Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic Intraventricular Administration of Angiotensin II in Dogs

Intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensin II (AII), 1 microgram twice a day to mongrel dogs plus saline as the drinking fluid for 4 weeks produced a significant sustained elevation in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The hypertensive state appeared to be due to an increase in total peripheral resistance. Fluid intake and urine output were elevated and there was a significant increase in body weight at the end of week 2, 3 and 4. Serum Na+ levels were significantly decreased and serum Ca++ levels significantly increased in the hypertensive animals. These studies indicate that increasing AII levels in the cerebrospinal fluid for a prolonged period of time produces a sustained hypertensive state only if the daily intake of sodium is increased and that the alterations in vascular resistance may be due to changes in the Na+ - Ca++ fluxes.