ObjectiveTo determine the changes in serum angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 levels induced by vanadium treatment of sugar-fed rats in order to investigate the relationship between changes in blood pressure and Ang II and endothelin-1 levels.MethodsMale spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were fed starch (control), sucrose, and sucrose plus vanadium compounds at various concentrations. The systolic blood pressure of the rats was estimated by tail-cuff plethysmography. Serum Ang II and endothelin-1 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.ResultsThere were increases in systolic blood pressure (by 8%) and in serum Ang II (by 20%) in sucrose-fed SHR compared with control. In sucrose plus vanadiumfed SHR, the lowering of the systolic blood pressure (by 11–16% of the sucrose-fed value) was accompanied by a significant decrease in Ang II levels (by 25–60% of the sucrose-fed value) and an increase in endothelin-1 level (by 61–76% of the sucrose-fed value).ConclusionThat Ang II levels are elevated in sucrose-induced hypertension and decreased after vanadium therapy suggests that the renin–angiotensin system plays a role in the induction of hypertension in this model. On the other hand, the elevation of endothelin-1 levels associated with a decreased systolic blood pressure might be secondary to vanadium stimulation of endothelial cells. The data suggest that endothelin-1 is not involved in sugar-induced elevations of the blood pressure.