Effects of continuous administration of angiotensin II on ventricular performance

The effects of angiotensin II on circulatory dynamics and coronary blood flow were studied in the cat. With equal single doses of angiotensin II and norepinephrine a greater blood pressure response occurred with angiotensin. With continuous administration of angiotensin II a large initial blood pressure response occurred, but rapidly returned to an intermediate value. During this time the animal was refractory to further single doses. A sustained large increase of ventricular contractility was readily demonstrated with the continuous administration of norepinephrine, but could not be demonstrated with equal amounts of angiotensin II. Acute transient changes of ventricular contractility were observed. Frequently an acute increase of both stroke work at a given filling pressure, and mean rate of ejection occurred. Occasionally, however, marked acute myocardial depression, which rapidly returned to control values, was observed. In about one-third of the preparations prolonged myocardial depression was observ...