[Direct action of angiotensin II on the central neurons]

Reactions of the nervous cells in the somatosensory and visual regions of the brain cortex and the frontal hypothalamus in rabbits, as well as of the isolated nervous peripharyngeal ring of the Helix pomatia to the microionophoretic application of angiotensin II (A-II) was studied. Reactions of the neurons in the rabbit brain to A-II displayed an increase in the spike frequency depending on the quantity of the agent applied. Reactions of the frontal hypothalamus neurons showed a lower threshold than those of the brain cortex. A-II application to the some of the recorded cells of the mollusc evoked a marked reversible decrease in the membrane potential; as to the membrane resistance--it diminished 2--4 fold. These experimental data pointed to the direct A-II effect on the central neurons.