[Biochemical and functional changes during immunization of rats with angiotensin II]

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in serum and some brain areas, level of angiotensin I in the blood and drinking behaviour during immunization of rats against conjugate of angiotensin II with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied. The results show that an increase in antibodies against angiotensin II was correlated with elevated ACE activity in serum. There was a distinct tendency towards elevated level of angiotensin I in the blood. After a 6 month's immunization ACE-activity was reduced twofold to threefold in midbrain and hypothalamus-thalamus. During immunization water-uptake was increased by 40-45%.