The renin-angiotensin system in different stages of spontaneous hypertension in the rat (S H R)

The present study analyzed the concentration of renin-like activity and angiotensinogen concentration (AoC) in different brain areas related to cardiovascular control in SHR and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) animals. Male rats of both strains were studied at 8, 16 and 30 weeks of age. The following brain areas were isolated: anterior, medial and posterior hypothalamus, septal area, periaqueductal gray (PG) and the remaining brain stem; nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the remaining medulla oblongata. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AoC were determined. Renin-like concentration was higher in SHR than in WKY in the anterior hypothalamus, PG and NTS at different stages of hypertension development. AoC was also higher in some areas of the SHR brain during different periods. PRA, plasma and CSF angiotensinogen concentration showed significant differences between both strain of rats during the development of high blood pressure. Present data support the possibility that the central and peripheral renin-angiotensin system may participate in the maintenance of high blood pressure in the SHR animals.