems to be susceptible to variation under certain conditions. In uterine smooth muscle, it was shown that the number of receptors increased after nephrectomy, a phenomenon which was prevented by the prolonged infusion of angiotensin. The significance of such a variation remains unknown, but it may be partially responsible for the inverse relationship that exists between the endogenous angiotensin level and the pressor effect of exogenous angiotensin. In the near future, investigation of the angiotensin-receptor mechanism will probably answer whether the variation in angiotensin receptors is similar in all target tissues and whether an angiotensin-receptor mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of certain varieties of hypertension. In addition, a precise understanding of the angiotensin-receptor interaction with help the development of new angiotensin antagonists.

Variations in the number of uterine angiotensin receptors following changes in plasma angiotensin levels

3H-labelled angiotensin II binding to receptor sites was studied in plasma membranes isolated from myometrial homogenates of uterine horns. Removal of the kidneys, which results in the disappearance of plasma angiotensin II, was followed 19 h after nephrectomy by an increase in the number of uterine receptor sites without significant variation in the apparent dissociation constant. Acute pressor i.v. injection of angiotensin II into nephrectomized rats immediately before removing uteri, did not affect the number of uterine angiotensin receptors, whereas long-lasting angiotensin infusion did reduce the number of receptors. These changes cannot be accounted for by variations in the occupancy of receptor sites. These results demonstrate that the number of angiotensin receptors, at least in uterine contractile cells, is affected by chronic variations of endogenous angiotensin levels. The relation between the specific supersensitivity to angiotensin II observed in uteri from nephrectomized rats and the variations at the receptor level is discussed.

Circular-dichroism spectra of truncated and other analogs of angiotensin II

Circular dichroism spectra on angiotensin II and analogs, and its truncated N-terminal and C-terminal peptides were determined in fluroinated alcohols under several conditions in the peptide or aromatic spectral regions. The following conclusions were suggested: (a) evidence for a beta structure for angiotensin II; (b) evidence for a folding at the N-terminal and C-terminal part of the molecule; (c) an interaction involving the C-terminal residue which decreases progressively when phenylalanine is replaced by isoleucine and then by alanine; (d) the N-terminal amino acid seems to play an important role in the overall conformation of the molecule possibly by interacting with the C-terminus, its absence in the 2 -- 8 heptapeptide giving rise to a more pronounced signal than angiotensin II; (e) in trifluoroethanol the conformation of these peptides is well defined and fits well with observed structure-activity relationships and observed binding data. There is a loss of this relationship when these solvents are diluted with water.

Electron microscopic localization of calcium in vascular smooth muscle

Potassium pyroantimonate has been employed in this study to localize calcium in the vascular smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta of the rabbit. The pyroantimonate ion precipitates sodium, magnesium and calcium. Incubation of theisolated thoracic aorta in a high potassium bathing medium which does not contain sodium, magnesium or calcium depletes the tissue of sodium. Addition of 10.8 mM CaC12 to the incubation medium results in well-localized depositions of reaction product, presumably that of calcium pyroantimonate, in mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and at the plasma membrane. Some or all of these organelles may, therefore, play a vital role in the contraction-relaxation cycle of vascular smooth muscle.

Effects of temperature and inorganic ions on calcium accumulation in microsomes from intestinal smooth muscle

Energy dependent calcium binding in microsomal vesicles from the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea pig intestine was investigated at two different temperatures (30 degrees C and 10 degrees C) and in the absence and presence of CdCl2, BaCl2 and MnCl2. The investigation was carried out to determine whether the effects of temperature and the effects of the divalent ions on microsomal calcium binding could be correlated with the effects of these interventions on the mechanical activity of the intact longitudinal fibers. A reduction in temperature from 30 degrees C to 10 degrees C inhibited both the uptake of calcium into the microsomes and the rate of release of calcium ions from the microsomes to the external medium. This exchange in temperature also slowed the rate of relaxation of the intact longitudinal muscle after it had been induced to contract with acetylcholine and subsequently allowed to relax by removing calcium ions from the bathing medium and adding 1 X 10(-3) M EGTA. The presence of CdCl2, like the reduction in temperature, decreased the uptake of calcium into the microsomal vesicles. However, the release of calcium from the microsomes was accelerated. BaCl2, produced the same effects as did CdCl2 on the uptake of calcium into microsomes but to a lesser extent. It had very little effect on the release of calcium ions from the microsomes. MnCl2 had no significant effects on either the uptake or release of calcium ions in the microsomal preparation. Both CdCl2 and MnCl2 exerted an inhibitory action on acetylcholine-induced contractile responses of the intact longitudinal fibers; whereas BaCl2 served to initiate a contractile response in the smooth muscle fibers. Thus, it would appear that the effects of a temperature change on microsomal calcium binding and on mechanical activity in intact fibers can be correlated; but the effects of CdCl2, BaCl2 and MnCl2 on these two cellular processes do not follow any consistent pattern.

Characterization of an angiotensin II-fluorescamine derivative

The coupling of fluorescamine (4-phenylspiro[furan-2(3H), 1'-PHTHALAN]-3,3'dione) to angiotensin II to form a fluorescent derivative was studied. Complete reaction of the peptide below concentrations of 10- minus 4 M could be achieved with a fluorescamine concentration of 0-3 mg ml- minus 1 of acetone at pH 8-3, and the lowest concentration detectable by fluorescence spectroscopy was 100 pmol ml- minus 1. The derivative, as prepared did not react with ninhydrin, and no fluorescence was generated when fluorescamine was reacted with (1-Sar)-ATII. These data suggest that fluorescence is generated only through the coupling of fluorescamine to the N-terminal primary amine of ATII. The ATII-fluorescamine derivative has the same intrinsic activity on the contraction of rat colon (elevenfold loss of affinity), and on the release of fluorogenic corticosteroids from bovine adrenal cortical slices (sixfold loss of affinity) compared to ATII. Water-hydrolysed fluorescamine and Asp-fluorescamine did not contract rat colon preparations; the contractile response to ATII-fluorescamine was blocked by (8-Leu)-ATII, a specific ATII antagonist. These findings suggest that theATII fluorophore shares a common receptor site with the native octapeptide. The rate loss of biological activity of the ATII-fluorescamine derivative was appreciably lower than that observed for ATII. The present study suggests that the ATII-fluorescamine derivative can be substituted for radioactively-labelled ATII for use in a variety of applications.

Influence of the adrenal gland on the pressor effect and antagonistic potency of angiotensin II analogs

In ganglion blocked vagotomized rats, several 1,8-substituted angiotensin II analogs (250 ng/kg/min, i.v.) antagonized the pressor effect of angiotensin II. Dose ratios measured at the ED20 levels were: [Sar1,Ile8]-28; [Gac1,Ile8]- 19;[MeAla1,Ile8i1- 16;[MeIle1,Ile8]- 10;[sar1,Ala8]- 9;[me2Gly1,Ile8]- 4. Elimination of aspajtic acid in position 1 of [Ile8]-angiotensin II significantly reduced the antagonistic potency of the analog. No antagonistic effect was observed with [Phe4,Ile8] and [Ala4,Ile8]-angiotensin II even when infused at 6 mug/kg/min. During infusion, a partial rise in blood pressure was observed with all the above 1,8-substituted angiotensin II analogs. Phentolamine (100 mug/rat) injected 30 min after the start of the analog infusion reduced and sometimes abolished the pressor effect. However, phenoxybenzamine )Pbz, 2 mg/kg) injected 30 min prior to the analog infusion diminished but did not completely abolish the initial pressor effect. In adrenalectomized rats, the pressor effect was reduced by approximately 50 percent and disappeared completely 15-30 min after start of the infusion. Under these conditions, dose ratios of [Sar1,Ile8]-,[MeAla1,Ile8]- and [Gac1,Ile8]-angiotensin II were significantly reduced. Noradrenaline, 83 ng/kg/min. increased the ED20 value of angiotensin II(ratio 1.79) in normal rats but did not do so in adrenalectomized rats. In these rats no regular correlation was found between the angiotensin II ED20 values and initial blood pressure. These data indicate that under the present experimental conditions, the low pressor effect observed with these angiotensin II antagonists appears to be due to both adrenal catecholamine release and a direct vasoconstrictor effect. Variations in antagonistic activity of angiotensin II analogs, apart from changes introduced in the molecule, may be the manifestation of a complex interaction between angiotensin II, its antagonists, and the sympathoadrenal system.

Characterization of pharmacological receptors

The isolation of macromolecules that bind drugs and neurohumoral mediators at receptor sites will require analytical methods adequate to detect these substances in homogenates and crude mixtures. Although the binding of isotopically labeled agonists has been useful in a few instances, equilibrium binding studies of radioactive, lipophilic antagonists promises to be more useful with beta-adrenergic receptors. Alkylation by radioactive reagents that seek out specific receptors or specific functional groups on protein have been used in attempts to label other receptors. Conformationally directed labeling of receptor and receptor-related proteins by the latter group of alkylating agents has been used with receptors for cardiac glycosides and may be applicable to other systems.