AJP - Regu Journal of Neurophysiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280: R428-R433, 2001;
0363-6119/01 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (15)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Baltatu, O.
Right arrow Articles by Bader, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Baltatu, O.
Right arrow Articles by Bader, M.
Vol. 280, Issue 2, R428-R433, February 2001

Alterations of the renin-angiotensin system at the RVLM of transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen

Ovidiu Baltatu1, Marco A. P. Fontes2, Maria J. Campagnole-Santos2, Sordaine Caligiorni2, Detlev Ganten1, Robson A. S. Santos2, and Michael Bader1

1 Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, D-13092 Berlin-Buch, Germany; and 2 Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31 270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The transgenic rats TGR(ASrAOGEN) (TGR) with low levels of brain angiotensinogen were analyzed for cardiovascular reactivity to microinjections of ANG II and angiotensin receptor (AT1) antagonists [CV-11974, AT1 specific; A-779, ANG-(1-7) selective; sarthran, nonspecific] into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of conscious rats. Microinjection of ANG II resulted in a significantly higher increase in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of TGR than control [Sprague-Dawley (SD)] rats, suggesting an upregulation of ANG II receptors in TGR. CV-11974 produced an increase in MAP of SD but not in TGR rats. A-779 produced a depressor response in SD but not in TGR rats. Conversely, sarthran produced a similar decrease of MAP in both rat groups. The pressor effect of the AT1 antagonist may indicate an inhibitory role of AT1 receptors in the RVLM. On the other hand, ANG-(1-7) appears to have a tonic excitatory role in this region. The altered response to specific angiotensin antagonists in TGR further supports the functionally relevant decrease in angiotensins in the brains of TGR and corroborates the importance of the central renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular homeostasis.

brain renin-angiotensin system; rostral ventrolateral medulla; blood pressure


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the central nervous system is generally acknowledged (4, 10). Although different approaches indicate multiple roles for the brain RAS, its relative significance in the proposed processes remains of interest (27). A variety of studies has focused on distinguishing the contribution of the brain RAS to the regulation of cardiovascular and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis, as classically described functions of the endocrine RAS. Brain ANG II increases blood pressure, thirst, sodium appetite, and vasopressin release; and it causes sympathetic activation and modulates the baroreflex control. These functions are mediated by interactions of ANG II with specific receptors located at important brain sites involved in cardiovascular and fluid-electrolyte regulation (5). In the past few years, it has become evident that other biologically active angiotensin peptides, including ANG-(1-7), are capable of influencing mean arterial pressure (MAP) and baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) acting centrally (8, 11).

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) represents the main relay for the sympathetic output and contains angiotensin receptors (12). Considered an important component of the neural circuitry regulating cardiovascular homeostasis by modulating vasomotor tone, the RVLM is situated inside the blood-brain barrier and thus receives solely locally produced angiotensins (26). The relative role of angiotensin peptides in this region for central control of blood pressure is still unclear. Microinjection of the nonspecific angiotensin antagonist sarthran into the RVLM of anesthetized animals produced a significant fall in blood pressure (2, 17, 19), suggesting an excitatory role for ANG II in this region. However, microinjection of losartan or other angiotensin receptor (AT1) antagonists into the RVLM did not change blood pressure in anesthetized animals (14, 18) and produced a pressor response in freely moving rats (13). On the other hand, microinjection of the ANG-(1-7) antagonist A-779 (29) produced significant decreases in MAP in anesthetized (14) or awake (13) rats. To further clarify the role of angiotensin peptides at the RVLM, we aimed in the present study to test the cardiovascular responsiveness to angiotensin receptor stimulation or blockade at the RVLM of conscious transgenic rats with low brain AOGEN, TGR(ASrAOGEN) (TGR). TGR rats exhibit up to 90% reduced angiotensinogen levels throughout the brain, hypotension, low plasma vasopressin levels, and decreased hypertensive response to peripheral infusion of slow-pressor doses of ANG II (6, 30).


    METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Animals. Adult male TGR and Sprague-Dawley (SD) Hannover rats, weighing 400 to 450 g, were obtained from the animal breeding unit of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine. The rats were housed under a 12:12-h light-dark schedule (lights on at 0600) at 24 ± 2°C and given free access to a standard rat diet and tap water. All the experiments have been approved by the local authorities.

Surgical procedures. The detailed procedure of RVLM microinjections of conscious rats was described previously (13). To orient the microinjection needles, guide cannulas were fixed into the interparietal bone under chloral hydrate anesthesia (300 mg/kg ip). The rats, placed in a stereotaxic apparatus (Stoelting), were implanted with stainless steel cannulas (22 gauge) at an angle of 18-20° from the vertical plane, at 2 mm caudal from the lambdoid suture and 1.8 mm lateral to the midline. The cannulas, penetrating the interparietal bone with the tip placed just above the dura mater, were fixed with dental cement and jeweler's screws. To avoid the blockade of the cannulas, a stainless steel trocar was placed into the cannulas. To protect the cannulas from mechanical dislocation, a polyethylene shield fixed with the dental cement was surrounding the cannulas. Four days of recovery were allowed between the stereotaxic implant and the experimental procedure. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours before the experiment, polyethylene catheters (PE-50; filled with 10 IU/ml heparinized saline) were inserted into the femoral artery and exteriorized in the interscapular area.

RVLM microinjections in conscious rats. For the measurements of MAP and HR, the catheter was connected to a standard blood pressure transducer (model 101021-2, TSE, Bad Hamburg, Germany), which was connected to a data acquisition and analysis system. For microinjections, a 30-gauge needle was inserted into the RVLM through the guide cannula. At least 15 min were allowed between the placement of the needle and the microinjection. The microinjected volume was 200 nl using a Hamilton syringe connected to the needle via a PE-10 polyethylene catheter. All the experiments were performed in the afternoon when rats are in minimal activity period. The moment of microinjection was carefully chosen when the rat was in repose, with blood pressure and HR stable and in normal range. The data obtained from rats with respiratory or locomotor problems were discarded. The experimental procedures had a rate of success of ~85%.

After each experimental protocol, the rats were killed with an overdose of chloral hydrate. Then, the RVLM site of injection was verified postmortem macro- and microscopically by microinjection of Alcian blue dye (2%) (15).

Pharmacological agents. All drugs were dissolved in sterile isotonic saline (NaCl 0.9%). ANG II, A-779, and Sar1-Thr8-ANG II (sarthran) were from Bachem, and CV-11974 was from Takeda (Osaka, Japan). The 25-pmol dose of ANG II used for the microinjections had been shown to produce a substantial effect on MAP when injected at the RVLM (24). The chosen dose of CV-11974 (0.2 nmol) was shown to not interact with other receptors, such as imidazoline/guanidinium receptive sites, and have no peripheral effects (20, 22). The doses of sarthran (1 nmol) and A-779 (0.2 nmol) were shown to be effective when administered locally in the brain (13, 21).

Statistical analysis. Data were extracted with the TSE Data Acquisition Software Package and analyzed with SPSS 8.0 Software. Data were analyzed for homogeneity of variance within groups of study, and independent samples t-test was used to test differences between TGR and SD rats with significance set at <0.05. Values are means ± SE.


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The baseline levels of MAP and HR before microinjections were not significantly different between TGR and SD rats (Table 1), although there was a trend of lower MAP in TGR. The lack of a statistical difference in MAP between TGR and SD rats in this study further substantiates the importance of chronic measurements to state the MAP values for a rat strain (6, 30). Interestingly, at the moment the microinjection needle was placed into the RVLM, a transient increase in MAP was observed (Fig. 1). In fact, when this transient increase in blood pressure was not observed, the Alcian blue staining at the end of the protocol showed that the needle was outside the RVLM area.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1.   Baseline levels of MAP and HR before the microinjections of drugs into the RVLM of TGR and SD rats



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 1.   Mean arterial pressure (MAP) response after ANG II (A) and CV-11974 [specific angiotensin receptor (AT1) antagonist] (B) microinjections into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of conscious Sprague-Dawley (SD) and TGR(ASrAOGEN) (TGR) rats. Microinjections of ANG II (25 pmol/200 nl) produced a significant increase in MAP in both SD and TGR rats. Microinjections of CV-11974 (0.2 nmol/200 nl) produced an increase in MAP in SD rats, whereas in TGR the increase in MAP did not differ from saline injections. When the microinjection needle was placed into the RVLM, a transient increase in MAP was observed. The time of the needle placement and microinjection is indicated by up-arrow .

Unilateral microinjections of ANG II (25 pmol/200 nl) into the RVLM of conscious rats produced a marked increase in MAP, and this increase was significantly higher in TGR than in SD rats (Fig. 2). The increase in MAP lasted for 10.0 ± 1.9 min for TGR and 5.0 ± 1.6 min for SD rats (P < 0.05). No significant differences in the baseline levels of HR were observed between the rat strains (Table 1). ANG II microinjection induced a consistent decrease in HR only in TGR rats (Table 2).


View larger version (8K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 2.   Change in MAP produced by RVLM microinjection of ANG II (solid bars) in freely moving rats. The increase in arterial pressure after ANG II microinjection into the RVLM was significantly higher in TGR compared with SD rats. Bars represent means ± SE; *P < 0.05 compared with the microinjections in SD rats. The effects of ANG II microinjections were significantly different from saline (open bars) microinjections.


                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2.   Alteration of HR produced by the microinjections of drugs into the RVLM of TGR and SD rats

Microinjections of the highly specific AT1 antagonist CV-11974 (0.2 nmol/200 nl) produced an increase in MAP in SD rats. However, in TGR, the CV-11974 effect did not differ from that of vehicle (Fig. 3). The increase in MAP also lasted significantly less time in TGR than in SD rats (1 ± 0.6 vs. 5 ± 0.9 min, respectively, P < 0.05). After the CV-11974 microinjection, no significant changes in HR were observed in TGR or SD rats (Table 2).


View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 3.   Change in MAP produced by RVLM microinjections of angiotensin antagonists in conscious rats. The following antagonists were microinjected into the RVLM of conscious rats: CV-11974 [CV; 0.2 nmol/200 nl; AT1 specific; hatched bars], D-Ala7- Ang-(1-7) [A-779; 0.2 nmol/200 nl; ANG-(1-7) selective; crosshatched bars], and Sar1-Thr8-AngII [sarthran; 1 nmol/200 nl; nonspecific; solid bars]. CV produced an increase in MAP, which was significantly higher in SD rather than TGR rats. A-779 produced a significant decrease in MAP in SD rats, in contrast to the increase observed in TGR rats. Sarthran produced a similar fall in MAP in both SD and TGR rats. Bars represent means ± SE; *P < 0.05 compared with the microinjection of the respective antagonist in SD rats. The effects of the various antagonists were significantly different from that of vehicle alone (open bars), except the effect of CV in TGR.

As observed for CV-11974, the effect of A-779 was significantly changed in TGR rats. Contrasting with a significant decrease in MAP observed in SD rats, microinjection of the ANG-(1-7) antagonist in TGR rats produced an increase in MAP comparable to the microinjection of vehicle (Fig. 3). There were no statistical alterations in HR after microinjection of A-779 (Table 2).

Differing from the data obtained with the selective antagonists, microinjection of the nonspecific ANG II antagonist sarthran (1 nmol/200 nl) led to a fall in MAP in TGR and SD rats, which was similar in extent (Fig. 3) and duration (11 ± 3 min in TGR and 7 ± 1.7 min in SD rats; P > 0.05). The HR changes after sarthran microinjections were not different in TGR compared with SD rats (Table 2).

Saline microinjection, used to control the specificity of the effects of the drugs, produced only slight and transient changes in MAP and HR (Fig. 2, Table 2).


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Microinjections of ANG II into the RVLM of conscious rats produced a considerable increase in MAP in both TGR and SD rats. These data confirm and extend the conclusions of previous studies that ANG II elicits a pressor response when applied to the RVLM of both anesthetized (2, 16, 28) and conscious animals (13). Moreover, it was suggested that increased activity of the RAS at the RVLM contributes to the hypertension of spontaneously hypertensive rats (25, 33). In TGR, an animal with reduced AOGEN concentration in the brain, we observed a significantly higher reactivity of the RVLM to ANG II when the blood pressure effects were measured. Importantly, these results indicate that a permanent reduction of AOGEN in the brain can lead to an overreactivity of ANG II receptors to exogenous ANG II. The RVLM contains a high density of binding sites of the AT1 receptor subtype (16). Accordingly, we have observed increased levels of AT1 receptors in several brain regions of TGR by radioligand-binding studies (23). These observations together with the exaggerated blood pressure effect of ANG II microinjected into the RVLM can indicate that the concentration of the available ANG II may be an important factor whether ligand binding occurs at inhibitory or stimulatory neurons.

The high levels of AT1 receptors at the RVLM suggest that endogenously produced angiotensins act in this region to modulate blood pressure. To test the function of locally generated ANG II in the RVLM, we blocked its effects by the highly specific AT1 antagonist CV-11974. Interestingly, the AT1-specific antagonist produced a clear increase in MAP in SD rats, which is apparently a contradiction to the same effect of the agonist ANG II. On the other hand, the increase in blood pressure observed in TGR rats did not differ from that observed with vehicle microinjection. The absence of effect of CV-11974 in TGR indicates that the pressor response observed in SD rats is dependent on a normal angiotensinergic activity in this region. The clear effect of the AT1 antagonist on blood pressure in conscious rats, which could not be observed in the anesthetized situation (14, 18), can be first explained by the fact that in our experiments we avoided the possibility of anesthesia-induced alterations of the response (3, 13, 31). In fact, in agreement with recently published reports (7, 13, 18), the data suggest an inhibitory role of endogenous angiotensins acting on AT1 receptors at the RVLM, at least in basal conditions. In support of a differential role of endogenous angiotensins in normal and pathophysiological situations are our recent experiments on the hypertensive rats TGR(mREN2)27 with overactive brain RAS. Opposite to the present results, unilateral microinjections of CV-11974 in this hypertensive model produced a decrease in MAP (15). On the basis of the pressor effect of exogenous ANG II at the RVLM and our data in TGR(mREN2)27 rat, it is reasonable to hypothesize that in normal conditions endogenous angiotensins have access to AT1 receptors present in inhibitory neurons, whereas the increased levels in pathophysiological situations would operate on additional excitatory neuronal mechanisms and/or pathways, normally not accessible by low levels of angiotensins. One might also argue that the contralateral RVLM is activated when the AT1 antagonist is microinjected unilaterally in conscious rats. This less than likely possibility needs to be tested by bilateral microinjections into the RVLM, although technically this experiment is very demanding.

It has been observed in Wistar rats (13) that microinjection of ANG-(1-7) produced a significant increase in MAP. More importantly, as also observed in the present study, microinjection of its putative specific antagonist decreased blood pressure, suggesting an excitatory role for this heptapeptide at the RVLM. In keeping with this hypothesis, the depressor effect of A-779 was completely abolished in TGR rats. Also meaningfully, the altered A-779 effect in the TGR rats indicates an inadequacy in ANG-(1-7) production.

Most of the data available in the literature about the role of ANG II at the RVLM was obtained with nonspecific angiotensin antagonists. Thus we aimed to compare the effects of the specific AT1 antagonist with the nonspecific angiotensin antagonist sarthran. Unilateral microinjections of sarthran into the RVLM of conscious rats produced a decrease in MAP in both SD and TGR rats. Unexpectedly, the magnitude of this decrease was not significantly different between strains. This observation has important implications because several studies have suggested physiological roles for endogenous ANG II at the RVLM and other brain regions based on the results obtained with sarthran or sarthran-related peptides (13, 19, 25). Our data also raise the possibility that sarthran can bind to a nonangiotensin receptor-binding site blocking the action of a nonangiotensin peptide with a tonic excitatory role at the RVLM. Although apparently controversial, the results obtained from both the specific AT1 antagonist and the nonspecific angiotensin antagonist further stress the necessity to solve the pending question on the relative contribution of different angiotensin species acting on specific receptors in various pathophysiological situations (9).

In summary, this study shows that a permanent reduction of brain AOGEN leads to an upregulation of ANG II receptors causing an enhanced response to exogenous ANG II at the level of the RVLM. The altered blood pressure response at both the AT1 or ANG-(1-7) antagonist in TGR compared with SD rats further supports the functionally relevant decrease in angiotensins in the brains of TGR and corroborates the importance of the central RAS in cardiovascular homeostasis. The unilateral microinjections of the specific AT1 antagonist, but not the nonspecific antagonist sarthran, in the RVLM of conscious SD rats also increased blood pressure, suggesting an inhibitory role of endogenous ANG II acting on AT1 receptors. Moreover, an excitatory role for endogenous ANG-(1-7) at the RVLM is suggested.

Perspectives

After the pioneering studies of Andreatta et al. (2) and Allen et al. (1), experimental evidences provided by several groups have contributed to establish the RVLM as an important site for the action of the RAS in the brain (9, 13, 16, 18, 19, 24, 28). Most of the experimental data showing an excitatory role for the RAS at the RVLM was obtained using angiotensin peptides or nonselective angiotensin antagonists. More recent studies performed with selective antagonists indicate that the influence of the RAS at the RVLM is far more complex than formerly suspected (13, 15, 18, 25). Our previous studies in freely moving rats suggested that in basal conditions, ANG II would primarily have an inhibitory action at the RVLM, whereas ANG-(1-7) would act as an excitatory peptide at this site (13, 14). Our current work adds further support to this hypothesis by indicating that the pressor effect of an AT1 antagonist or the depressor effect of the ANG-(1-7) antagonist A-779 at the RVLM of freely moving rats is dependent on an operating local RAS. Further studies should address the question where and how within the RVLM neuronal network ANG II conveys its inhibitory role in basal conditions. A similar question should be addressed for the excitatory role of ANG-(1-7) at this site. On the other hand, we (15) and others (32) have shown that endogenous ANG II can also have an excitatory role at the RVLM when the local RAS is activated. Studies directed to elucidate the dual influence of ANG II at the RVLM are warranted for determining more precisely the physiological and pathophysiological role of the RAS at the RVLM.

The observation that the nonselective angiotensin antagonist Sar1-Thr8-ANG II (sarthran) produced similar falls in blood pressure in TGR and SD rats introduces concerns regarding conclusions about the role of the RAS in the brain and possibly other sites based on the effects produced by nonselective angiotensin antagonists. On the other hand, studies using Sar1-Thr8-ANG II or other nonselective angiotensin antagonists can lead to identification of a new and important nonangiotensinergic modulator of the sympathetic activity at the RVLM.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

These studies were supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant No. BA-1374/5-1), Financiadora de Estudos e Projectos-Programa de Apoio aos Grupos de Excelência and a PROBRAL grant from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. Ovidiu Baltatu was supported, in part, by the Association Clinical Pharmacology Berlin-Brandenburg.


    FOOTNOTES

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: O. Baltatu, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert Rössle Str. 10, Berlin-Buch, D-13092, Germany (E-mail: baltatu{at}mdc-berlin.de).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 21 June 2000; accepted in final form 3 October 2000.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

1.   Allen, AM, Dampney RA, and Mendelsohn FA. Angiotensin receptor binding and pressor effects in cat subretrofacial nucleus. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 255: H1011-H1017, 1988[Abstract/Free Full Text].

2.   Andreatta, SH, Averill DB, Santos RA, and Ferrario CM. The ventrolateral medulla. A new site of action of the renin-angiotensin system. Hypertension 11: I163-I166, 1988.

3.   Bachelard, H, Gardiner SM, and Bennett T. Cardiovascular responses elicited by chemical stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla in conscious, unrestrained rats. J Auton Nerv Syst 31: 185-190, 1990[Web of Science][Medline].

4.   Baltatu, O, Bader M, and Ganten D. Brain and renin-angiotensin system. In: 100 Years of Renin-Angiotensin System, edited by Nicholls MG, Ikram H, Brunner H, Walker F, and Sweet C.. Oxford, UK: Hughes, 1998, p. 167-170.

5.   Baltatu, O, Bader M, and Ganten D. Angiotensin. In: Encyclopedia of Stress, edited by Fink G.. New York: Academic, 2000, p. 195-199.

6.   Baltatu, O, Silva JA, Jr, Ganten D, and Bader M. The brain renin-angiotensin system modulates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertension 35: 409-412, 2000[Abstract/Free Full Text].

7.   Bendle, RD, Malpas SC, and Head GA. Role of endogenous angiotensin II on sympathetic reflexes in conscious rabbits. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 272: R1816-R1825, 1997[Abstract/Free Full Text].

8.   Britto, RR, Santos RA, Fagundes MC, Khosla MC, and Campagnole SM. Role of angiotensin-(1-7) in the modulation of the baroreflex in renovascular hypertensive rats. Hypertension 30: 549-556, 1997[Abstract/Free Full Text].

9.   Dampney, RA, Hirooka Y, Potts PD, and Head GA. Functions of angiotensin peptides in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol Suppl 3: S105-S111, 1996[Medline].

10.   Ferguson, AV, and Washburn DL. Angiotensin II: a peptidergic neurotransmitter in central autonomic pathways. Prog Neurobiol 54: 169-192, 1998[Web of Science][Medline].

11.   Ferrario, CM, and Iyer SN. Angiotensin-(1-7): a bioactive fragment of the renin-angiotensin system. Regul Pept 78: 13-18, 1998[Web of Science][Medline].

12.   Fink, GD. Long-term sympatho-excitatory effect of angiotensin II: a mechanism of spontaneous and renovascular hypertension. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 24: 91-95, 1997[Web of Science][Medline].

13.   Fontes, MA, Pinge MC, Naves V, Campagnole Santos MJ, Lopes OU, Khosla MC, and Santos RA. Cardiovascular effects produced by microinjection of angiotensins and angiotensin antagonists into the ventrolateral medulla of freely moving rats. Brain Res 750: 305-310, 1997[Web of Science][Medline].

14.   Fontes, MA, Silva LC, Campagnole Santos MJ, Khosla MC, Guertzenstein PG, and Santos RA. Evidence that angiotensin-(1-7) plays a role in the central control of blood pressure at the ventro-lateral medulla acting through specific receptors. Brain Res 665: 175-180, 1994[Web of Science][Medline].

15.   Fontes, MAP, Baltatu O, Bader M, Ganten D, Campagnole-Santos MJ, and Santos RAS Angiotensin peptides acting at the rostral ventrolateral medulla contribute to the hypertension of TGR(mREN2)27 transgenic rats. Physiol Genomics 2: 137-142, 2000[Abstract/Free Full Text].

16.   Head, GA. Role of AT1 receptors in the central control of sympathetic vasomotor function. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol Suppl 3: S93-S98, 1996[Medline].

17.   Hirooka, Y, and Dampney RA. Endogenous angiotensin within the rostral ventrolateral medulla facilitates the somatosympathetic reflex. J Hypertens 13: 747-754, 1995[Web of Science][Medline].

18.   Hirooka, Y, Potts PD, and Dampney RA. Role of angiotensin II receptor subtypes in mediating the sympathoexcitatory effects of exogenous and endogenous angiotensin peptides in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rabbit. Brain Res 772: 107-114, 1997[Web of Science][Medline].

19.   Ito, S, and Sved AF. Blockade of angiotensin receptors in rat rostral ventrolateral medulla removes excitatory vasomotor tone. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 270: R1317-R1323, 1996[Abstract/Free Full Text].

20.   Kamitani, A, Higashimori K, Kohara K, Higaki J, Mikami H, and Ogihara T. The effects of central administration of angiotensin II type-1 receptor antagonist, CV-11974, in nephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 21: 271-276, 1994[Web of Science][Medline].

21.   Lark, LA, Wappel SM, and Weyhenmeyer JA. Cardiovascular effects after the intracerebroventricular administration of peptide and nonpeptide angiotensin antagonists in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 274: 745-751, 1995[Abstract/Free Full Text].

22.   Li, Z, Bosch SM, Smith TL, and Diz DI. Interactions of nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists at imidazoline/guanidinium receptor sites in rat forebrain. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 28: 425-431, 1996[Web of Science][Medline].

23.   Monti, J, Schinke M, Böhm M, Ganten D, Bader M, and Bricca G. Glial angiotensinogen regulates brain angiotensin II receptors in transgenic rats TGR(ASrAOGEN). Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 279: R233-R240, 2001.

24.   Muratani, H, Averill DB, and Ferrario CM. Effect of angiotensin II in ventrolateral medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 260: R977-R984, 1991[Abstract/Free Full Text].

25.   Muratani, H, Ferrario CM, and Averill DB. Ventrolateral medulla in spontaneously hypertensive rats: role of angiotensin II. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 264: R388-R395, 1993[Abstract/Free Full Text].

26.   Muratani, H, Teruya H, Sesoko S, Takishita S, and Fukiyama K. Brain angiotensin and circulatory control. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 23: 458-464, 1996[Web of Science][Medline].

27.   Saavedra, JM. Emerging features of brain angiotensin receptors. Regul Pept 85: 31-45, 1999[Web of Science][Medline].

28.   Saigusa, T, Iriki M, and Arita J. Brain angiotensin II tonically modulates sympathetic baroreflex in rabbit ventrolateral medulla. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 271: H1015-H1021, 1996[Abstract/Free Full Text].

29.   Santos, RA, Campagnole-Santos MJ, Baracho NC, Fontes MA, Silva LC, Neves LA, Oliveira DR, Caligiorne SM, Rodrigues AR, Gropen Junior C, Carvalho WS, Simoes e Silva AC, and Khosla MC. Characterization of a new angiotensin antagonist selective for angiotensin-(1-7): evidence that the actions of angiotensin-(1-7) are mediated by specific angiotensin receptors. Brain Res Bull 35: 293-298, 1994[Web of Science][Medline].

30.   Schinke, M, Baltatu O, Böhm M, Peters J, Rascher W, Bricca G, Lippoldt A, Ganten D, and Bader M. Blood pressure reduction and diabetes insipidus in transgenic rats deficient in brain angiotensinogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96: 3975-3980, 1999[Abstract/Free Full Text].

31.   Sun, MK, and Reis DJ. Urethane directly inhibits chemoreflex excitation of medullary vasomotor neurons in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 293: 237-243, 1995[Web of Science][Medline].

32.   Tagawa, T, Fontes MA, Potts PD, Allen AM, and Dampney RA. The physiological role of AT1 receptors in the ventrolateral medulla. Braz J Med Biol Res 33: 643-652, 2000[Web of Science][Medline].

33.   Zhu, DN, Moriguchi A, Mikami H, Higaki J, and Ogihara T. Central amino acids mediate cardiovascular response to angiotensin II in the rat. Brain Res Bull 45: 189-197, 1998[Web of Science][Medline].


Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280(2):R428-R433
0363-6119/01 $5.00 Copyright © 2001 the American Physiological Society



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
A. Sakima, D. B. Averill, S. O. Kasper, L. Jackson, D. Ganten, C. M. Ferrario, P. E. Gallagher, and D. I. Diz
Baroreceptor reflex regulation in anesthetized transgenic rats with low glia-derived angiotensinogen
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2007; 292(3): H1412 - H1419.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
L. A. Campos, R. Iliescu, M. A. P. Fontes, W.-P. Schlegel, M. Bader, and O. C. Baltatu
Enhanced isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2006; 291(5): H2371 - H2376.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
A. C. Alzamora, R. A. S. Santos, and M. J. Campagnole-Santos
Baroreflex modulation by angiotensins at the rat rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2006; 290(4): R1027 - R1034.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
L. A. Campos, R. Plehm, J. Cipolla-Neto, M. Bader, and O. C. Baltatu
Altered circadian rhythm reentrainment to light phase shifts in rats with low levels of brain angiotensinogen
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2006; 290(4): R1122 - R1127.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
R. L. Davisson
Physiological genomic analysis of the brain renin-angiotensin system
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2003; 285(3): R498 - R511.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
O. Skott
Renin
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2002; 282(4): R937 - R939.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
S. Morimoto, M. D. Cassell, T. G. Beltz, A. K. Johnson, R. L. Davisson, and C. D. Sigmund
Elevated Blood Pressure in Transgenic Mice With Brain-Specific Expression of Human Angiotensinogen Driven by the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Promoter
Circ. Res., August 17, 2001; 89(4): 365 - 372.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (15)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Baltatu, O.
Right arrow Articles by Bader, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Baltatu, O.
Right arrow Articles by Bader, M.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online