Central Angiotensin-II Increases Blood Pressure and Sympathetic Outflow via Rho Kinase Activation in Conscious Rabbits.

ABSTRACT: Elevated sympathetic tone and activation of the renin-angiotensin system are pathophysiologic hallmarks of hypertension, and the interactions between these systems are particularly deleterious. The importance of Rho kinase as a mediator of the effects of angiotensin-II (AngII) in the periphery is clear, but the role of Rho kinase in sympathoexcitation caused by central AngII is not well established. We hypothesized that AngII mediates its effects in the brain by the activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Chronically instrumented, conscious rabbits received the following intracerebroventricular infusion treatments for 2 weeks via osmotic minipump: AngII, Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil, AngII plus Fasudil, or a vehicle control. AngII increased mean arterial pressure over the course of the

SUBMITTER: Pellegrino PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5063718 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature