Neurogenic factors and angiotensin in etiology of hypertension

Abstract

Destruction of the central nervous system by pithing produced a much greater fall in pressure in the renal hypertensive than in the normal rat. The average postpith pressures in the two groups were identical. If pithing was done while angiotensin was being infused into a normotensive rat the pressure fell more slowly and did not reach as low a level as it did following pithing in the hypertensive rat. Although it is not reasonable to interpret these findings as indicating that renal hypertension is caused by an increase in neurogenic tone, it appears unlikely that renal hypertension can be due to the direct pressor action of circulating angiotensin.