A qualitative leap in the understanding of cardiovascular and n- ral
regulation by the renin-angiotensin system, and of the role of this s-
tem in tissue damage, has occurred as a result of the many recent
advances in molecular genetic techniques. The cloning of the genes for
the components of the renin-angiotensin system, the design of specific
angiotensin receptor ligands, and the use of embryonic gene targeting
te- niques for the creation of mutant strains have established that the
renin- angiotensin system is important in blood pressure regulation, ion
and fluid homeostasis, and tissue growth and remodeling Further
investigation of the mechanisms by which this system p- ticipates in
cardiovascular regulation may shed some light on the pat- genesis of
several cardiovascular diseases, e. g., hypertension, congestive heart
failure, and chronic renal failure. Despite the promise of this system
as a target for therapeutic interventions for these diseases, there are
great challenges in the integration of the attempts to close the gap
between the traditional literature of medicine and the explosion of
information from the new technologies. This book's title, Angiotensin
Protocols, reflects the authors' strong efforts to translate expert
knowledge into easy-to-follow practice. The book opens with introductory
chapters, and each specialty section provides detailed methods covering
a wide variety of techniques, ranging from genetic manipulation of
targeted genes to functional studies of the renin- angiotensin system.
