Modification of tumour blood flow using the hypertensive agent, angiotensin II.

The effects of different doses of angiotensin II (0.02 to 0.5 microgram kg-1 min-1 on mean arterial blood pressure, tissue blood flow and tissue vascular resistance were investigated in BD9 rats. Blood flow was measured using the uptake of 125I- or 14C-labelled iodoantipyrine (125I-IAP and 14C-IAP). Spatial heterogeneity of blood flow within tumours, before and after angiotensin II infusion, was also measured using 14C-IAP and an autoradiographic procedure. Mean arterial blood pressure rose steeply with angiotensin II dose. Blood flow to skeletal muscle, skin overlying the tumour, contralateral skin, small intestine and kidney tended to decline in a dose-dependent manner. Blood flow to the tumour was also reduced (to 80% of control values) but there was no dose response. Blood flow to the heart was slightly increased and blood flow to the brain was unaffected by angiotensin II. Vascular resistance, in all tissues, was increased by angiotensin II infusion. The increase in tumour tissue was similar to that found in skeletal muscle and small intestine and is likely to be caused by a direct vasoconstricting effect of the drug rather than autoregulation of tumour blood flow in the face of an increase in perfusion pressure. The reduction in overall blood flow at the highest perfusion pressure was due to a preferential effect of angiotensin II at the tumour periphery. These results show that some tumours, at least, can respond directly to the effects of vasoactive agents.