Neurophysiological responses to angiotensin-(1-7).

The aim of this study was to investigate the action of the heptapeptide angiotensin-(1-7) on the spontaneous activity of paraventricular neurons using microiontophoresis. Recent immunocytochemical investigations have shown that this product of angiotensin I is predominantly located in cells and fibers of the forebrain and brain stem. Our results show that most neurons in the paraventricular nucleus are excited by angiotensin-(1-7) at a dose of 50-80 nA. In comparison with angiotensin II or angiotensin III, the onset of response and the occurrence of the maximal effect were significantly delayed. With higher doses of angiotensin-(1-7), there was a decrease in latency and a dose-dependent increase in firing frequency. Of all the angiotensin compounds tested, angiotensin III was the most potent. Preliminary results obtained with an angiotensin antagonist show that the action of angiotensin II, angiotensin III, and angiotensin-(1-7) is blocked by the angiotensin receptor subtype 2 antagonist CGP 42112A. Because the angiotensin-(1-7) system in the brain is associated with central vasopressinergic pathways, vasopressin was tested in a similar way. Neurons in the paraventricular nucleus that were excited by iontophoretically applied angiotensins showed a weak response to vasopressin. Occasionally, a small excitatory action was observed. Our results support the hypothesis that the heptapeptide angiotensin-(1-7) is a biologically active neuropeptide. The data also suggest that amino terminal fragments of angiotensin II are not inactive degradation products.