The Effect of Corticotrophin (Acth) Administration on the Pressor Action of Angiotensin Ii, Noradrenaline and Tyramine in Sheep

Pressor responses to angiotensin II, noradrenaline and tyramine were examined in sheep prior to and during the development of corticotrophin-induced hypertension. 2. Pressor responses to angiotensin II amide did not change with corticotrophin (ACTH) administration. Small significant increases in pressor responses to noradrenaline occurred at low doses only (0.27 and 1.06 mumol/h). Significant increases in response to tyramine occurred after 24h of ACTH administration, but were not maintained after 6 days of ACTH. These changes are quantitatively small and do not suggest that changes in pressor sensitivity contribute significantly to the rise in blood pressure following ACTH administration. 3. Sodium depletion significantly reduced the pressor responses to angiotensin II amide at all doses and to tyramine in the middle range only, but did not affect the responses to noradrenaline.