血管紧张素Ⅱ在小鼠卵母细胞中的免疫组化定位

本文研究了血管紧张素Ⅱ在小鼠卵母细胞中的免疫组织化学定位,结果表明血管紧张素Ⅱ不仅分布在卵巢内的黄体细胞,卵泡的膜细胞,基质和血管,在恢复减数分裂过程中,处于生发泡破裂和第一极体排放期的卵母细胞内也检测到血管紧张素Ⅱ的免疫阳性物,因此,血管紧张素Ⅱ有可能在卵泡的生长发育和卵母细胞的成熟过程中起着重要作用。     

RAAS与肝纤维化的研究进展

肝纤维化是多种慢性肝病进展至肝硬化的中间过程,其特征是以胶原蛋白为主的细胞外基质(extracellular matrix,ECM)的合成与降解失衡,导致大量ECM沉积。在肝纤维化发生、发展过程中,常伴有肾素–血管紧张素–醛固酮系统(renin-angiontensin-aldosterone system,RAAS)的激活,血管紧张素转换酶–血管紧张素II-血管紧张素II受体1(angiotensin-converting enzymeangiotensin IIangiotensin II type 1 repector,ACE-Ang II-AT1R)轴和血管紧张素转换酶2-血管紧张素(1-7)-Mas受体[angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-angiotensin(1-7)-Mas,ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas]轴是调节肝纤维化的两大重要因素。     

莱芜黑山羊卵巢FSHr、LHr的免疫组化定位研究

为从形态学角度理解内分泌调节过程,揭示促性腺激素(GTH)对雌性哺乳动物卵巢调节作用机制,对处于非繁殖季节的莱芜黑山羊卵巢中FSHr、LHr分布进行免疫组化SABC方法定位.分别选取相邻的6张连续阳性切片,光镜观察、图像分析.结果显示:FSHr、LHr阳性细胞主要分布于卵泡颗粒细胞、膜细胞、卵母细胞、血管周围间质,尤其以在卵泡颗粒细胞、膜细胞的胞质中分布最多.原始卵泡卵母细胞中便有两种受体阳性物质分布,在各级卵泡中两种受体阳性细胞数量、染色强度随卵泡发育水平呈正向增加趋势.     

VEGF在人胎卵巢发育过程中的表达研究

目的研究血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在人胚胎卵巢组织发生过程中的表达特征,探讨其在卵巢发生中的作用。方法采用HE染色和SP免疫组织化法学法检测VEGF在不同胎龄卵巢组织中的表达变化。结果VEGF在胎儿卵巢初级卵母细胞、卵泡细胞、部分基质细胞呈阳性表达,在卵母细胞的染色程度均强于卵泡细胞和基质细胞,基质小血管内皮也有阳性表达。其在卵母细胞中以胎24w阳性细胞多且表达量强,此后呈逐渐下降趋势。结论胎儿卵巢存在局部调节因子,VEGF表达于人胎卵巢中,以自分泌或旁分泌方式参与卵母细胞生长,在卵巢发生、发育过程中起着一定的作用。     

肾脏血管紧张素Ⅱ受体及其在肾脏病中的改变

血管紧张素II(AII)对肾脏有多种生理调节功能,在许多肾脏疾病中也起着重要作用。本文对AII受体在肾内的分布、生理作用和生化特性,以及在肾脏疾病中的变化作一介绍。     

闭锁卵泡中肾素—血管紧张素质系统的变化

目的：探讨卵巢局部的肾素－血管紧张素系统（RAS）在卵泡闭锁中的作用。方法：应用卵巢细胞双室培养,放射免疫测定（RIA）及免疫组化方法研究猪卵巢的健康卵泡和闭锁卵泡的颗粒细胞和卵泡内膜细胞与RAS的关系;观察了血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ)拮抗剂Saralasin及血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）抑制剂Captopril的作用。结果（1）与健康卵泡相比较,闭锁卵泡的卵泡液及卵泡内膜细胞培养液中的AngⅡ浓度明显升高,肾素浓度则明显降低;而颗粒细胞培养液中的AngⅡ和肾素浓度均无明显改变;（2）闭锁卵泡切片的AngⅡ,2型血管紧张素Ⅱ受体（AT2）染色明显强于健康卵泡;AngⅡ和AT2水平在双室培养的闭锁卵泡的卵泡内膜细胞中明显强于健康卵泡的卵泡内膜细胞;健康和闭锁卵泡的颗粒细胞中的AngⅡ,AT2水平变化不大;（3）双室培养中加入Saralasin或Captopril培养48h后,（a)与健康卵泡相比,闭锁卵泡的卵泡内膜细胞培养液中的AngⅡ浓度显降低,肾素浓度明显升高;（b)健康和闭锁卵泡的卵泡内膜细胞AngⅡ和AT2免疫组化染色均呈现下降,（c)RIA结果显示,健康和闭锁卵泡的颗粒细胞培养液中的AngⅡ和肾素浓度无明显变化;免疫组化结果显示,颗粒细胞的AngⅡ,AT2水平亦无显改变。结论：卵泡闭锁与卵巢RAS密切相关,AngⅡ和AT2是卵泡闭锁的重要相关因子;卵泡闭锁过程中卵巢局部的RAS变化主要发生在卵泡内膜细胞;Saralasin和Captopril可能通过调节卵巢RAS而具有抑制卵泡闭锁的作用。     

血管紧张素受体1在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导人星形胶质细胞老化中的作用

目的通过体外细胞实验研究,探讨血管紧张素受体1在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导人星形胶质细胞活性氧产生和细胞老化中的作用。方法人星形胶质细胞随机分为三组：血管紧张素Ⅱ＋Cand（坎地沙坦）组和血管紧张素Ⅱ＋tempol组。血管紧张素Ⅱ组是用100nM血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激人星形胶质细胞3天,血管紧张素Ⅱ＋Cand组和血管紧张素Ⅱ＋tempol组先用血管紧张素受体1阻滞剂坎地沙坦（100nM）和氧自由基清除剂tempol（3mM）预处理,再用100nM血管紧张素II刺激人星形胶质细胞3天,利用β半乳糖苷酶染色评估细胞老化。不同剂量（0、1nM、10nM、100nM、1000nM和1000nM＋坎地沙坦）的血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激人星形胶质细胞30min,DHE染色评估细胞内活性氧产生。结果血管紧张素Ⅱ引起人星形胶质细胞DHE染色表达增多和β半乳糖苷酶染色细胞增多。利用血管紧张素受体1阻滞剂坎地沙坦和氧自由基清除剂tempol预处理逆转了血管紧张素Ⅱ引起的星形胶质细胞老化。结论血紧张素Ⅱ是通过血管紧张素受体1和超氧阴离子产生引起星形胶质细胞的老化。     

肾素血管紧张素系统对糖尿病内皮细胞损伤机制的研究

肾素血管紧张素系统(RASS)的效应分子为血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ),对内皮细胞及平滑肌细胞的功能具有重要的影响。血管紧张素II不仅影响血流动力学效应,还通过其血管紧张素1受体(AT1R)发挥强大的促氧化和促炎症反应的效应。在内皮细胞和白细胞中血管紧张素Ⅱ通过烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸盐(NADPH)氧化酶的激活和细胞内氧化还远信号传导系统从而促进脉管系统炎症反应的形成,血管紧张素Ⅱ和葡萄糖在内皮细胞和炎性细胞中还共享氧化还原信号传导通路,可见血管紧张素Ⅱ参与了炎症的反应、血栓的形成,通过刺激细胞因子和生长因子进行细胞的增值,血管紧张素Ⅱ的这些效应与胰岛素抵抗、氧化应激以及血管内皮细胞的损伤有着密切的联系,并且有研究显示应用RASS抑制剂可以有效地延缓心脑血管疾病的进展,这些证据显示抑制RASS系统在保护血管病变的重要性。     

牦牛卵泡细胞及其卵母细胞不同发育时期的结构变化

采集成年母牦牛卵巢,通过光镜和电镜对牦牛卵泡及其卵母细胞不同发育时期的结构变化进行了观察。结果发现当卵母细胞被单层立方卵泡细胞包围时,微绒毛开始出现,而皮质颗粒、透明带则在包被2-4层卵泡细胞时开始出现。随着卵母细胞的继续发育,透明带增厚,微绒毛由粗短变为细长,密度增加;皮质颗粒、线粒体、滑面内质网等细胞器的数目不断增加,并逐渐移行到质膜下;在移行的过程中,皮质颗粒成团存在。在囊状卵泡中,卵母细胞皮质颗粒呈线形分布于质膜下,线粒体、滑面内质网又移向胞质中央。卵母细胞借助微绒毛穿过透明带与卵泡细胞胞质突起相联系。结果证明牦牛卵泡和卵母细胞不同发育时期的结构变化与其它哺乳动物的基本相似。     

锯缘青蟹卵黄发生期卵母细胞和卵泡细胞之间的结构变化

通过电镜研究了锯缘青蟹二次卵巢发育过程中卵黄发生期（分为初期和后期）卵母细胞表面的结构和胞质的变化。卵黄发生初期分为：内源性卵黄发生阶段和有卵泡细胞直接参与的外源性卵黄合成阶段,前者特征为：在卵母细胞中充满了内质网泡,在泡内有不同程度的卵黄物质合成,此时在卵母细胞的表面区域,可见很多卵泡细胞向卵母细胞表面迁移,并包围卵母细胞。后者其特征是在卵母细胞的表面,有大量的胞饮小泡出现在卵膜的内面,随着两细胞表面膜的逐步融合和胞饮作用加强最后形成链锁状结构,胞质中靠近卵质周围有卵黄体的积极合成和大更换 脂肪滴积累,在此阶段的后期,卵泡细胞质已基本吸收完毕,卵泡细胞膜和卵母细胞膜融合,某些界面已无膜结构。卵黄发生后期在亲蟹孵出幼体后的第11d至第27d基本结束,此期也主要以外源性卵黄发生为主,在卵母细胞的周围,卵泡细胞迅速扩大,其间分布着大量的大小不同的囊泡和线粒体,在接近卵母细胞表面,还常可见大量的脂肪滴存在。卵泡细胞与卵母细胞间其膜结构完全消失,从而可使滤泡大片细胞质直接融入卵母细胞中,以后随着卵黄发生的进一步发展,卵母细胞与卵泡细胞的交界面逐步形成一个网状的膜结构屏障,同时在卵巢中可见正在降解的卵母细胞,在卵黄发生近结束以后,在卵母细胞的表面,逐步形成两层卵膜,这时的卵母细胞质中几乎充满了卵黄体和脂肪滴。     

High-glucose-induced regulation of intracellular ANG II synthesis and nuclear redistribution in cardiac myocytes

The prevailing paradigm is that cardiac ANG II is synthesized in the extracellular space from components of the circulating and/or local renin-angiotensin system. The recent discovery of intracrine effects of ANG II led us to determine whether ANG II is synthesized intracellularly in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). NRVM, incubated in serum-free medium, were exposed to isoproterenol or high glucose in the absence or presence of candesartan, which was used to prevent angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor-mediated internalization of ANG II. ANG II was measured in cell lysates and the culture medium, which represented intra- and extracellularly synthesized ANG II, respectively. Isoproterenol increased ANG II concentration in cell lysates and medium of NRVM in the absence or presence of candesartan. High glucose markedly increased ANG II synthesis only in cell lysates in the absence and presence of candesartan. Western analysis showed increased intracellular levels of angiotensinogen, renin, and chymase in high-glucose-exposed cells. Confocal immunofluorocytometry confirmed the presence of ANG II in the cytoplasm and nucleus of high-glucose-exposed NRVM and along the actin filaments in isoproterenol-exposed cells. ANG II synthesis was dependent on renin and chymase in high-glucose-exposed cells and on renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme in isoproterenol-exposed cells. In summary, the site of ANG II synthesis, intracellular localization, and the synthetic pathway in NRVM are stimulus dependent. Significantly, NRVM synthesized and retained ANG II intracellularly, which redistributed to the nucleus under high-glucose conditions, suggesting a role for an intracrine mechanism in diabetic conditions.     

Immunocytochemical and biochemical identification of angiotensin II in human nasal tissue

Angiotensin II (ANG II) was identified immunocytochemically and biochemically in biopsy samples of human nasal tissue. Staining for ANG II was predominantly found in structures similar to a string of pearls with consecutive short varicose areas, which is characteristic for neuronal tissue. The localization of ANG II in neurons was confirmed by positive staining of adjacent tissue sections with a specific antibody to neurofilament or doublestaining with both antibodies in one section. Likewise, ANG II-like material was also determined radioimmunologically in nasal tissue extracts. The concentrations of ANG II varied form 1.28 to 332.78 fmol/g wet tissue weight with an average concentration of 79.61+/-44.09 fmol ANG II/g wet tissue weight (mean+/-SEM, n=7). The ANG II-immunoreactive material was further characterized biochemically by HPLC on a reversed phase C(18) column in an acetonitrile and methanol gradient as Ile(5)-ANG II and ANG II metabolites such as Ile(4)-ANG III, Ile(3)-ANG II(3-8)hexapeptide and Ile(2)-ANG II(4-8)pentapeptide.     

Administration of ANG II induces iron deposition and upregulation of TGF-beta1 mRNA in the rat liver

We previously found that ANG II infusion into rats causes iron deposition in the kidney and heart, which may have a role in the regulation of profibrotic gene expression and tissue fibrosis. In the present study, we have investigated whether ANG II can also induce iron accumulation in the liver. Prussian blue staining detected frequent iron deposition in the interstitium of the liver of rats treated with pressor dose ANG II for 7 days, whereas iron deposition was absent in the livers of control rats. Immunohistochemical and histological analyses showed that some iron-positive nonparenchymal cells were positive for ferritin and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein and TGF-beta1 mRNA and were judged to be monocytes/macrophages. It was shown that ANG II infusion caused about a fourfold increase in ferritin and HO-1 protein expression by Western blot analysis and about a twofold increase in TGF-beta1 mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis, which were both suppressed by treating ANG II-infused rats with losartan and deferoxamine. In addition, mild interstitial fibrosis was observed in the liver of rats that had been treated with pressor dose ANG II for 7 days or with nonpressor dose ANG II for 30 days, the latter of which also caused loss of hepatocytes and intrahepatic hemorrhage in the liver. Taken together, our data suggest that ANG II infusion induces aberrant iron homeostasis in the liver, which may have a role in the ANG II-induced upregulation of profibrotic gene expression in the liver.     

Mode of action of ANG II on ion transport in guinea pig distal colon

The effect of ANG II on mucosal ion transport and localization of ANG type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) in the guinea pig distal colon was investigated. Submucosal/mucosal segments were mounted in Ussing flux chambers, and short-circuit current (I(sc)) was measured as an index of ion transport. Serosal addition of ANG II produced a concentration-dependent (10(-9)-10(-5) M) increase in I(sc). The maximal response was observed at 10(-6) M; the increase in I(sc) was 164.4 +/- 11.8 microA/cm(2). The ANG II (10(-6) M)-evoked response was mainly due to Cl(-) secretion. Tetrodotoxin, atropine, the neurokinin type 1 receptor antagonist FK-888, and piroxicam significantly reduced the ANG II (10(-6) M)-evoked response to 28, 45, 58, and 16% of control, respectively. Pretreatment with prostaglandin E(2) (10(-5) M) resulted in a threefold increase in the ANG II-evoked response. The AT(1)R antagonist FR-130739 completely blocked ANG II (10(-6) M)-evoked responses, whereas the ANG type 2 receptor antagonist PD-123319 had no effect. Localization of AT(1)R was determined by immunohistochemistry. In the immunohistochemical study, AT(1)R-immunopositive cells were distributed clearly in enteric nerves and moderately in surface epithelial cells. These results suggest that ANG II-evoked electrogenic Cl(-) secretion may involve submucosal cholinergic and tachykinergic neurons and prostanoid synthesis pathways through AT(1)R on the submucosal plexus and surface epithelial cells in guinea pig distal colon.     

Involvement of placental peptidases associated with renin-angiotensin systems in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is characterized by pregnancy-induced hypertension accompanied with protein urea and generalized edema. Preeclampsia develops during the second half of pregnancy and resolves postpartum promptly, implicating the placenta as a primary cause in the disorder. Normal pregnancy is associated with reductions in arterial pressure and attenuated pressor response to exogenous infused angiotensin II (ANG II). In contrast, women with preeclampsia show the similar sensitivity to the pressor effect of ANG II as do non-pregnant women. To elucidate the involvement of placental peptidases associated with renin-angiotensin systems, we determined the localization of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and aminopeptidase A (AP-A), ANG II degrading enzyme, in the placenta and compared the expression of mRNA and protein in uncomplicated and preeclamptic placenta. In addition, AP-A expression in trophoblastic cells treated with ANG II and ACE expression in HUVECs under hypoxic condition were analyzed, respectively. The expression of both peptidases in the preeclamptic placenta was significantly higher than those from uncomplicated. ACE was primarily localized to venous endothelial cells of stem villous whereas AP-A expression was recognized in the trophoblast and pericytes of fetal arterioles and venules within stem villous. Hypoxia induced ACE expression in HUVECs while both hypoxia and ANG II evoked AP-A expression in trophoblast. These results suggested that hypoxic condition in preeclampsia induces ACE activation in feto-placental unit to maintain the fetal hemodynamics and placental AP-A plays a role as a component of the barrier of ANG II between mother and fetus.     

Angiotensin II stimulates cardiac L-type Ca(2+) current by a Ca(2+)- and protein kinase C-dependent mechanism

Angiotensin II (ANG II) evokes positive inotropic responses in various species. However, the effects of this peptide on L-type Ca(2+) currents (I(Ca)) are still controversial. We report in this study that the effects of ANG II on I(Ca) differ depending on the mode of patch-clamp technique used, standard whole cell (WC) or perforated patch (PP). No significant effects of ANG II (0.5 microM) were observed when WC in cells dialyzed with high EGTA was used. However, when the intracellular milieu was preserved using PP, ANG II induced a significant 77 +/- 6% increase in I(Ca) (-2.2 +/- 0.3 in control and -3.9 +/- 0.6 pA/pF in ANG II, n = 8, P < 0.05). When WC was used in cells dialyzed with low Ca(2+) buffer capacity (EGTA 0.1 mM), ANG II was able to induce an increase in I(Ca) (-3.5 +/- 0.3 in control vs. -4.8 +/- 0.4 pA/pF in ANG II, n = 13, P < 0.05). This increase was prevented when the cells were also dialyzed with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine (50 microM) or calphostin C (1 microM). The above results allow us to conclude that strong intracellular Ca(2+) buffering prevents the physiological actions of ANG II on cardiac I(Ca), which are also dependent on activation of PKC.     

Involvement of placental peptidases associated with renin–angiotensin systems in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is characterized by pregnancy-induced hypertension accompanied with protein urea and generalized edema. Preeclampsia develops during the second half of pregnancy and resolves postpartum promptly, implicating the placenta as a primary cause in the disorder. Normal pregnancy is associated with reductions in arterial pressure and attenuated pressor response to exogenous infused angiotensin II (ANG II). In contrast, women with preeclampsia show the similar sensitivity to the pressor effect of ANG II as do non-pregnant women. To elucidate the involvement of placental peptidases associated with renin–angiotensin systems, we determined the localization of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and aminopeptidase A (AP-A), ANG II degrading enzyme, in the placenta and compared the expression of mRNA and protein in uncomplicated and preeclamptic placenta. In addition, AP-A expression in trophoblastic cells treated with ANG II and ACE expression in HUVECs under hypoxic condition were analyzed, respectively. The expression of both peptidases in the preeclamptic placenta was significantly higher than those from uncomplicated. ACE was primarily localized to venous endothelial cells of stem villous whereas AP-A expression was recognized in the trophoblast and pericytes of fetal arterioles and venules within stem villous. Hypoxia induced ACE expression in HUVECs while both hypoxia and ANG II evoked AP-A expression in trophoblast. These results suggested that hypoxic condition in preeclampsia induces ACE activation in feto-placental unit to maintain the fetal hemodynamics and placental AP-A plays a role as a component of the barrier of ANG II between mother and fetus.     

Angiotensin II elevates nitric oxide synthase 3 expression and nitric oxide production via a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial cells

Normal pregnancy is associated with high angiotensin II (ANG II) concentrations in the maternal and fetal circulation. These high levels of ANG II may promote production vasodilators such as nitric oxide (NO). ANG II receptors are expressed in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial (OFPAE) cells and mediate ANG II-stimulated OFPAE cell proliferation. Herein, we tested whether ANG II stimulated NO synthase 3 (NOS3, also known as eNOS) expression and total NO (NO(x)) production via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1, also known as ERK1/2) in OFPAE cells. ANG II elevated (P < 0.05) eNOS protein, but not mRNA levels with a maximum effect at 10 nM. ANG II also dose dependently increased (P < 0.05) NO(x) production with a maximal effect at doses of 1-100 nM. Activation of ERK1/2 by ANG II was determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. ANG II rapidly induced positive staining for phosphorylated ERK1/2, appearing in cytosol after 1-5 min of ANG II treatment, accumulating in nuclei after 10 min, and disappearing at 15 min. ANG II increased (P < 0.05) phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein levels. Activation of ERK1/2 was confirmed by an immunocomplex kinase assay using ELK1 as a substrate. PD98059 significantly inhibited ANG II-induced ERK1/2 activation, and the ANG II-elevated eNOS protein levels but only partially reduced ANG II-increased NO(x) production. Thus, in OFPAE cells, the ANG II increased NO(x) production is associated with elevated eNOS protein expression, which is mediated at least in part via activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase1 and kinase2 (MAP2K1 and MAP2K2, known also as MEK1/2)/ERK1/2 cascade. Together with our previous observation that ANG II stimulates OFPAE cell proliferation, these data suggest that ANG II is a key regulator for both vasodilation and angiogenesis in the ovine fetoplacenta.     

Enzymatic processing of angiotensin peptides by human glomerular endothelial cells

The intraglomerular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is linked to the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular diseases. Glomerular podocytes and mesangial cells play distinct roles in the metabolism of angiotensin (ANG) peptides. However, our understanding of the RAS enzymatic capacity of glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) remains incomplete. We explored the mechanisms of endogenous cleavage of ANG substrates in cultured human GEnCs (hGEnCs) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and isotope-labeled peptide quantification. Overall, hGEnCs metabolized ANG II at a significantly slower rate compared with podocytes, whereas the ANG I processing rate was comparable between glomerular cell types. ANG II was the most abundant fragment of ANG I, with lesser amount of ANG-(1-7) detected. Formation of ANG II from ANG I was largely abolished by an ANG-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, whereas ANG-(1-7) formation was decreased by a prolylendopeptidase (PEP) inhibitor, but not by a neprilysin inhibitor. Cleavage of ANG II resulted in partial conversion to ANG-(1-7), a process that was attenuated by an ACE2 inhibitor, as well as by an inhibitor of PEP and prolylcarboxypeptidase. Further fragmentation of ANG-(1-7) to ANG-(1-5) was mediated by ACE. In addition, evidence of aminopeptidase N activity (APN) was demonstrated by detecting amelioration of conversion of ANG III to ANG IV by an APN inhibitor. While we failed to find expression or activity of aminopeptidase A, a modest activity attributable to aspartyl aminopeptidase was detected. Messenger RNA and gene expression of the implicated enzymes were confirmed. These results indicate that hGEnCs possess prominent ACE activity, but modest ANG II-metabolizing activity compared with that of podocytes. PEP, ACE2, prolylcarboxypeptidase, APN, and aspartyl aminopeptidase are also enzymes contained in hGEnCs that participate in membrane-bound ANG peptide cleavage. Injury to specific cell types within the glomeruli may alter the intrarenal RAS balance.     

Acute intrarenal infusion of ANG II does not stimulate immediate early gene expression in the kidney

ANG II is capable of stimulating expression of immediate early genes such as egr-1 and c-fos in a variety of cultured cells, including cells of renal origin. To investigate whether ANG II can stimulate early growth response gene expression in vivo, we studied the effects of acute renal artery infusion of low-dose ANG II (2.5 ng small middle dot kg(-1) small middle dot min(-1)) or vehicle on the renal expression of c-fos and egr-1 genes in rats. ANG II infusion for 30 or 240 min decreased renal vascular conductance by approximately 13 and 8%, respectively, compared with the vehicle group. Expression of the early growth response genes c-fos and egr-1 was analyzed using Northern blot hybridization. No significant upregulation of c-fos or egr-1 mRNA levels was detected in rats that received ANG II for either 30 or 240 min, compared with the vehicle groups. We conclude that ANG II, at doses that cause significant physiological effects, does not increase the renal expression of c-fos or egr-1 genes over periods of up to 4 h in vivo.