Neuronal excitation by angiotensin II in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat in vitro

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (1) ◽  
pp. R272-R277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. W. Li ◽  
P. G. Guyenet

We examined the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) on spontaneous unit activity in slices of the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), ANG II (1-3 microM) excited 61% of a population of slowly and irregularly firing RVLM neurons (predrug, 1.2 +/- 0.1 spikes/s; postdrug, 4.6 +/- 0.3 spikes/s; n = 52). ANG II had no effect on pacemaker-like rapidly firing neurons (predrug, 8.6 +/- 0.4 spikes/s; n = 33). The effect of ANG II on slowly firing cells was repeatable and was reduced 75% by 3 microM losartan (baseline, 1.7 +/- 0.4 spikes/s; ANG II, 5.3 +/- 0.7 spikes/s; ANG II+losartan, 2.4 +/- 0.6 spikes/s; n = 12). The ongoing activity of slowly firing neurons was unaffected by 0.5-1 mM kynurenic acid (an ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist). Most ANG II-responsive neurons (10 of 11) were inhibited by the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist UK-14,304, but pacemaker-like neurons were not. In conclusion, the RVLM contains neurons excited by AT1 receptor agonists. These neurons are distinct from the previously described pacemaker nonadrenergic presympathetic cells. They may be responsible for the pressor effects produced by injecting ANG II into the RVLM in vivo.

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 403-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Cato ◽  
Glenn M. Toney

Neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are key controllers of sympathetic nerve activity and receive input from angiotensin II (ANG II)–containing neurons in the forebrain. This study determined the effect of ANG II on PVN neurons that innervate in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM)—a brain stem site critical for maintaining sympathetic outflow and arterial pressure. Using an in vitro brain slice preparation, whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made from PVN neurons retrogradely labeled from the ipsilateral RVLM of rats. Of 71 neurons tested, 62 (87%) responded to ANG II. In current-clamp mode, bath-applied ANG II (2 μM) significantly ( P < 0.05) depolarized membrane potential from −58.5 ± 2.5 to −54.5 ± 2.0 mV and increased the frequency of action potential discharge from 0.7 ± 0.3 to 2.8 ± 0.8 Hz ( n = 4). Local application of ANG II by low-pressure ejection from a glass pipette (2 pmol, 0.4 nl, 5 s) also elicited rapid and reproducible excitation in 17 of 20 cells. In this group, membrane potential depolarization averaged 21.5 ± 4.1 mV, and spike activity increased from 0.7 ± 0.4 to 21.3 ± 3.3 Hz. In voltage-clamp mode, 41 of 47 neurons responded to pressure-ejected ANG II with a dose-dependent inward current that averaged -54.7 ± 3.9 pA at a maximally effective dose of 2.0 pmol. Blockade of ANG II AT1 receptors significantly reduced discharge ( P < 0.001, n = 5), depolarization ( P < 0.05, n = 3), and inward current ( P < 0.01, n = 11) responses to locally applied ANG II. In six of six cells tested, membrane input conductance increased ( P < 0.001) during local application of ANG II (2 pmol), suggesting influx of cations. The ANG II current reversed polarity at +2.2 ± 2.2 mV ( n = 9) and was blocked ( P < 0.01) by bath perfusion with gadolinium (Gd3+, 100 μM, n = 8), suggesting that ANG II activates membrane channels that are nonselectively permeable to cations. These findings indicate that ANG II excites PVN neurons that innervate the ipsilateral RVLM by a mechanism that depends on activation of AT1 receptors and gating of one or more classes of ion channels that result in a mixed cation current.


2005 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna CASTOLDI ◽  
Serena REDAELLI ◽  
Willy M. M. van de GREEF ◽  
Cira R. T. di GIOIA ◽  
Giuseppe BUSCA ◽  
...  

Ang II (angiotensin II) has multiple effects on vascular smooth muscle cells through the modulation of different classes of genes. Using the mRNA differential-display method to investigate gene expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in culture in response to 3 h of Ang II stimulation, we observed that Ang II down-regulated the expression of a member of the family of transmembrane receptors for Wnt proteins that was identified as Fzd2 [Fzd (frizzled)-2 receptor]. Fzds are a class of highly conserved genes playing a fundamental role in the developmental processes. In vitro, time course experiments demonstrated that Ang II induced a significant increase (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression after 30 min, whereas it caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in Fzd2 expression at 3 h. A similar rapid up-regulation after Ang II stimulation for 30 min was evident for TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor β1; P<0.05). To investigate whether Ang II also modulated Fzd2 expression in vivo, exogenous Ang II was administered to Sprague–Dawley rats (200 ng·kg−1 of body weight·min−1; subcutaneously) for 1 and 4 weeks. Control rats received normal saline. After treatment, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher (P<0.01), whereas plasma renin activity was suppressed (P<0.01) in Ang II- compared with the saline-treated rats. Ang II administration for 1 week did not modify Fzd2 expression in aorta of Ang II-treated rats, whereas Ang II administration for 4 weeks increased Fzd2 mRNA expression (P<0.05) in the tunica media of the aorta, resulting in a positive immunostaining for fibronectin at this time point. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Ang II modulates Fzd2 expression in aortic smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.


Hypertension ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Fehrenbach ◽  
Meena S Madhur

Hypertension, or an elevated blood pressure, is the primary modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of mortality worldwide. We previously demonstrated that Th17 activation and interleukin 17A (IL-17A)/IL-21 production is integral for the full development of a hypertensive phenotype as well as the renal and vascular damage associated with hypertension. Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein Kinase 2 (ROCK2) serves as a molecular switch upregulating Th17 and inhibiting regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation. We hypothesize that hypertension is characterized by excessive T cell ROCK2 activation leading to increased Th17/Treg ratios and ultimately end-organ damage. We first showed in vitro that KD025, an experimental orally bioavailable ROCK2 inhibitor inhibits Th17 cell proliferation and IL-17A/IL-21 production. To determine if hypertensive stimuli such as endothelial stretch increases T cell ROCK2 expression, we cultured human aortic endothelial cells exposed to 5% (normotensive) or 10% (hypertensive) stretch with circulating human T cells and HLA-DR+ antigen presenting cells. Hypertensive stretch increased T cell ROCK2 expression 2-fold. We then tested the effect of ROCK2 inhibition with KD025 (50mg/kg i.p. daily) in vivo on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension. Treatment with KD025 significantly attenuated the hypertensive response within 1 week of Ang II treatment (systolic blood pressure: 139± 8 vs 108±7mmHg) and this persisted for the duration of the 4 week study reaching blood pressures 20 mmHg lower (135±13mmHg) than vehicle treated mice (158±4mmHg p<0.05 effect of treatment 2-way Repeated Measures ANOVA). Flow cytometric analysis of tissue infiltrating leukocytes revealed that KD025 treatment increased Treg/Th17 ratios in the kidney (0.61±0.03 vs 0.79±0.08, p<0.05 student’s t-test). Thus, T cell ROCK2 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension.


2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra B Haudek ◽  
Jeff Crawford ◽  
Erin Reineke ◽  
Alberto A Allegre ◽  
George E Taffet ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) plays a key role in the development of cardiomyopathies, as it is associated with many conditions involving heart failure and pathologic hypertrophy. Using a murine model of Ang-II infusion, we found that Ang-II induced the synthesis of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) that mediated the uptake of CD34 + /CD45 + monocytic cells into the heart. These precursor cells differentiated into collagen-producing fibroblasts and were responsible for the Ang-II-induced development of reactive fibrosis. Preliminary in vitro data using our monocyte-to-fibroblast differentiation model, suggested that Ang-II required the presence of TNF to induce fibroblast maturation from monocytes. In vivo, they indicated that in mice deficient of both TNF receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2), Ang-II-induced fibrosis was absent. We now assessed the hypothesis that specific TNFR1 signaling is necessary for Ang-II-mediated cardiac fibrosis. Mice deficient in either TNFR1 (TNFR1-KO) or TNFR2 (TNFR2-KO) were subjected to continuous infusion of Ang-II for 1 to 6 weeks (n=6-8/group). Compared to wild-type, we found that in TNFR1-KO, but not in TNFR2-KO mouse hearts, collagen deposition was attenuated, as was cardiac α-smooth muscle actin protein (a marker for activated fibroblasts). When we isolated viable cardiac fibroblasts and characterized them by flow cytometry, we found that Ang-II infusion in TNFR1-KO, but not in TNFR2-KO, resulted in a marked decrease of CD34 + /CD45 + cells. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated a striking reduction of type 1 and 3 collagen, as well of MCP-1 mRNA expression in TNFR1-KO mouse hearts. Further measurements of cardiovascular parameters indicated that TNFR1-KO animals developed lesser Ang-II-mediated LV remodeling, smaller changes in E-linear deceleration times/rates over time, and displayed a lower Tei index (a heart rate independent marker of cardiac function), indicating less stiffness in TNFR1-KO hearts compared to wild-type and TNFR2-KO hearts. The data suggest that Ang-II-dependent cardiac fibrosis requires TNF and its signaling through TNFR1 which enhances the induction of MCP-1 and uptake of monocytic fibroblast precursors that are associated with reactive fibrosis and cardiac remodeling and function.


Hypertension ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1499-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninitha Asirvatham-Jeyaraj ◽  
A. Daniel Jones ◽  
Robert Burnett ◽  
Gregory D. Fink

This study tested whether brain L-PGDS (lipocalin-type prostaglandin [PG] D synthase), through prostanoid signaling, might increase neurogenic pressor activity and thereby cause hypertension. Sprague Dawley rats on high-salt diet received either vehicle or Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion. On day 4, the developmental stage of hypertension, brains from different sets of control and Ang II–treated rats were collected for measuring L-PGDS expression, PGD2 levels, and DP1R (type 1 PGD2 receptor) expression. In a different set of 14-day Ang II-salt–treated rats, mini-osmotic pumps were used to infuse either a nonselective COX (cyclooxygenase) inhibitor ketorolac, L-PGDS inhibitor AT56, or DP1R inhibitor BWA868C to test the role of brain COX-PGD2-DP1R signaling in Ang II-salt hypertension. The acute depressor response to ganglion blockade with hexamethonium was used to quantify neurogenic pressor activity. During the developmental stage of Ang II-salt hypertension, L-PGDS expression was higher in cerebrospinal fluid, and PGD2 levels were increased in the choroid plexus, cerebrospinal fluid, and the cardioregulatory brain region rostral ventrolateral medulla. DP1R expression was decreased in rostral ventrolateral medulla. Both brain COX inhibition with ketorolac and L-PGDS inhibition with AT56 lowered mean arterial pressure by altering neurogenic pressor activity compared with vehicle controls. Blockade of DP1R with BWA868C, however, increased the magnitude of Ang II-salt hypertension and significantly increased neurogenic pressor activity. In summary, we establish that the development of Ang II-salt hypertension requires increased COX- and L-PGDS–derived PGD2 production in the brain, making L-PGDS a possible target for treating neurogenic hypertension.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (3) ◽  
pp. F717-F721 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. Wiegmann ◽  
M. L. MacDougall ◽  
V. J. Savin

Glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) of glomeruli isolated from kidneys of normovolemic rats decreases following infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II). Kf from isolated glomeruli after ANG II infusion in vivo and from isolated perfused kidneys following infusion of ANG II in vitro was measured to determine whether the decrease required the presence of systemic factors. Filtration was induced in vitro and the maximum rate of change in glomerular volume was used to calculate Kf. Glomerular capillary hydraulic conductivity (Lp) was calculated from Lp = Kf/A where the basement membrane area A was calculated as 3 X pi X D2. ANG II infusion in vivo in rats diminished Lp from 3.19 +/- 0.19 to 1.96 +/- 0.13 and to 1.82 +/- 0.11 microliters.min-1.mmHg-1.cm-2, respectively. ANG II infusion into isolated kidneys caused a similar decrease in Lp (3.55 +/- 0.11 to 2.37 +/- 0.07). ANG II infusion either in vivo or during isolated kidney perfusion decreases Kf and Lp. ANG II effects do not require the presence of extrarenal factors but depend on perfusion in situ since incubation of isolated glomeruli with ANG II did not alter Kf.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 2262-2279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio R. Granata ◽  
Morton I. Cohen

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is thought to be the main central site for generation of tonic sympathetic activity. In the rat in vitro slice preparation, we used intracellular recordings to identify different populations of neurons in the RVLM: 43 spontaneously active neurons with regular (R) or irregular (I) patterns of spike firing and 10 silent neurons. The degree of regularity was quantified by the coefficient of variation (CV = SD/mean) of interspike interval durations, as well as by the rhythmic properties of the spike autospectrum and autocorrelation. The distribution of CVs was clustered: R and I neurons were defined as those with CVs ≤12% ( n = 21) or >12% ( n = 22), respectively. The R-type and I-type neurons resemble the type II and type I neurons, respectively, which were previously characterized in the RVLM in vivo as barosensitive and bulbospinal. Both types may be important in generation of sympathetic tone. Clonidine (1–100 μM) was applied to 10 R-type neurons and 16 I-type neurons. The firing of 21/26 was depressed to the point of silence. However, 18/26 neurons were excited earlier in the perfusion. The later depression of firing occurred in both I and R neurons and in different cases was associated with either hyperpolarization or depolarization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 789-796
Author(s):  
Moon Jain ◽  
Hina Iqbal ◽  
Pankaj Yadav ◽  
Himalaya Singh ◽  
Debabrata Chanda ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine the effects of lysosomal inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CHQ) onhypertension-associated changes in the endothelial functions. Method: Angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 and renovascularhypertensive rats were subjected to CHQ treatment (in vitro: 0.5, 1, and 2.5 μM; in vivo: 50 mg/kg/dayfor three weeks). Changes in the protein expressions of LC3b II (autophagosome formation marker) andp62 (autophagy flux marker) were assessed using immunoblotting. Cell migration assay, tubuleformation assay (in vitro), and organ bath studies (in vivo) were performed to evaluate the endothelialfunctions. Hemodynamic parameters were measured as well. Results: A higher expression of LC3b II and a reduced expression of p62 observed in the Ang II-treatedendothelial cells, as well as in the aorta of the hypertensive rats, indicated enhanced autophagy.Treatment with CHQ resulted in reduced autophagy flux (in vitro as well as in vivo) and suppressed AngII-induced endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis (in vitro). The treatment with CHQ was alsoobserved to prevent increase in blood pressure in hypertensive rats and preserved acetylcholineinducedrelaxation in phenylephrine-contracted aorta from the hypertensive rats. In addition, chloroquineattenuated Ang II-induced contractions in the aorta of normotensive as well as hypertensive rats. Conclusion: These observations indicated that CHQ lowers the blood pressure and preserves thevascular endothelial function during hypertension. Keywords: Angiotensin II, Autophagy, Chloroquine, Endothelial function, Hypertension, Vasculardysfunction


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (8) ◽  
pp. C541-C550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla P. Carneiro de Morais ◽  
Juliano Z. Polidoro ◽  
Donna L. Ralph ◽  
Thaissa D. Pessoa ◽  
Maria Oliveira-Souza ◽  
...  

Physiological concentrations of angiotensin II (ANG II) upregulate the activity of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) in the renal proximal tubule through activation of the ANG II type I (AT1) receptor/G protein-coupled signaling. This effect is key for maintenance of extracellular fluid volume homeostasis and blood pressure. Recent findings have shown that selective activation of the beta-arrestin-biased AT1 receptor signaling pathway induces diuresis and natriuresis independent of G protein-mediated signaling. This study tested the hypothesis that activation of this AT1 receptor/beta-arrestin signaling inhibits NHE3 activity in proximal tubule. To this end, we determined the effects of the compound TRV120023, which binds to the AT1R, blocks G-protein coupling, and stimulates beta-arrestin signaling on NHE3 function in vivo and in vitro. NHE3 activity was measured in both native proximal tubules, by stationary microperfusion, and in opossum proximal tubule (OKP) cells, by Na+-dependent intracellular pH recovery. We found that 10−7 M TRV120023 remarkably inhibited proximal tubule NHE3 activity both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, stimulation of NHE3 by ANG II was completely suppressed by TRV120023 both in vivo as well as in vitro. Inhibition of NHE3 activity by TRV120023 was associated with a decrease in NHE3 surface expression in OKP cells and with a redistribution from the body to the base of the microvilli in the rat proximal tubule. These findings indicate that biased signaling of the beta-arrestin pathway through the AT1 receptor inhibits NHE3 activity in the proximal tubule at least in part due to changes in NHE3 subcellular localization.


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