Differential regulation of central vasopressin receptors in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen.

The consequences of permanent alteration to the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on central vasopressinergic system was studied in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen [TGR(ASrAOGEN)]. Levels of vasopressin (AVP) and V1a receptor mRNAs were measured by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and AVP by radioimmunoassay (RIA). AVP (100 pmol/50 nl) was microinjected into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of urethane-anesthetized TGR(ASrAOGEN) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) baroreflex induced by phenylephrine were evaluated. AVP but not its mRNA levels were significantly lower in the hypothalamus and hypophysis of TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats. Brainstem V1a mRNA levels were significantly higher in TGR(ASrAOGEN) in comparison to SD rats (5.2+/-0.4% vs. 3.3+/-0.2% of beta-actin mRNA, P<0.05). In contrast, the hypothalamic V1a mRNA levels in TGR(ASrAOGEN) were not different from those found in SD rats. AVP microinjections induced a greater decrease in MAP in TGR(ASrAOGEN) in comparison with SD rats (-19.9+/-5.2 vs. -7.5+/-0.7 mm Hg, P<0.01). The significantly higher baroreflex sensitivity observed in TGR compared to that of SD rats was normalized after AVP microinjection. The increased brainstem V1a mRNA levels and sensitivity to AVP in TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats indicates a functional upregulation of AVP receptors in the NTS. The fact that the hypothalamic V1a mRNA levels are not altered indicates that these receptors are differentially regulated in different brain regions. This study demonstrates that a permanent deficit in brain angiotensinogen synthesis can alter the functionality of central vasopressinergic system.

Differential effects of angiotensin II and angiotensin-(1-7) at the nucleus tractus solitarii of transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the effects of angiotensin II and angiotensin-(1-7) at the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS) in transgenic rats with a severe deficit in brain angiotensinogen production, TGR(ASrAOGEN) (TGR). METHODS: Angiotensin II (10 pmol), angiotensin-(1-7) (10 pmol) or NaCl (0.9%/50 nl) were microinjected into the nTS of urethane-anaesthetized TGR (n = 36) and Sprague Dawley (SD) (n = 34) rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were measured via a femoral artery catheter and the baroreflex control of heart rate was evaluated after increases in MAP induced by phenylephrine (baroreflex bradycardia). RESULTS: Angiotensin II microinjections into the nTS of the TGR induced a higher decrease in MAP and heart rate (-37 +/- 5 mmHg and -69 +/- 12 b.p.m., respectively) in comparison to SD rats (-18 +/- 1 mmHg and -43 +/- 5 b.p.m., respectively). In contrast, changes after angiotensin-(1-7) microinjections into the nTS of TGR (-6 +/- 1 mmHg and -13 +/- 4 b.p.m.) were significantly smaller than that induced in SD (-11 +/- 2 mmHg and -24 +/- 6 b.p.m.). The baseline baroreflex sensitivity to phenylephrine of TGR was accentuated in comparison to SD rats (0.70 +/- 0.06 versus 0.44 +/- 0.03 ms/mmHg). Angiotensin II microinjection into the nTS produced similar attenuation in the baroreflex bradycardia in both SD (0.28 +/- 0.07 versus 0.5 +/- 0.07 ms/mmHg, before injection) and TGR (0.44 +/- 0.1 versus 0.82 +/- 0.1 ms/mmHg, before injection). In contrast, angiotensin-(1-7) microinjection elicited a facilitation of the baroreflex bradycardia in SD (0.68 +/- 0.12 versus 0.41 +/- 0.03 ms/mmHg, before injection), while in TGR, angiotensin-(1-7) induced an attenuation of baroreflex bradycardia (0.34 +/- 0.07 ms/mmHg versus 0.55 +/- 0.05 ms/mmHg, before injection). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a permanent inhibition of angiotensinogen synthesis in the brain can lead to an increase in the sensitivity of the baroreflex control of heart rate (baroreflex bradycardia) and an increase in angiotensin II responsiveness at the nTS. However, the nTS effect of angiotensin-(1-7) was significantly attenuated in these transgenic rats. These data further indicate that the decrease in brain angiotensins in the transgenic rats may be functionally relevant and support the concept of differential regulatory mechanisms for the effects of the two angiotensin peptides.