EVIDENCE AGAINST AN INTERACTION OF ANGIOTENSIN II WITH THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN MAN

Abstract

Animal experiments indicate that angiotensin II can, under some circumstances stimulate the sympathetic nervous system at a number of different sites. In order to determine whether such a relationship of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous system exists in man, we increased (by intravenous infusion), or decreased (by administering the oral converting enzyme inhibitor captopril) circulating angiotensin II levels and monitored plasma adrenaline and nor-adrenaline responses. Angiotensin II infusions did not increase plasma catechol-amines, and lowering of angiotensin II by captopril treatment in patients with severe hypertension or congestive heart failure failed to alter plasma adrenaline or nor-adrenaline levels. Whether physiological levels of angiotensin II are capable of interacting directly with the sympathetic nervous system in man remains to be demonstrated.