Hypotensive effect of [Sar1,Thr8]angiotensin II in spontaneously hypertensive sodium-depleted rats.

Under inactin anesthesia, intravenous infusion of [Sar1,Thr8]angiotensin II produced a hypotensive effect in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) treated with furosemide and in mature SH rats fed a low-sodium diet. The angiotensin antagonist also lowered blood pressure of young and mature SH rats receiving a normal diet. Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) plus saline reversed the hypotensive effect of [Saru,Thr8]angiotensin II in young SH rats, but did not do so in mature SH rats. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was not significantly changed by anesthesia. Furosemide or the low-sodium diet significantly increased PRA in young and mature SH rats. In contrast, DOCA plus saline significantly reduced PRA in both young and mature SH rats. However, there was no correlation between PRA and the action of the angiotensin II antagonist. These data suggest that the renin-angiotensin system is involved in genetic hypertension.