Fig. 1.

Interactions of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with the vasopressinergic system (VPS) in the regulation of blood pressure and body fluid volume. RAS and VPS closely cooperate in adjusting blood pressure to cardiovascular challenges. The cooperation takes place in the cardiovascular regions of the brain, in the cardiovascular and the sympathoadrenal systems, and in the kidney. Multiple synergistic and/or antagonistic actions of angiotensin peptides and vasopressin, as well as positive and negative feedbacks between RAS and VPS are involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions. The figure shows that dysregulated interaction of RAS and VPS in the brain and in the peripheral tissues results in excessive stimulation of angiotensin AT1 receptors (AT1R), and vasopressin V1a (V1aR) and V2 (V2R) receptors, and in the development of hypertension and/or body fluid retention. AT2R, angiotensin AT2 receptors; AVP, arginine vasopressin; DVMNc/Nc Amb, complex of the dorsoventromedial nucleus of the vagus and the nucleus ambiguous; MasR, Mas receptor of angiotensin- (1-7); Post Pit, the posterior pituitary; PVN, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; RVLM, the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the brain; UNaV, sodium excretion