THE INFLUENCE OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM ON ABNORMAL EXPRESSION OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR IN THE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RAT

1. The levels of the neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor (NGF) in the mesenteric vascular bed of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SH R) were greater than those in the corresponding vascular bed of normot ensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). 2. Administration of angiotensin II (2 00 ng/kg per min, by minipump) for 2 weeks to juvenile WKY rats increa sed the levels of NGF in the mesenteric vasculature to those seen in u ntreated SHR. 3. Administration of the angiotensin II receptor antagon ists losartan (30 mg/kg per day, p.o.) or PD144277 (10 mg/kg per day, p.o.) to juvenile SHR for 4 weeks reduced the levels of NGF such that they were indistinguishable from the values obtained for normotensive WKY rats. 4. The results confirm the elevated level of NGF in the mese nteric vasculature of the SHR and suggest that angiotensin II may play a role in regulating the abnormal concentrations of the protein in th is tissue.