ABSTRACT
TheoctapeptideangiotensinII(All)isthemaineffectorhormoneofthe RASandanimportantregulatorofcardiovascularhomeostasis.Simplistically,Allcausesvasoconstrictionandsaltandwaterreabsorptionand,by virtueofthese,influenceselectrolytebalance,bloodvolume,andarterial bloodpressure(13).Theseresponsesaremediateddirectlybyaneffectof Allonthesystemicvasculature,inthekidney,andthroughreleaseof aldosterone.Theeffectsoncardiovascularhomeostasisaremediatedboth peripherally(14,15)andcentrally(16).ItisnowunderstoodthatoveractivityoftheRASisakeyfactorinthepathogenesisofessentialhypertension (13,17)andCHF(18).AschematicoftheRASshowingthethreeestablishedsitesforpharmacological/therapeuticinterventionisshowninFigure1.
