Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have beneficial effects that are presumably mediated by decreased angiotensin II (ANG II) production. In this study, we measure for the first time ANG I and ANG II levels in the interstitial fluid (ISF) space of the heart. ISF and aortic plasma ANG I and II levels were obtained at baseline, during intravenous infusion of ANG I (5 microM, 0.1 ml/min, 60 min), and during ANG I + the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (cap) (2.5 mM, 0.1 ml/min, 60 min) in six anesthetized open-chested dogs. ISF samples were obtained using microdialysis probes inserted into the left ventricular myocardium (3-4 probes/dog). ANG I increased mean arterial pressure from 102+/-3 (SEM) to 124+/-3 mmHg (P < 0.01); addition of cap decreased MAP to 95+/-3 mmHg (P < 0.01). ANG I infusion increased aortic plasma ANG I and ANG II (pg/ml) (ANG I = 101+/-129 to 370+/-158 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and ANG II = 22+/-40 to 466+/-49, P < 0.01); addition of cap further increased ANG I (1,790+/-158, P < 0.01) and decreased ANG II (33+/-49, P < 0.01). ISF ANG I and ANG II levels (pg/ml) were > 100-fold higher than plasma levels, and did not change from baseline (8,122+/-528 and 6,333+/-677), during ANG I (8,269+/-502 and 6, 139+/-695) or ANG I + cap (8,753+/-502 and 5,884+/-695). The finding of very high ANG I and ANG II levels in the ISF vs. intravascular space that are not affected by IV ANG I or cap suggests that ANG II production and/or degradation in the heart is compartmentalized and mediated by different enzymatic mechanisms in the interstitial and intravascular spaces.