Sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction is augmented by angiotensin II in man

In order to determine whether angiotensin II may influence sympathetically mediated arteriolar constriction in man, we have examined the effect of angiotensin II, infused directly into the left brachial artery of normal subjects, on the reduction in forearm blood flow produced by a lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) of 15 mmHg. Angiotensin II (320 fmol/min) caused no reduction in blood flow when given alone but significantly augmented the reduction in blood flow in response to LBNP. The same dose of angiotensin II did not affect a similar reduction in forearm blood flow produced by infused noradrenaline (12.5-50 ng/min). We conclude that angiotensin II augments sympathetically mediated constriction of resistance vessels in man at concentrations with no direct effect on vessel tone. The lack of an effect of angiotensin II on constriction in response to infused noradrenaline suggests the involvement of a presynaptic mechanism.