Autoradiographic localization of angiotensin receptors in the sheep brain.

Binding of [125I]-(Sar1,Ile8)angiotensin II (AII) to frozen sections of sheep brain was determined by in vitro autoradiography. Greatest AII-binding occurred in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, subfornical organ, median preoptic and periventricular nuclei situated in the anterior third ventricle wall. Other binding sites included the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei and the medullary nucleus tractus solitarius. These regions may be central receptor sites for AII involvement in fluid and electrolyte balance and blood pressure regulation.