Components of the renin-angiotensin system in the plasma of Bothrops jararaca.

By means of high voltage electrophoresis experiments it could be demonstrated that the dipeptide hydrolase present in the plasma of Bothrops jararaca is similar to the angiotensin I converting enzyme of human plasma. Therefore, angiotensin I can be considered as a probable natural substrate for this potent snake peptidase in contrast to bradykinin, which is excluded in that case, since this snake plasma was previously found to be deficient in intrinsic kinin releasing system. On the other hand, the presence of angiotensinase activity in this snake plasma could also be demonstrated. Through the pharmacological comparison of angiotensin II with the pressor peptide released from the Bothrops jararaca plasma by chymotrypsin, an indirect indication of the presence of angiotensinogen in the plasma of this reptile was obtained.