Importance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) in the physiology and pathology of hypertension. An overview.

Current leading theories of the mechanisms of essential hypertension include the participation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS). Recent advances provide means for a critical reassessment of this system in the physiology and pathology of hypertension. The expression of the proteins of the RAS in organs other than the kidneys suggests that angiotensin II also acts as a modulator of cell function. This paper discusses the role of tissue angiotensin peptides in the regulation of blood pressure and suggests new ideas with regard to the importance of the brain RAS in the development of essential hypertension.