THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM IN THE BRAIN - AN UPDATE 1993

The renin-angiotensin system is considered to be one of the most impor tant hormonal systems in the regulation of blood pressure and body flu id homeostasis. Ever since this system has been demonstrated to be pre sent also in the brain, vast efforts have been made in investigating i ts central impact and function. The last few years, and especially the development of non-peptidic angiotensin II receptor subtype specific antagonists and the subsequent pharmacological characterization of the se subtypes, brought this field of research a large step forward. This progress also might have opened up new avenues of developing highly s pecific anti-hypertensive drugs and thereby new ways of treating hyper tension. This paper intends to provide a summary of the knowledge abou t the brain renin-angiotensin system accumulated during recent years; an update 1993.