The hypothalamic-angiotensin system: location and functional considerations

The differential effect of angiotensin II and angiotensin 1-7 on norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine concentrations in rat hypothalamus: the involvement of angiotensin receptors

Angiotensin 1-7 has been recently claimed the active member of the angiotensins' family. In the present study we compared the effect of angiotensin II and angiotensin 1-7 on the concentration of dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine and some of their metabolites in the rat hypothalamus, where the levels of angiotensins are particularly high. Intracerebroventricular injection of angiotensin II, but not angiotensin 1-7, time-dependently elevated the levels of both epinephrine (p < 0.05) and norepinephrine (p < 0.05) in the hypothalamus and both effects could be prevented by intracerebroventricular injection of either AT(1) (candesartan), AT(2) (PD123319) or AT(1-7) (A-779) receptor antagonist. Neither angiotensin II nor angiotensin 1-7 produced any changes in the level of dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanilic acid, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, or tryptophan at any time point in comparison with the control groups. However, AT(1) but not AT(2) receptor blockade, unmasked the stimulatory effect of angiotensin 1-7 on dopamine concentration in the hypothalamus. Thus, angiotensin II and its active metabolite angiotensin 1-7 regulate selectively, albeit differentially, adrenergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems in the hypothalamus, the effects that involve AT(1), AT(2) and AT(1-7) angiotensin receptors.

Some behavioural effects of captopril in rats

1. Effects of inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) in brain on psychomotor, exploratory, stereotyped and cognitive behaviour in rats were investigated. To inhibit brain ACE captopril (D-3-mercaptopropanoyl-L-proline) was given orally (p.o., 50 mg/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v., 5 micrograms/rat). 3. Captopril given p.o. but not i.c.v. significantly enhanced stereotypy, overall number of conditioned avoidance responses, and decreased blood pressure. 4. No statistically significant influence of captopril given by either route on the number of crossings, rearings and bar approaches in the open field, performance of passive avoidance and number of correct choices as well as the speed of running for food in the T-maze was observed. 5. In conclusion, a small decrease of the activity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system caused by the decrease of AII and/or increase of bradykinin, substance P, enkephalins and neurotensin in brain resulting from ACE inhibition is postulated.