Vascular injury and remodeling are common pathological sequelae of hypertension. Previous studies have suggested that the renin-angiotensin system acting through the type 1 angiotensin II (AT(1)) receptor promotes vascular pathology in hypertension. To study the role of AT(1) receptors in this process, we generated mice with cell-specific deletion of AT(1) receptors in vascular smooth muscle ce...

The renin-angiotensin and endothelin systems regulate blood pressure, in part, by affecting renal tubular sodium transport. In rodents, ETB receptors decrease proximal tubular reabsorption, whereas AT1 receptors produce the opposite effect. We hypothesize that ETB and AT1 receptors interact at the receptor level, and that the interaction is altered in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In ...

We determined the excitatory effects of direct nucleus tractus solitarii injection of angiotensin peptides after the sinoaortic nerves were cut unilaterally in rats under halothane anesthesia. Twenty-four hours later, recordings of mean arterial pressure and heart rate were obtained during injections of 2.5 ng angiotensin II or angiotensin-(1-7) in chloralose-urethane-anesthetized rats. Both pe...

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) produced hormone peptides regulate many vital body functions. Dysfunctional signaling by receptors for RAS peptides leads to pathologic states. Nearly half of humanity today would likely benefit from modern drugs targeting these receptors. The receptors for RAS peptides consist of three G-protein-coupled receptors—the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 recept...

NaCl reabsorption in the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle (MTALH) contributes to NaCl balance and is also responsible for the creation of medullary interstitial hypertonicity. Despite the presence of angiotensin II subtype 1 (AT(1)) receptors in both the luminal and the basolateral plasma membranes of MTALH cells, no information is available on the effect of angiotensin II on NaCl reabso...

This review article looks at the emerging concepts about the renin angiotensin system. The specific aspects it covers include angiotensin II receptors, angiotensin receptor antagonists and alternative enzymatic pathways for the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II other than angiotensin converting enzyme. The review, additionally, looks at the current and future clinical applications o...

The present study examined whether metabolism of the putative angiotensin-(1-7) receptor agonist and antagonist [angiotensin-(1-7) and D-alanine(7) angiotensin-(1-7), respectively] altered their ability to interact with angiotensin AT(1), AT(2), and AT(4) receptor subtypes. Both angiotensin-(1-7) and D-alanine(7) angiotensin-(1-7) competed with low affinity for (125)I-sarcosine(1), isoleucine(8...

BACKGROUND The renin-angiotensin system is a widely studied hormonal system that comprises substrate-enzyme interactions, the end result of which is the production of the active peptide angiotensin II. Because angiotensin II affects blood pressure control, sodium and water homeostasis, and cardiovascular function and structure, a great deal of research effort has been directed toward blocking t...

BACKGROUND Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) has gained increasing attention worldwide and is characterized by extensive ventricular akinesis, Beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are the main treatments for SIC patients. The pharmacological mechanism of action of beta-blockers results in the inhibition of the biological effects of catecholamines. However, the me...