[Modeling cerebral dropsy (hydrocephalus) in animals by using angiotensin II].

The effect of a synthetic polypeptic hormone angiotensin-II on the structure of the brain ventricular system was studied in rats. A single injection of angiotensin-II, firm "Ciba", was given to rats in a dose of 0.05 mg/kg of body weight on the 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21st days. The brain was extirpated 15 min after the last injection, fixed in formalin and embedded in celloidin. Intact animals served as controls. A single injection of angiotensin-II was found to be accompanied by a slight dilatation of the brain lateral ventricles. Seven injections resulted in further accumulation of the fluid in the ventricles, and the first symptoms of the corpus callosum atrophy appeared. After the 21st injection of angiotensin-II a typical picture of hydrocephalus demonstrating further accumulation of the fluid in the brain ventricles was seen. The atrophic changes were especially pronounced in the corpus callosum, in white and grey substances of the frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. Besides the atrophic changes, angiotensin-II-induced hydrocephalus resulted in subependymic edema, exfoliation of ependymal cells--the features characteristic for other types of hydrocephalus. Thus, injections of the synthetic hormone angiotensin-II can facilitate in producing an experimental atraumatic hydrocephalus. By means of angiotensin-II a desirable degree of hydrocephalus can be obtained by changing the dose of the preparation.