EFFECT OF ANTAGONIST OF ANGIOTENSIN II TYPE 2 RECEPTORS ON APOPTOTIC PROCESS IN RAT KIDNEY DEVELOPMENT

SÁNCHEZ SI, FORNERIS ML, CIUFFO GM, FUENTES LB.

Maipu

Congreso; Reunion Anual de la Soc. Arg de Biol. de Cuyo; 2013

Soc Biol. Cuyo

EFFECT OF ANTAGONIST OF ANGIOTENSIN II TYPE 2 RECEPTORS ON APOPTOTIC PROCESS IN RAT KIDNEY DEVELOPMENT Sánchez SI, Forneris ML, Ciuffo GM, Fuentes LB. IMIBIO SL-CONICET Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Email: ssanchez@unsl.edu.ar Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in the complex process of renal organogenesis. Previously, we demonstrated that AT2receptor antagonist PD123319-treated animals exhibited renal alteration at early postnatal stage. A pro-apoptotic role has been attributed to AT2 receptors during kidney morphogenesis. In addition, Bcl-2 (antiapoptotic) and Bax (apoptotic) proteins were involved in apoptosis regulation, as well as in cell adhesion and migration. In this study we examined the effect of antagonist of Ang II type 2 receptors on apoptotic process in kidney development. We studied two groups animals at postnatal days 0, 8 and 15 (P0, P8, P15), control and pups from mothers treated with (PD123319, 1mg/kg/day) during late pregnancy. Gene expressions of Bcl2 and Bax were determined by RT-PCR and apoptotic cells were identified by TUNEL assays. In PD123319-treated animals, a lower Bax and Bcl2 mRNA levels was observed at P8 and P15 compared with control rats. The apoptotic process showed a gradual expands from the juxtamedullary cortex to medulla in both groups, but in treated animals, this event was spatially and temporally delayed. TUNEL-positive staining cells no were detected either glomeruli or developing structures. Our results suggest that Ang II AT2 receptors could module the apoptosis required for the proper maturation of the kidney.