Pre- and postsynaptic features of the central angiotensin systems. Indications for a role of angiotensin peptides in volume transmission and for interactions with central monoamine neurons.

The transmitter receptor matches and mismatches in the angiotensin (ANG) immunoreactive (IR) neuronal systems of the rat CNS have been characterized in various regions by means of ANG II immunocytochemistry and 125I-angiotensin II receptor autoradiography. By means of in situ hybridization the distribution of angiotensinogen mRNA has been mapped out and related to the distribution of ANG IR. In some areas, high densities of ANG IR nerve terminals and ANG II receptors (e.g. paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, locus coeruleus and nucleus tractus solitarius) or high densities of ANG II receptors alone (e.g. medial geniculate body, subthalamic nucleus and superficial layer of the superior collicle) were often associated with high levels of angiotensinogen mRNA, suggesting the existence of an extracellular formation of ANG II, mediating biological responses. These results underline a role of ANG peptides in volume transmission in addition to transmitter function. Other areas, such as nuc. n. hypoglossi, practically lacking ANG IR terminals, pericarya and receptors, also contained high levels of angiotensinogen mRNA, suggesting a different role of angiotensinogen in these areas. Evidence for presynaptic (turnover changes) and post-synaptic (receptor-receptor crosstalk) interactions with CA neuronal systems has been obtained especially in cardiovascular centers. Thus, ANG II reduces in a concentration related way the affinity of 3H-paraminoclonidine binding sites in the dorsomedial medulla without influencing the Bmax value. These results indicate the existence of intramembrane interactions between ANG II and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. Finally paraventricular but not perifornical ANG immunoreactive nerve cells costore nuclear glucocorticoid receptor IR, suggesting that some ANG neurons may be directly regulated by glucocorticoids.