EVIDENCE AGAINST AN INTERACTION OF ANGIOTENSIN II WITH THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN MAN

Abstract

Angiotensin II [AII] can, under some circumstances in animals stimulate the sympathetic nervous system at a number of different sites. To determine whether such a relationship of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous system exists in man, circulating AII levels were increased (by i.v. infusion), or decreased (by administering the oral converting enzyme inhibitor captopril) plasma adrenaline [epinephrine, E] and noradrenaline [norepinephrine, NE] responses were monitored. AII infusions did not increase plasma catecholamines, and lowering of AII by captopril treatment in patients with severe hypertension or congestive heart failure failed to alter plasma E or NE levels. Whether physiological levels of AII are capable of interacting directly with the sympathetic nervous system in man remains to be demonstrated.