Neuroendocrine Regulation of Plasma Angiotensinogen*

In previous studies we found that plasma angiotensinogen levels were reduced by lesions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei. To determine if the decrease was caused by decreased secretion of hormones that normally stimulate angiotensinogen secretion by the liver, we correlated the changes in plasma angiotensinogen produced by paraventricular lesions with changes in plasma LH, ACTH, and thyroid hormones; compared the changes in plasma angiotensinogen and other hormones to those produced by hypophysectomy; and determined the effects of treatment with ACTH and T4 in animals with paraventricular lesions. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, bilateral lesions destroying more than 50% of the paraventricular nuclei decreased plasma angiotensinogen to 787 +/- 52 ng angiotensin-I/ml in 7 days compared to 1576 +/- 142 ng angiotensin-I/ml in sham-operated controls. Plasma T3 and T4 were also reduced, whereas there were no statistically significant changes in plasma ACTH or LH. Hypophysectomy produced a comparable decline in plasma angiotensinogen and thyroid hormone levels. Daily administration of a single dose of ACTH had no effect on plasma angiotensinogen in rats with paraventricular lesions, but T4 treatment restored plasma angiotensinogen to normal levels. The data indicate that the decline in circulating angiotensinogen produced by lesions of the paraventricular nuclei is caused by the decrease in the secretion of thyroid hormones produced by these lesions. They also demonstrate that in addition to regulating circulating renin via the sympathetic nervous system, the brain has an effect on circulating angiotensinogen via neuroendocrine control of thyroid function.