Hypotensive effects of angiotensin II analogues and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in water-deprived Brattleboro rats.

The hypotensive effects of three different angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (captopril, enalapril, and lisinopril) and two angiotensin II (AII) analogues ([Sar1Ile5Ala8]AII and [Sar1Ile5Thr8]AII) were compared in conscious, freely-moving Brattleboro rats after 14 h of water deprivation. There was no difference between the hypotensive effects of the three ACE inhibitors. Neither was there any difference between the hypotensive effects of the two AII antagonists, although when administered following ACE inhibition, [Sar1Ile5Thr8]AII caused a transient pressor effect that was significantly less than that caused by [Sar1Ile5Ala8]AII. ACE inhibition caused a greater fall in blood pressure (BP) than AII antagonism and caused an additional fall in BP during AII antagonism. These results indicate an additional hypotensive effect of ACE inhibitors, over that of AII antagonists, that is not readily accounted for in terms of nonspecific effects of the former or agonistic properties of the latter.