Effect of angiotensin infusion on extrarenal erythropoietin production.

The effects of infusing subpressor doses of angiotensin II into hypoxic and anemic rats on plasma Ep levels were determined. The effect was greatest when 5 micrograms of angiotensin II per hour was infused into rats made hypoxic 18 hr after nephrectomy. Infusion of larger amounts of angiotensin II had a lesser effect on extrarenal Ep production than did infusion of 5 micrograms/hr. Infusion of angiotensin II into rats nephrectomized 1 hr prior to exposure to hypoxia affected extrarenal Ep production to a lesser degree than the infusion into rats nephrectomized 18 hr prior to hypoxia. In contrast, administration of carbon tetrachloride per os stimulated extrarenal Ep production only when nephrectomy was performed just prior to exposure to hypoxia. Administration of both CCl4 and angiotensin II to hypoxic anephric rats elevated the plasma Ep level to approximately 1.0 IRP U/ml.