[Effect of hydrocortisone on the activity of angiotensin-converting and renin-like enzymes and kininase I in the brain and hypophysis of rats].

The paper is concerned with a study of the effect of an excess of corticosteroids in the body, resulting from single and multiple hydrocortisone administration to rats, on the activity of enzymes involved in the pathway of the renin-angiotensin and kinin systems in different parts of the brain and hypophysis. Hydrocortisone administration to rats resulted in an increase in the activity of the angiotensin converting enzyme in the hypothalamus, hippocamp, striate body and hypophysis, an increase in the renin-like activity in the hypothalamus and hippocamp and its decrease in the striate body. The nature of changes in kininase I activity after the hormone administration was different in the examined parts of the brain. The results obtained indicated that one of the links in the mechanism of corticosteroid action on the renin-angiotensin and kinin system of the brain was the effect of these hormones on the activity of the renin-like, angiotensin converting enzymes and kininase I.