Temporal differences between the involvement of angiotensin II and endothelin in the cardiovascular responses to endotoxaemia in conscious rats.

1. Male, Long Evans rats were instrumented chronically with pulsed Doppler probes and intravascular catheters to allow assessment of regional haemodynamic changes during i.v. infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 150 micrograms kg-1 h-1). 2. In the presence of the AT1-receptor antagonists, losartan (10 mg kg-1 + 10 kg-1 h-1), the initial (1-2 h) hypotensive and renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vasodilator responses to LPS were enhanced significantly. Thereafter these effects waned, but between 8-23 h after the onset of LPS infusion, a further fall in mean atrial blood pressure (MAP) and increases in renal and hindquarters flows and conductances occurred. All these changes were significantly greater than seen with losartan or LPS alone, and exceeded the sum of their effects. 3. In the presence of captopril (2 mg kg-1 + 2 mg kg-1 h-1), the initial hypotensive and renal vasodilator responses to LPS were enhanced, but less so than in the presence of losartan. However, the effects of LPS in the presence of losartan and captopril together were not different from those in the presence of losartan alone. These observations indicate that the ability of captopril to inhibit the degradation of bradykinin had no additional influence, and the differences between the effect of captopril and losartan on the initial effects of LPS were probably due to more effective suppression of the action of angiotensin II by losartan. 4. In the absence of LPS, co-infusion of losartan and the non-selective endothelin antagonist, SB 209670 (600 micrograms kg-1 + 600 micrograms kg-1 h-1), caused a substantial, progressive hypotension (-25 +/- 2 mmHg at 24 h) accompanied by increases in renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vascular conductances (31 +/- 13, 44 +/- 9 and 45 +/- 12%, respectively), indicating an involvement of angiotensin II and endothelin in the maintenance of normal cardiovascular status in conscious, Long Evans rats. 5. In the presence of losartan and SB 209670, the initial, LPS-induced fall in MAP (-42 +/- 2 mmHg) was not different from that in the presence of losartan (-39 +/- 4 mmHg), and the increases in renal, in mesenteric, and in hindquarters vascular conductances were similar in the two conditions. However, there was no recovery in MAP, and there were persistent renal, mesenteric and hindquarter vasodilatations. 6. In all experiments involving LPS, administration of the V1- receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5-O-Me-Tyr-AVP (10 micrograms kg-1), 23 h after the start of LPS infusion caused additional hypotension and mesenteric vasodilatation, particularly. This effect was most marked in animals pretreated with losartan and SB 209670. 7. The results indicate that the initial (1-2 h) depressor and dilator effects of LPS infusion in conscious Long Evans rats are opposed by the actions of angiotensins II, rather than endothelin. However, between 2-8 h after the onset of LPS infusion the involvement of endothelin develops and that of angiotensin II fades. By 24 h after the start of infusion of LPS, the pressor and vasoconstrictor actions of endothelin wane, and a role of vasopressin is apparent. At no stage is there clear evidence for an involvement of bradykinin in the haemodynamic sequelae of endotoxaemia in this model.