Chronic Administration of Angiotensin in Rats: Changes in Blood Pressure, Renal and Adrenal Histophysiology and Aldosterone Production12

Abstract

Angiotensin II-amide in oil was administered subcutaneously to rats, in doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 mg per 100 g per day. At the highest dose there was marked histologic and histochemical evidence of increased secretory activity in the adrenal zona glomerulosa, together with a decline in the juxtaglomerular granulation index to zero by 4 weeks. Lower doses showed less severe changes. Animals receiving the largest dose were shown to have a steadily rising blood pressure during 11 days of injection. Adrenals obtained from these animals after injection for 2 weeks showed a detectable rise in ability to synthesize aldosterone in vitro.