Ferguson A V, Washburn D L
Department of Physiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Prog Neurobiol. 1998 Feb;54(2):169-92. doi: 10.1016/s0301-0082(97)00065-8.
Over the past 20 years a growing body of evidence has been directed to establishing the roles of angiotensin II (ANG) within the central nervous system. When this work began in the late 1970s the concept that this circulating hormone may also act as a neurotransmitter within the brain was contrary to the established dogma regarding synaptic transmission. There is now substantial anatomical data describing the distribution of ANG receptors, and the biochemical machinery for the production of this peptide, within the CNS. In addition many studies have described physiological and cellular consequences of activation of these receptors by both exogenous administration and endogenous release of ANG. Data from single cell studies are now also beginning to elucidate both signal transduction pathways and ion channels, influenced as a consequence of peptide actions at these receptors. These observations effectively establish the status of ANG as a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) used for synaptic communication by specific populations of CNS neurons.
在过去20年里，越来越多的证据致力于确定血管紧张素II（ANG）在中枢神经系统中的作用。当这项研究在20世纪70年代末开始时，这种循环激素也可能在大脑中充当神经递质的概念与关于突触传递的既定教条相悖。现在有大量解剖学数据描述了ANG受体在中枢神经系统中的分布以及该肽产生的生化机制。此外，许多研究描述了通过外源性给药和ANG的内源性释放激活这些受体后的生理和细胞后果。单细胞研究的数据现在也开始阐明信号转导途径和离子通道，这些都是肽作用于这些受体所产生的影响。这些观察结果有效地确立了ANG作为一种化学信使（神经递质）的地位，用于中枢神经系统特定神经元群体的突触通讯。
