1. The constriction produced by a single deep breath was measured simultaneously in two adjacent hand veins in normal volunteers. One vein was infused with angiotensin II (ANG II) while the other acted as a control.
2. At a dose lower than that required to produce direct venous constriction (1 pmol/min), ANG II significantly augmented the constriction caused by a deep breath in eight subjects (P < 0.01). The same dose had no effect on the venoconstriction caused by infused noradrenaline (NA) in a further six subjects.
3. It is concluded that ANG II at low doses may cause venoconstriction indirectly by augmenting sympathetically induced venous tone via a presynaptic mechanism. This observation may help to explain the apparent venodilating property of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in clinical situations where the renin–angiotensin system is stimulated.
