Functional Studies of the Cerebral Circulation
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Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an endogenous peptide that has a wide spectrum of physiological functions, including the regulation of hemodynamics and blood volume (1); growth, hypertrophy, and remodeling in the cardiovascular system (1 ,2 ); regulation of microvessel density (3 ,4 ), and modulation of vascular tone (3 ,5 ). Ang II is widely known as a potent vasoconstrictor, but a number of studies have demonstrated that it can have vasodilator effects as well (3 ,5 ). The recent identification of distinct AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptor subtypes raises additional questions regarding the actions of Ang II on the vascu-lature, particularly in regard to the role of these receptors in overall cardiovascular regulation (1 ,2 ).
