[Biphasic effect of angiotensin II on conditioned reflectory reaction patterns in albino rats]

40 male albino rats were used to investigate the influence of one single i. v. dose of 10 ng/kg Angiotensin II upon established and stabilized conditional-reflectory response pattern (two-dimensional conditional-reflectory decision process and periodicities of conditional-reflectory processes). At normotonous blood-pressure values, Angiotensin II exerted a biphasic action on the conditional-reflectory response pattern. In the first phase of action (up to 30 min after injection) there prevailed centralnervous inhibition processes, while the second phase of action (30-70 min after injection) was marked by a general centralnervous excitation, which is reflected by extremely short times of response, and a pronounced sensitivity to optic, acoustic and tactile stimuli. The decision capacity of the animals was considerably reduced in both phases. The periodicities of conditional-reflectory processes (duration of periods in the minute range) are strongly disturbed in the first phase of action, and tend to normal in the second phase. Furthermore, Angiotensin II was found to have a selective, hierarchically ordered influence with regard to the duration and intensity of action. Thus, the information processing activity of the CNS underwent most pronounced changes. The centralnervous regulatory functions were less affected; the blood pressure regulation showed little and transient influence by Angiotensin II. In the discussion, the neurotropic and algogenic action of Angiotensin II, and the relation of the octapeptide effect with pathogenetic mechanisms of experimental neurotically induced hypertonia are dealt with.