The Influence of Aging on Angiotensinogen Production By Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Vitro

Aortic smooth muscle cells from 3,12 and 24 mo old rats were grown in cell culture. All of the cultures produced angiotensinogen, but cultures from 24 mo old rats produced significantly more (p<0.01). These results suggest that angiotensinogen is synthesized in arterial smooth muscle. Furthermore, when the activity of the plasma renin system decreases with advancing age, increased activity of a local angiotensin system may contribute to the regulation of vascular tone.