title: Clinical pharmacology of angiotensin antagonists.
abstract: The early clinical pharmacologic investigations of saralasin were facilitated by the availability of a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for this peptide. In these studies, plasma concentrations of saralasin were correlated with inhibition of angiotensin receptors in each of three organ systems: vascular smooth muscle, adrenal cortex, and the renin release control mechanism in the kidney. The biochemical half-life of plasma saralasin was 3.2 min and an infusion time-to-plateau was 12--15 min. Saralasin inhibited adrenal cortical, vascular, and intrarenal (renin release) angiotensin receptors. The time required for manifesting these blocking actions was short(3--10 min) except for the 30--60 min required to suppress plasma aldosterone. Saralasin-induced blood pressure lowering was dependent on previously elevated serum renin activity and volume depletion. Expansion of intravascular volume prevented hypotensive responses to saralasin even in high-renin patients. Saralasin-induced renin release occurred independent of hypotension and could be inhibited by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. Thus, saralasin is a selective angiotensin antagonist which lacks organ specificity. It is a highly useful tool in pharmacologic studies of the renin--angiotensin axis in man and shows promise as a diagnostic tool.
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012504:Saralasin / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin; D012504:Saralasin