ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTORS AND DEVELOPMENT - THE KIDNEY

1. This brief review examines the evidence that angiotensin II (AngII) is essential for kidney development. 2. Several components of the ren in-angiotensin system (RAS) are detected in the foetal kidney early in development, 3. Angiotensin II is essential for normal foetal and neo natal renal function, 4. Angiotensin II receptors transduce important signals leading to growth and development, 5. Angiotensin receptor sub types show spatial and temporal specificity of localization throughout renal. development. 6. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition or AngII receptor blockade (specifically AT(1) subtype blockade) resu lts in functional and structural abnormalities of the developing kidne y in both experimental and clinical situations, 7. While chronic postn atal RAS blockade in rats is associated with structural damage to tubu les and blood vessels of the kidney, reports differ on whether treatme nt also affects glomerular induction and growth, 8. In metanephric org an culture, glomerular induction proceeds despite AngII receptor block ade, 9. In summary, the evidence suggests that AngII is not essential for nephron induction and glomerular development in the rat kidney, Ho wever, AngII is essential for normal growth and development of renal t ubules vasculature.