High angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the neurohypophysis of Brattleboro rats.

The activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme is significantly higher in the intermediate and posterior pituitary lobes of Brattleboro rats than in Long-Evans control rats. The high activity level was reversed by vasopressin treatment. Conversely, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was significantly lower in the anterior pituitary of Brattleboro rats than in Long-Evans rats, and this activity level was not affected by vasopressin. these findings suggest an inverse relation between vasopressin and angiotensin systems in the posterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland.