Angiotensin IV stimulates the proliferation of rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro

The effects of ansotensins II (A II) and IV (A IV) and of A II receptor antagonists losartan (Los) and PD 123319 on [H-3]-thymidine incorporation into DNA of the rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro have been studied, The anterior pituitary cells were isolated from the pituitaries of male rats implanted chronically by diethylstilboestrol (DES). It has been found that A IV, like A II, stimulated the tritiated thymidine incorporation into pituitary cells. The effect has not been blocked by antagonists of AT1 and AT2 receptors, Los and PD 123319, respectively. (C) 1997 Academic Press.