Previous studies have shown the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) in teleosts, and Ang II-binding sites have also been localized in tissues from rainbow trout. The purpose of this study was to extend these findings and to provide an analysis of Ang II receptor (Ang II-R) isoforms in three tissues obtained from European eel (Anguilla anguilla).
Ang II-Rs were identified in eel liver, kidney and intestine membranes by the binding of either 0·5 nmol human 125I-labelled Tyr4-lle5-Ang II/l or increasing concentrations (1–120 nmol/l) of [3,5-3H]Tyr4-Ile5-Ang II. Using an isoelectric focusing technique, two Ang II-binding sites were identified in liver membranes. These migrated to isoelectric points (pI values) 6·5 and 6·7. Seventy per cent of binding to both sites was displaced by a 10 000-fold excess of unlabelled human Ang II. In both whole plasma membranes and brush border membranes from intestine, only one form of the Ang II-R was found, with pI 6·5 and high affinity (Kd=3·4 nmol/l) for the [3,5-3H]Tyr4-Ile5-Ang II. Similarly, only the isoform focusing at pI 6·5 was observed in renal tubular epithelial brush border membranes. Reduction of disulphide bridges with dithiothreitol significantly enhanced Ang II binding to the isoform at pI 6·5 in liver (P<0·05) and kidney (P<0·01), while in liver the binding to the isoform of pI 6·7 was significantly reduced (P<0·001).
The data suggest the existence in eel liver of multiple forms of Ang II-R, which may have different functions, while one single form appeared to be present in enterocyte plasma membrane and in renal brush border membrane.
