Effect of angiotensin II and sodium depletion on angiotensinogen production

An in vitro preparation of liver slices was used to study the effect of angiotensin II and sodium depletion on the synthesis of angiotensinogen in rats. Two other treatments known to increase plasma angiotensinogen concentration in vivo, viz., intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone or ethinyl estradiol, resulted in an increase in the rate of release of angiotensinogen by liver slices; this increase was inhibited by adding actinomycin D or vincristine to the incubation medium. Intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (33 ng/min for 3 days) also produced a marked increase in the release of angiotensinogen concentration and a decrease in plasma renin activity. In contrast, no change in the rate of release of angiotensinogen was observed in rats depleted of sodium for 7--14 days, even though these animals exhibited a marked increase in plasma angiotensin II concentration. Plasma angiotensinogen concentration decreased by 30%, presumably as a consequence of the accompanying increase in renin secretion. These results provide further evidence that the synthesis of angiotensinogen may be increased by angiotensin II, but indicate that the circulating level of angiotensin II in sodium-deficient animals is not sufficiently high to produce this response.