Increased hypothalamic angiotensin-(1?7) levels in rats with aortic coarctation-induced hypertension.

GIRONACCI MARIELA; BROSNIHAN KB; FERRARIO CM; GORZALCZANY S; LOPEZ VERRILLI MA; PASCUAL MARIANO; TAIRA C; PEÑA C.

PEPTIDES

Elsevier Science Inc.

Año: 2007 vol. 28 p. 1580 - 1585

0196-9781

Since angiotensin (Ang) (1-7) injected into the brain blocked Ang II pressor actions in rats made hypertensive by aortic coarctation (CH), we examined systemic and tissue angiotensinpeptide levels, specifically concentrating on the hypothalamic Ang-(1-7) levels. Plasma,heart and kidney isolated from CH rats showed increased levels of Ang I, Ang II and Ang-(1-7) compared with the normotensive group, with Ang II being the predominant peptide inheart and kidney. In the hypothalamus, equimolar amounts of Ang II and Ang-(1-7) were found in the sham group, whereas only Ang-(1-7) levels increased in CH rats. We conclude that aortic coarctation activates systemic and tissue renin-angiotensin system. The increased central levels of Ang-(1-7) in the CH rats suggest a potential mitigating role of this peptide in central control of the hypertensive process.