Renin-angiotensin system and aldosterone secretion during aortic constriction in the rat.

Suprarenal aortic constriction sufficient to reduce renal perfusion pressure by approximately 50% increased aldosterone secretion in anesthetized rats pretreated with dexamethasone. Bilateral nephrectomy under the same experimental conditions blocked the aldosterone response. Additionally, [1-sarcosine, 8-alanine]angiotensin II blocked the response in aldosterone secretion to aortic constriction in dexamethasone-treated rats. Finally, in rats hypophysectomized to exclude the influence of ACTH, the aldosterone response to aortic constriction was blocked by [1-sarcosine, 8-alanine]angiotensin II. The results indicate that angiotensin II increased aldosterone secretion during aortic constriction in the rat. These observations, along with those reported previously in sodium-depleted rats, point to an important overall role for the renin-angiotensin system in the control of aldosterone secretion in the rat.