Neurons in brain cell culture specifically bind fluorescein-labelled angiotensin II

Abstract

Cultured fetal rat brain cells were incubated with fluorescein-labelled angiotensin II in the presence or absence of excess unlabelled angiotensin II and viewed with epifluorescent light microscopy. Approximately 1% of the cells stained specifically in a bright patchy green pattern which were all of neuronal morphology. When excess angiotensin II was given, only a faint homogeneous green tint was seen, with 50–60% of all cells staining nonspecifically. This study demonstrates that certain neurons in cell culture have specific binding sites for ANG II.