RESUMEN
Aim: To investigate the effects of gender differences and estrogen levels on ACE, -Ang II -ATR axis in the aorta tissue of renovascular hypertension (RVH) rats. Methods: Forty-five rats were made two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) model of renovascular hypertension and divided into three groups: female two kidney one clip group (2K1C-F), male two kidney one clip group (2K1C-M), and ovariectomized group (2K1C-0VX). After 32 weeks of routine feeding, the blood pressure was measured, blood was taken and-serum and plasma were prepared. Serum estrogen and plasma Ang II were measured and mRNA and protein expression levels of ACE, AT, R, AT2R in aorta tissue were detected. Results: Systolic blood pressure of 2K1C-F group was significantly higher than that of 2K1C-M group and 2K1C-0VX group (P < 0.05). The content of Ang II in 2K1C-F group was significantly lower than that in 2K1C-M and 2K1C-0VX group(P <0. 01). Compared with 2K1C-F group, the mRNA and protein expressions of ACE!, AT, R, AT2R in 2K1C-M group were up-regulated significantly (P < 0. 05), while the mRNA expression of ATlb R, ACE, was up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of AT2R was down-regulated in 2K1C-OVX group (P < 0. 05); compared with 2K1C-M group, the mRNA expression of ACE, ATlb R, AT2R and protein expression of ACE, AT2R were down-regulated significantly in 2K1C-OVX group(P < 0. 05). Conclusions: The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE, Ang II, AT1aR and AT1bR in aorta tissue show gender and estrogen differences, and estrogen can reduce the activity of ACE, -Ang II -AT, R axis.