Angiotensin-converting enzyme in discrete forebrain areas of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II, EC 3.4.15.1) activity was measured in forebrain nuclei of 4- and 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) normotensive controls. Young SHR showed lower enzyme activity in the nucleus paraventricularis, and higher activity in the nuclei septalis medialis and habenularis medialis. Adult SHR exhibited lower ACE activity in the nucleus septalis medialis, the organon subfornicalis, the organon vasculosum laminae terminalis, and the nuclei periventricularis and suprachiasmatis.