New evidence for brain angiotensin and for its role in hypertension

Twenty years ago it was demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) acts on the brain, which results in an elevation of blood pressure. Ten years later, reninlike activity was discovered in the brain of the rat and dog, which gave rise to the concept of an endogenous brain renin-angiotensin system. In the periphery, the kidney, liver, and lungs work in unison to produce Ang II. Evidence for brain renin, substrate, converting enzyme, and angiotensins is reviewed. New data indicate that the enzyme system for the synthesis of Ang II within the brain may in fact be contained in the cell. All the components for a renin-angiotensin system have now been found in neuroblastoma/glioma cell lines and Ang II is present in primary cell culture of rat brain neurons. The significance of angiotensin in the brain for hypertension is that it may be a stimulus for vasopressin release and sympathetic activation, which can maintain high blood pressure. In the spontaneously hypertensive rat, there is evidence of increased brain angiotensin. Also, experiments with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors show that blockade of brain angiotensin production leads to a long-lasting lowering of blood pressure. The activity of the inhibitors in part appears to be directly on the brain.