TY - JOUR

T1 - Role of angiotensin in autoregulation of cerebral blood flow

AU - Paulson, O B

AU - Waldemar, G

AU - Andersen, A R

AU - Barry, D I

AU - Pedersen, E V

AU - Schmidt, J F

AU - Vorstrup, S

PY - 1988/6

Y1 - 1988/6

N2 - The presence of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in extrarenal tissues, namely the vascular wall and brain tissue, is well established. The availability of effective blocking agents, converting-enzyme inhibitors, has made it possible to further elucidate important functions of the extrarenal RAS. We have found that the angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril shifts the limits of cerebral blood flow autoregulation to lower blood pressure levels in normotensive and in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This effect may explain our finding of a remarkable preservation of cerebral blood flow, despite significant blood pressure reduction, in patients with chronic heart failure. We suggest that the effect of angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibition on autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is mediated by a dilatation of larger cerebral arteries, which results from inhibition of the vascular tone normally maintained by locally produced angiotensin II.

AB - The presence of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in extrarenal tissues, namely the vascular wall and brain tissue, is well established. The availability of effective blocking agents, converting-enzyme inhibitors, has made it possible to further elucidate important functions of the extrarenal RAS. We have found that the angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril shifts the limits of cerebral blood flow autoregulation to lower blood pressure levels in normotensive and in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This effect may explain our finding of a remarkable preservation of cerebral blood flow, despite significant blood pressure reduction, in patients with chronic heart failure. We suggest that the effect of angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibition on autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is mediated by a dilatation of larger cerebral arteries, which results from inhibition of the vascular tone normally maintained by locally produced angiotensin II.

KW - Angiotensin II/physiology

KW - Animals

KW - Captopril/pharmacology

KW - Cerebrovascular Circulation/drug effects

KW - Heart Failure/drug therapy

KW - Homeostasis/drug effects

KW - Humans

KW - Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects

M3 - Review

C2 - 3286046

VL - 77

SP - I55-8

JO - Circulation

JF - Circulation

SN - 0009-7322

IS - 6 Pt 2

ER -