Quantitative histochemistry of the angiotensinase A (APA) in the renal glomeruli of rats after stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Quantitative histochemical measurements of aminopeptidase A (APA, angiotensinase A) were done kinetically in the kidney glomeruli of rats after short-term experiments (treatment with furosemide as well as captopril for 2, 4, and 6 h). The APA activities increased after treatment with furosemide or captopril. Highest activities were determined after 4 h using furosemide and 6 h using captopril. It is concluded that glomerular APA activities correspond to the renin/angiotensin plasma levels and that the fast changes of APA activities are well demonstrable by kinetic densitometric measurements in situ.