Stanniectomy attenuates the renin-angiotensin response to hypovolemic hypotension in freshwater eels (Anguilla rostrata) but not blood pressure recovery.

Plasma Angiotensin II (ANG II) concentrations were measured in SHM (sham-operated 2 weeks) and CSX (corpuscles of Stannius removed 2 weeks) eels before and after the induction of hypovolemic hypotension (HH) by the rapid withdrawal of 8 ml kg bw(-1) of caudal venous blood. Baseline (before exsanguination) plasma ANG II concentrations were similar in SHM and CSX eels (81.3 +/- 18.8 fmol ml(-1) cf. 106 +/- 31.6 fmol ml(-1), respectively) but the elevation in plasma ANG II following HH (1,732 +/- 82 fmol ml(-1)) was attenuated by CSX (368 +/- 127 fmol ml(-1)) showing that the CS are linked to plasma ANG II concentrations. Plasma ANG II in both groups returned to baseline levels within 48 h. Dorsal aortic blood pressures (DABP) were measured in both experimental groups before, and during the 60 min after, blood withdrawal. A 44% decrease in mean DABP was observed in both SHM and CSX eels within 2 min and followed by similar rapid patterns of recovery of systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures in both groups during the next 60 min showing that short-term recovery of DABP is not CS-dependent. Stanniectomy increased plasma Ca and K(+) and decreased plasma Mg, Na(+), Cl(-) and osmolality which confirms some earlier observations in eels and other freshwater teleosts.