AJP - Renal Physiology, Vol 252, Issue 4 635-F644, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Intrarenal generation of angiotensin II evaluated by an electrophysiological technique
C. P. Buhrle, L. Rosivall and R. Taugner
Angiotensin II (ANG II) reversibly depolarizes renin-containing
juxtaglomerular epithelioid cells (JGECs) of the hydronephrotic mouse
kidney afferent arteriole. This depolarizing response was utilized to
assess changes in ANG II concentration in the vicinity of JGECs in order to
test whether ANG II is generated from ANG I and artificial renin substrate
(ARS) in this preparation. Depolarizations were also produced by the
application of ANG I and ARS in the superfusing medium. These responses to
ANG I and ARS were completely blocked by saralasin. Hence, our findings are
indicative for an intrarenal, local generation of ANG II. As opposed to
saralasin, several converting enzyme and renin inhibitors only diminished
but generally did not abolish the actions of ANG I and ARS, respectively.
These results suggest an alternative, nonrenin and non-converting
enzyme-dependent pathway of ANG II generation in renal tissue.
