scholarly journals The Brain Renin-Angiotensin System and Mitochondrial Function: Influence on Blood Pressure and Baroreflex in Transgenic Rat Strains

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manisha Nautiyal ◽  
Amy C. Arnold ◽  
Mark C. Chappell ◽  
Debra I. Diz

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in many cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, and may be associated with an overactive renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensin (Ang) II, a potent vasoconstrictor hormone of the RAS, also impairs baroreflex and mitochondrial function. Most deleterious cardiovascular actions of Ang II are thought to be mediated by NADPH-oxidase- (NOX-) derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may also stimulate mitochondrial oxidant release and alter redox-sensitive signaling pathways in the brain. Within the RAS, the actions of Ang II are counterbalanced by Ang-(1–7), a vasodilatory peptide known to mitigate against increased oxidant stress. A balance between Ang II and Ang-(1–7) within the brain dorsal medulla contributes to maintenance of normal blood pressure and proper functioning of the arterial baroreceptor reflex for control of heart rate. We propose that Ang-(1–7) may negatively regulate the redox signaling pathways activated by Ang II to maintain normal blood pressure, baroreflex, and mitochondrial function through attenuating ROS (NOX-generated and/or mitochondrial).

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (3) ◽  
pp. R313-R320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curt D. Sigmund

The purpose of this review is two-fold. First, I will highlight recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms regulating angiotensin II (ANG II) synthesis in the brain, focusing on evidence that renin is expressed in the brain and is expressed in two forms: a secreted form, which may catalyze extracellular ANG I generation from glial or neuronal angiotensinogen (AGT), and an intracellular form, which may generate intracellular ANG in neurons that may act as a neurotransmitter. Second, I will discuss recent studies that advance the concept that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the brain not only is a potent regulator of blood pressure and fluid intake but may also regulate metabolism. The efferent pathways regulating the blood pressure/dipsogenic effects and the metabolic effects of elevated central RAS activity appear different, with the former being dependent upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the latter being dependent upon an interaction between the brain and the systemic (or adipose) RAS.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. H543-H553
Author(s):  
R. D. Randall ◽  
B. G. Zimmerman

Rabbits were bilaterally nephrectomized for 24 h or received an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor chronically (5 days) before an acute experiment. Conductance responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS) (0.25, 0.75, and 2.25 Hz) and norepinephrine (NE) administration (0.2, 0.6, and 1.8 micrograms ia) were determined from simultaneous blood pressure and iliac blood flow measurements. Conductance responses to SNS were significantly reduced in nephrectomized (44, 26, and 20%) and chronic ACE inhibition (39, 31, and 24%) groups compared with normal controls, whereas conductance responses to NE were unchanged. Continuous infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) for 24 h restored the depressed responses to SNS in nephrectomized and chronic ACE inhibition groups compared with normal controls but did not change conductance responses to NE. Acute ACE inhibition did not affect the conductance responses to SNS or NE compared with controls. Vascular tissue ACE activity was inhibited to a similar degree (50%) in both acute and chronic ACE inhibition groups compared with normal rabbits. Sodium depletion increased the conductance responses to SNS (30 and 24% at 0.25 and 0.75 Hz, respectively), but responses to NE were not affected. Chronic ACE inhibition significantly attenuated the conductance responses to SNS and slightly decreased responses to NE in sodium-depleted rabbits. Thus, in the anesthetized rabbit, the renin-angiotensin system potentiates the effect of SNS, presumably by ANG II acting at a prejunctional site, and this effect of ANG II appears to be long term in nature. Therefore, the renin-angiotensin system exerts a physiological role in the control of blood pressure in addition to the ability of this system to support arterial pressure in pathophysiological states.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. H770-H778 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Dorward ◽  
C. D. Rudd

The role of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and heart rate (HR) was studied in conscious rabbits. RSNA and HR were recorded during slow ramp changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) before and after intraventricular infusion of 1) angiotensin II (ANG II), 2) ANG II receptor antagonist, [Sar1,Ile8]ANG II, or 3) converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI, enalaprilat). Central ANG II increased resting MAP and RSNA by 10.6 +/- 0.9 mmHg and 21 +/- 7%, respectively, but did not alter HR. There was a marked increase of 107 +/- 15% in the maximum RSNA evoked by slowly lowering MAP. In contrast, maximum reflex tachycardia was only modestly elevated, and baroreflex inhibition of RSNA and HR during MAP rises was unaffected. Central [Sar1,Ile8]ANG II had no effect on RSNA or HR, either at rest or during baroreflex responses, while CEI slightly enhanced maximal reflex responses. Thus exogenous ANG II causes a powerful excitation of renal sympathetic motoneurons, the magnitude of which is revealed when tonic baroreceptor inhibition is removed during transient pressure falls. However, in quietly resting conscious rabbits, we found no evidence for a tonic influence of endogenous ANG II on these neurons, and the physiological stimuli required for their activation by the brain RAS remain to be found.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maki Urushihara ◽  
Yukiko Kinoshita ◽  
Shuji Kondo ◽  
Shoji Kagami

The intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has several pathophysiologic functions not only in blood pressure regulation but also in the development of glomerulonephritis (GN). Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the biologically active product of the RAS. Locally produced Ang II induces inflammation, renal cell growth, mitogenesis, apoptosis, migration, and differentiation, regulates the gene expression of bioactive substances, and activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways, leading to tissue damage. Activation of the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor pathway results in the production of proinflammatory mediators, cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix synthesis, which facilitates glomerular injury. Previous studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or AT1 receptor blockers have beneficial effects in experimental GN models and humans with various types of GN, and that these effects are more significant than their suppressive effects on blood pressure. In this paper, we focus on intrarenal RAS activation in the pathophysiology of experimental models of GN.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (5) ◽  
pp. R444-R458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette D. de Kloet ◽  
Meng Liu ◽  
Vermalí Rodríguez ◽  
Eric G. Krause ◽  
Colin Sumners

Despite tremendous research efforts, hypertension remains an epidemic health concern, leading often to the development of cardiovascular disease. It is well established that in many instances, the brain plays an important role in the onset and progression of hypertension via activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Further, the activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and of glial cell-mediated proinflammatory processes have independently been linked to this neural control and are, as a consequence, both attractive targets for the development of antihypertensive therapeutics. Although it is clear that the predominant effector peptide of the RAS, ANG II, activates its type-1 receptor on neurons to mediate some of its hypertensive actions, additional nuances of this brain RAS control of blood pressure are constantly being uncovered. One of these complexities is that the RAS is now thought to impact cardiovascular control, in part, via facilitating a glial cell-dependent proinflammatory milieu within cardiovascular control centers. Another complexity is that the newly characterized antihypertensive limbs of the RAS are now recognized to, in many cases, antagonize the prohypertensive ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated effects. That being said, the mechanism by which the RAS, glia, and neurons interact to regulate blood pressure is an active area of ongoing research. Here, we review the current understanding of these interactions and present a hypothetical model of how these exchanges may ultimately regulate cardiovascular function.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (S1) ◽  
pp. 343-346
Author(s):  
M. V. Varoni ◽  
D. Palomba ◽  
M. P. Demontis ◽  
S. Gianorso ◽  
G. L. Pais ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. F839-F845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Monica Bivol ◽  
Rolf Kristian Berge ◽  
Bjarne Magnus Iversen

The tetradecythioacetic acid (TTA) is a modified fatty acid known to exhibit pleiotropic effects. First, we compared the effect of TTA on the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C)-hypertensive rats. Second, we examined mechanisms involved in the blood pressure reduction. TTA had minor effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in young SHR up to 8 wk of age. In 2K1C we confirmed the blood pressure-lowering effect of TTA (SBP: 173 ± 4 before vs. 138 ± 3 mmHg after TTA, P < 0.001). No effect on SBP was seen in Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) controls. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was low in SHR and WKY controls and TTA did not change it. PRA decreased from 22.9 ± 1.3 to 16.2 ± 2.2 ng·ml−1·h−1 ( P = 0.02) in 2K1C. Plasma ANG II concentration declined from 101 ± 3 to 81 ± 5 fmol/l after TTA treatment ( P = 0.005). In the clipped kidney, tissue ANG I concentration decreased from 933 ± 68 to 518 ± 60 fmol/g tissue ( P = 0.001), and ANG II decreased from 527 ± 38 to 149 ± 21 fmol/g tissue ( P < 0.001) after TTA treatment. In the nonclipped kidney, TTA did not change ANG I and moderately reduced ANG II levels. The renal blood flow response to injection of ANG II into the nonclipped kidney was blunted compared with controls and normalized with TTA treatment (10 ± 2 before vs. 20 ± 2%, P < 0.001). The results indicate that TTA downregulates the renin-angiotensin system in high renin animals but has no effect in low renin models.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document