Temporal-spatial expression of ANG-(1-7) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in the kidney of normal and hypertensive pregnant rats
- 1 July 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physiological Society in American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
- Vol. 293 (1), R169-R177
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00387.2006
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) overactivity during late gestation in rats is associated with increased kidney and urine levels of ANG-(1-7) and enhanced kidney immunostaining of ANG-(1-7) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). To understand the temporal-spatial changes in normal and hypertensive pregnancies, the renal distribution of ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 in association with kidney angiotensin peptides and ACE2 activity was examined in virgin, normal pregnant (NP; gestational days 5, 15, and 19) and reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP at day 19) pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 immunocytochemical staining increased 1.8- and 1.9-fold and 1.7- and 1.8-fold, respectively, at days 15 and 19 of NP, compared with virgin rats. ANG-(1-7) and ANG II concentrations were increased in the kidney at 19 days of gestation. ACE2 activity measured using a fluorescent substrate was increased 1.9- and 1.9-fold in the cortex and 1.9- and 1.8-fold in the medulla at days 15 and 19 of NP. In the RUPP animals, ANG-(1-7) immunostaining and concentration were significantly decreased compared with 19-day NP rats. ACE2 activity was unchanged in the cortex and medulla of RUPP rats. In conclusion, during NP, the concurrent changes of ACE2 and ANG-(1-7) suggest that ACE2 plays an important role in regulating the renal levels of ANG-(1-7) at mid to late gestation. However, the decrease in renal ANG-(1-7) content in the absence of a concomitant decrease in ACE2 implicates the participation of other ANG-(1-7) forming or degrading enzymes during hypertensive pregnancy.Keywords
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