Aldosterone and Angiotensin

ALDOSTERONE AND ANGIOTENSIN II are Ltwo of the important hormones associated with the formation of edema. It also seems likely that both hormones are involved in certain types of hypertensive disease. Aldosterone, a complex steroid, is the naturally occurring sodium-retaining hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. Angiotensin II is a peptide composed of eight amino acids and is formed by enzymatic reactions which take place in blood. Renin, an enzyme secreted by the kidney, initiates the reactions leading to the formation of angiotensin II. In 1960, two new findings focused attention on the relationship of the renin-angiotensin system to aldosterone secretion. First, it was discovered that an aldosterone-stimulating hormone is secreted by the kidney, 1-3 and, second, synthetic angiotensin II was found to stimulate aldosteron secretion in man. 4-5 These experimental results were the culmination of a series of researches following the isolation and identification of aldosterone in 1953. These