Cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension, afflicts approximately 20% of the adult population, and is the prime cause of congestive heart failure, stroke and renal diseased. The understanding of the development of hypertension is most adults remains obscure but the research has centered mainly around measurements of hormones within the blood stream. Angiotensin II is a neuropeptide hormone that elicits a reproducible complex of behavioral, cardiovascular, neurologic and endocrine responses when injected into the brain. Given its major influence on the regulation of blood pressure, it has been suggested that abnormal regulation of angiotensin II in the brain might be etiologic in the development of hypertensin. Dr. Kalinyak will examine the sight of synthesis of this peptide and determine its effects on neuronal activity. Her preliminary data indicate that non- neuronal cells of the brain, the glial cells, produce the angiotensin II and the research planning grant will allow to explore this possibility using cell culture systems. This work will help clarify the function of neuropeptides in glial cells and neurons. Moreover, it could lead to a better understanding of the importance of brain angiotensin in the development of hypertension in adults.
