Hemodynamics of central infusion of angiotensin II in normal and sodium-depleted dogs.

The intraventricular (IVT) administration of angiotensin II (AII) (100 ng.kg-1.min-1) produced significant elevations of arterial blood pressure in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs on either normal or sodium-deficient diets. In both groups of dogs the intraventricular administration of AII caused comparable and significant elevations in blood pressure averaging 15 +/- 2 and 17 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively, within 10 min after onset of the infusion. The rises in blood pressure were due to increased peripheral resistance (2.87 +/- 1.20 vs. 1.67 +/- 0.43 units). At the peak of the pressor response bradycardia was a constant feature in sodium-depleted animals, but was not present in the normal ones. In both groups of dogs regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), determined by the xenon-133 washout method, remained unchanged during the development of the pressor response, and peripheral plasma renin activity failed to increase in response to the central infusion of AII. In conclusion, sodium deprivation appears not to influence the sensitivity of the central AII receptor because comparable pressor responses and hemodynamic changes were obtained following the intraventricular administration of AII in both normal and sodium-depleted dogs.