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Angiotensin II upregulates hypothalamic AT1 receptor expression in rats via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Angiotensin II upregulates hypothalamic AT1 receptor expression in rats via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

Shun-Guang Wei, Yang Yu, Zhi-Hua Zhang and Robert B Felder
American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, Vol.296(5), pp.H1425-H1433
05/2009
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00942.2008
PMCID: PMC2685358
PMID: 19286949
url
https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00942.2008View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

ANG II type 1 receptors (AT 1 R) mediate most of the central effects of ANG II on cardiovascular function, fluid homeostasis, and sympathetic drive. The mechanisms regulating AT 1 R expression in the brain are unknown. In some tissues, the AT 1 R can be upregulated by prolonged exposure to ANG II. We examined the hypothesis that ANG II upregulates the AT 1 R in the brain by stimulating the intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Using molecular and immunochemical approaches, we examined expression of the AT 1 R and phosphorylated MAPK in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the subfornical organ (SFO) of rats receiving a chronic (4-wk) subcutaneous infusion of ANG II (0.6 μg/h) or saline (vehicle control), with or without concomitant (4-wk) intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of MAPK inhibitors or the AT 1 R blocker losartan. Subcutaneous infusion of ANG II markedly increased phosphorylation of MAPK and expression of AT 1 R mRNA and protein and AT 1 R-like immunoreactivity in the PVN and SFO. ANG II-induced AT 1 R expression was blocked by ICV infusion of the p44/42 MAPK inhibitor PD-98059 (0.025 μg/h) and the JNK inhibitor SP-600125 (0.125 μg/h), but not by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 (0.125 μg/h). Upregulation of the AT 1 R in the PVN and SFO by peripheral ANG II was abolished by ICV losartan (10 μg/h). The data indicate that blood-borne ANG II upregulates brain AT 1 R by activating intracellular p44/42 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.
angiotensin II type 1 receptor autonomic regulation subfornical organ paraventricular nucleus

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