A highly sensitive cytochemical bioassay for plasma angiotensin II.

A highly sensitive cytochemical bioassay has been developed for measuring angiotensin II in human plasma. The assay depends on the ability of angiotensin II to alter the reducing potency of the zona glomerulosa as measured by Prussian blue staining and microdensitometry. An inverse correlation between the intensity of the stain and the logarithm of concentration existed over the range 0.05-5.0 fmol/1 of angiotensin II. The limit of sensitivity of the assay in plasma was 50 fmol/1; the index of precision was 0.07 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SD; n = 15); and the coefficient of variation of a quality control sample was 34%. The response was specific for angiotensin II; approximately 10(2) times more angiotensin III and approximately 10(6) times more ACTH was required to produce a similar effect. Angiotensin I had no significant activity. A significant inverse relationship existed between sodium intake and bioactive angiotensin II in 5 normal subjects studied on low, normal and high sodium diets. Extremely low levels of angiotensin II were detected in anephric subjects.