Until recently, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been considered a systemic endocrine hormonal system exclusively. It is now known that each component of the renin-angiotensin system is produced, synthesized and indeed, present in many organisms including the heart and vessels. This volume presents the most recent clinical and laboratory experiences of the leading physicians and investigators in the field of the local cardiac renin-angiotensin aldosterone system.

"Within the classic renin-angiotensin endocrine system, the enzyme renin is produced in the kidney and upon stimulation for its release, it acts upon circulating angiotensinogen which is produced in the liver. The resultant decapeptide angioteinsin I loses its terminal two peptides upon its circulation through the lung by the angiotensin converting enzyme to form the powerful pressor decapeptide angiotensin II which promotes potent vasoconstriction, stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal gland and, in turn, the retention of sodium and water by the kidney. Until recently, there has been much research concerning local renin angiotensin systems functioning within such organs as the heart, blood vessels, kidney, brain, and others. In addition, research has shown that some of these organs also seem to produce locally the steroidal hormone aldosterone. This very important area of research has now achieved major clinical attention because these local systems seem to account for such major biological actions as mitogenesis, cellular hypertrophy, fibrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation within those organs. Moreover, further research has demonstrated still more complicated aspects to the metabolic events associated with the cascade of hormonal substances that result from the biogenesis of the angiotensins. The clinical implications of these events are of great clinical significance and also important pathophysiologically and therapeutically. TOC:Contributors.- Preface.- Hypertensive Heart Disease: Time for New Paradigms.- Cardiac (PRO) Renin Receptors: Functional Properties and Potential Significance.- On the Relationship Between the Renin Receptor and the Vacuolar Proton-ATPase Membrane Sector-Associated Protein (M8-9).- Role of the AT2Receptor in Cardiovascular Function: A Brief Synopsis.- Reciprocal Regulation of Renin in JGA and Tubules in Hypertension.- Salt Loading a Paradigm for a Local Cardiac Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.- Lessons from Experimental Generation of Intracellular Angiotensinogen and AII.- On the Cardiac Renin Angiotensin System: The Heart as a Source of Angiotensin II.- The Hematopoietic System: A New Niche for the Renin-Angiotensin System.- Mechanical Signaling and the Cardiac Renin-Angiotensin.- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2: A Critical Regulator of the Renin-Angiotensin System.- Dyslipidemia and Angiotensin II and Atherogenesis.- ACE Inhibitors Directly Activate Bradykinin B1Receptors to Release NO.- Remodeling in Hypertensive Heart Disease: Role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.- Cardiac Aldosterone Production: A Vascular Problem? Cellular Oxidative Stress, Aging and the Local RAS.- Index."

Hypertensive Heart Disease: Time for New Paradigms.- Cardiac (Pro)Renin Receptors: Functional Properties and Potential Significance.- On the Relationship Between the Renin Receptor and the Vacuolar Proton-Atpase Membrane Sector-Associated Protein (M8-9).- Role of the AT2 Receptor in Cardiovascular Function: A Brief Synopsis.- Regulation of Renin in JGA and Tubules in Hypertension.- Salt Loading: A Paradigm for a Local Cardiac Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.- Lessons from Experimental Generation of Intracellular Angiotensinogen and AII.- On the Cardiac Renin Angiotensin System: the Heart as a Source of Angiotensin II.- The Hematopoietic System: A New Niche for the Renin-Angiotensin System.- Mechanical Signaling and the Cardiac Renin-angiotensin.- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2: A Critical Regulator of the Renin-Angiotensin System.- Dyslipidemia and Angiotensin II and Atherogenesis.- Ace Inhibitors Directly Activate Bradykinin B1 Receptors to Release NO.- Remodeling in Hypertensive Heart Disease: Role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.- Cardiac Aldosterone Production: A Vascular Problem?.- Cellular Oxidative Stress, Aging, and the Local RAS.