Plasma Angiotensin II Concentration Regulates Vascular but Not Adrenal Responsiveness to Restriction of Sodium Intake in Normal Man

Abstract

1. Sodium restriction increases adrenal and decreases vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II (ANG II). These responses may be mediated either by the circulating level of ANG II or other mechanisms also modified by a change in sodium balance. To assess the importance of the ANG II level, captopril, an oral converting enzyme inhibitor, was used to lower the plasma ANG II level to the sodium-loaded range while maintaining subjects in low sodium balance. 2. Normal volunteer subjects received an infusion of ANG II in increasing doses in three states: high sodium intake, low sodium intake and low sodium intake after pretreatment with captopril. 3. Basal levels of ANG II on high-sodium diet and low-sodium diet plus captopril were similar. In the ANG II infusion studies the slope of the aldosterone—ANG II regression line on low sodium intake was significantly steeper than that on high sodium intake. After the addition of captopril the slope was not decreased, indicating that the endogenous ANG II concentration is not necessary to maintain adrenal sensitivity during sodium restriction. 4. In the ANG II infusion studies the slope of the mean blood pressure—ANG II regression line on high sodium intake was significantly steeper than that on low sodium intake. The addition of captopril to sodium-restricted subjects caused the slope of the regression relationship to increase significantly, consistent with an enhanced vascular responsiveness when endogenous ANG II levels were lowered. However, the slope on low sodium plus captopril did not increase to the level of subjects on a high-sodium diet, suggesting that factors in addition to the circulating ANG II level are also important in regulating the vascular responsiveness to ANG II.