MAS and the central nervous system

GIRONACCI MM; CAMPAGNOLE-SANTOS MJ

Protective Arm of the Renin-Angiotensin System

Elsevier (Academic Press)

Año: 2015; p. 231 - 237

The brain expresses all the necessary components to produce the active peptides of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS): angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang III, Ang IV and Ang-(1?7). Angiotensins effects in the brain are complex, site specific and dependent on the physiological condition. Although there is debate on the actual ligand of AT1 receptor in the brain, Ang II or Ang III, the effects of Ang-(1-7) appear to be related to MAS receptor. The possibility that Ang II and Ang-(1-7) may present opposite effects in the brain, even if only in specific physiological situations, makes the RAS mechanisms of regulation of physiological functions more complete. In this chapter we focused on Mas receptors triggered actions in the brain presenting a description of Mas receptor anatomical localization, the cardiovascular effects mediated by Mas receptor stimulation and, finally, we discuss central Mas receptor stimulation on noradrenergic neurotransmission and other neurotransmitters.