Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is the main regulator of blood pressure and blood volume, with most effects being mediated by angiotensin II (Ang-II) - responsible, in the central nervous system, for actions such as thirst and sodium appetite. Astrocytes are believed to mediate such a response, as they express receptors for Ang-II and respond directly to dehydration with impacting morphological changes in the synaptic microenvironment. Many of its functions involve L-type calcium channels (LTCCs). Objectives: Evaluate the participation of LTCCs in the effects induced by AngII in cultured hypothalamic astrocytes. Methods: The effect of incubation with verapamil on the morphological responses induced by Ang-II was evaluated in hypothalamic astrocyte culture, by analyzing the expression of the cytoskeletal protein GFAP and the cell viability by the MTT assay, by immunofluorescence. Results: Incubation with Ang-II reduced the cell area considerably due to GFAP expression in relation to the control group (DMEM p<0.001), indicating that the results observed on GFAP expression did not result from cell death. Conclusion: Incubation with Ang-II alters the astrocyte morphology, reducing its area, effect at least in part, blocked by the action of Verapamil, indicating the participation of LTCCs in the mediation of this process.
Angiotensin II change glutamate uptake and GFAP expression in astrocyte culture from hypothalamus
