ACE2 overexpression in the paraventricular nucleus attenuates angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been shown to have both central and peripheral effects in mediating hypertension, for which the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is an important brain cardio-regulatory centre. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a negative regulator of the pro-hypertensive actions of Ang II. Recent findings from our laboratory suggest that Ang II infusion decreases ACE2 expression in the PVN. In the present study, we hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression in the PVN will have beneficial effects in counteracting Ang II-induced hypertension.

Methods and results

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Bilateral microinjection of an adenovirus encoding hACE2 (Ad-ACE2) into the PVN was used to overexpress ACE2 within t

SUBMITTER: Sriramula S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3286198 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature