Angiotensin II receptor content within the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum lamina terminalis increases after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats

Nests of cells within the central nervous system, namely the circumventricular organs (CVOs) which include the subfornical organ (SFO), oganum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT), area postrema (AP) and the median eminence (ME) are known to contain not only receptors for angiotensin II (ANG II) but also ANG II itself. Though the significance of this central ANG II network in the pathophysiology of certain conditions like hypertension is well established, there appears to be a lack of knowledge as to how this system might be involved after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). In this study, we have investigated ANG II receptor content change at various circumventricular organs after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats using a transcervical transclival model. ANG Il receptor content was detected by in vivo autoradiography using intracisternal ANG II Sar 1, Ile 8 labelled with iodine(I) 125 both at 30 minutes and 48 hours after the SAH. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity was also detected during the time course reflecting the involvement of the peripheral angiotensin system and showed an early rise and a fall after two days. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to show the ANG II-containing cells within the circumventricular organs. SFO and OVLT were found to have a statistically significant increase in ANG II receptor content persisting over two days after the SAH. These alterations in the receptor content of CVOs may indicate their possible role in delayed ischaemic deficits seen after SAH.