DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PERINATAL ANGIOTENSIN BINDING IN THE BRAINS OF SHR AND WKY RATS

A growing body of evidence suggests that angiotensin may have a functi onal role in growth and development, in addition to its classical role in the maintenance of body water homeostasis. Components of the renin -angiotensin system have been identified in the rat fetus. Because of the association between the renin-angiotensin system and hypertension, we quantified angiotensin receptor binding sites in the brains of spo ntaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats during perinatal development. Using in vitro receptor autoradiography we iden tified specific I-125-Sar1,Ile8 AII binding in several areas of the br ains of perinatal rats of both strains and observed significant differ ences in the concentration of binding sites, at different ages in seve ral brain nuclei. With the knowledge that components of the renin-angi otensin system appear early in development and are known to have an as sociation with cellular growth, it is possible that an irregularity in this system occurring during neurogenesis could contribute to develop mental abnormalities. as well as subsequent hypertension.