Effects of angiotensin III (DES-1-asp-angiotensin II) and angiotensin III analogue (DES-1-asp-8-ile-angiotensin II) upon adrenal steroidogenesis and blood pressure

Systemic effects of angiotensin III in conscious dogs during acute double blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system

AIMS

The study was designed to determine (i) whether the effects of angiotensin III (AngIII) are similar to those of angiotensin II (AngII) at identical plasma concentrations and (ii) whether AngIII operates solely through AT1- receptors.

METHODS

Angiotensin II (3 pmol kg(-1) min(-1)-3.1 ng kg(-1) min(-1)) or AngIII (15 pmol kg(-1) min(-1)-14 ng kg(-1) min(-1)) was infused i.v. during acute inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (enalaprilate; 2 mg kg(-1)) and of aldosterone (canrenoate; 6 mg kg(-1) plus 1 mg kg(-1) h(-1)). Arterial plasma concentrations of angiotensins were determined by radioimmunoassay using a cross-reacting antibody to AngII. During ongoing peptide infusion, candesartan (2 mg kg(-1)) was administered to block the AT1-receptors.

RESULTS

Angiotensin immunoactivity in plasma increased to 60 +/- 10 pg mL(-1) during infusion of AngII or infusion of AngIII. AngII significantly increased mean arterial blood pressure (+14 +/- 4 mmHg) and plasma aldosterone by 79% (+149 +/- 17 pg mL(-1)) and reduced plasma renin activity and sodium excretion (-41 +/- 16 mIU L(-1) and -46 +/- 6 micromol min(-1) respectively). AngIII mimicked these effects and the magnitude of AngIII responses was statistically indistinguishable from those of AngII. All measured effects of both peptides were blocked by candesartan.

CONCLUSION

At the present arterial plasma concentrations, AngIII is equipotent to AngII with regard to effects on blood pressure, aldosterone secretion and renal functions, and these AngIII effects are mediated through AT1- receptors. The metabolic clearance rate of AngIII is five times that of AngII.

Effects of different angiotensins during acute, double blockade of the renin system in conscious dogs

Evidence of biological activity of fragments of ANG II is accumulating. Fragments considered being inactive degradation products might mediate actions previously attributed to ANG II. The study aimed to determine whether angiotensin fragments exert biological activity when administered in amounts equimolar to physiological doses of ANG II. Cardiovascular, endocrine, and renal effects of ANG II, ANG III, ANG IV, and ANG-(1-7) (6 pmol.kg-1.min-1) were investigated in conscious dogs during acute inhibition of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (enalaprilate) and aldosterone (canrenoate). Furthermore, ANG III was investigated by step-up infusion (30 and 150 pmol.kg-1.min-1). Arterial plasma concentrations [ANG immunoreactivity (IR)] were determined by an ANG II antibody cross-reacting with ANG III and ANG IV. Metabolic clearance rates were higher for ANG III and ANG IV (391 +/- 19 and 274 +/- 13 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively) than for ANG II (107 +/- 13 ml.kg-1.min-1). ANG II increased ANG IR by 60 +/- 7 pmol/ml, blood pressure by 30%, increased plasma aldosterone markedly (to 345 +/- 72 pg/ml), and plasma vasopressin transiently, while reducing glomerular filtration rate (40 +/- 2 to 33 +/- 2 ml/min), sodium excretion (50 +/- 7 to 16 +/- 4 micromol/min), and urine flow. Equimolar amounts of ANG III induced similar antinatriuresis (57 +/- 8 to 19 +/- 3 micromol/min) and aldosterone secretion (to 268 +/- 71 pg/ml) at much lower ANG IR increments ( approximately 1/7) without affecting blood pressure, vasopressin, or glomerular filtration rate. The effects of ANG III exhibited complex dose-response relations. ANG IV and ANG-(1-7) were ineffective. It is concluded that 1) plasma clearances of ANG III and ANG IV are higher than those of ANG II; 2) ANG III is more potent than ANG II in eliciting immediate sodium and potassium retention, as well as aldosterone secretion, particularly at low concentrations; and 3) the complexity of the ANG III dose-response relationships provides indirect evidence that several effector mechanisms are involved.