Glomerular actions of angiotensin II.

An abundance of evidence suggests that glomerular ultrafiltration is significantly influenced by alterations in circulating or local concentrations of a variety of vasoactive substances. Angiotensin II regulates whole kidney glomerular filtration rate by influencing one or more of the determinants of single nephron glomerular filtration rate, particularly the ultrafiltration coefficient and glomerular plasma flow rate. The glomerular mesangial cell may be an important target for angiotensin II by virtue of its ability to contract and thereby reduce glomerular capillary surface area and ultrafiltration coefficient. These control mechanisms are not only important under physiologic conditions but they may also be activated by a variety of insults and thereby contribute to the decrease in glomerular filtration rate observed in a broad spectrum of renal disease.