Chronic intrarenal infusion of low-dose angiotensin II in dogs increases arterial pressure without impairment of renal function

1. To determine whether chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion into the renal artery, at a dose which increases systemic arterial pressure, reduces glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow, AngII was infused at 0.5 ng/kg per min into the renal artery or intravenously in chronically instrumented dogs for 1 month. 2. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) rose significantly (P<0.05) during the infusion of AngII into the renal artery (+7±2 mmHg on days 26-30). There were no significant changes in GFR or renal blood flow. When the same dose of AngII was infused intravenously, MAP did not change significantly (-2±2 mmHg) and there were no significant changes in GFR or in renal blood flow. 3. We conclude that AngII infused into the renal artery for 1 month, at a dose which was initially subpressor, causes a rise in arterial pressure that is not associated with impairment of renal function.