Angiotensin type 1 receptor mediates thyroid hormone-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the Akt/GSK-3 beta/mTOR signaling pathway

Several studies have implicated the renin angiotensin system in the cardiac hypertrophy induced by thyroid hormone. However, whether Angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) is critically required to the development of T(3)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as well as whether the intracellular mechanisms that are triggered by AT(1)R are able to contribute to this hypertrophy model is unknown. To address these questions, we employed a selective small interfering RNA (siRNA, 50 nM) or an AT(1)R blocker (Losartan, 1 mu M) to evaluate the specific role of this receptor in primary cultures of neonatal cardiomyocytes submitted to T(3) (10 nM) treatment. The cardiomyocytes transfected with the AT(1)R siRNA presented reduced mRNA (90%, P < 0.001) and protein (70%, P < 0.001) expression of AT(1)R. The AT(1)R silencing and the AT(1)R blockade totally prevented the T(3)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as evidenced by lower mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic factor (66%, P < 0.01) and skeletal alpha-actin (170%, P < 0.01) as well as by reduction in protein synthesis (85%, P < 0.001). The cardiomyocytes treated with T(3) demonstrated a rapid activation of Akt/GSK-3 beta/mTOR signaling pathway, which was completely inhibited by the use of PI3K inhibitors (LY294002, 10 mu M and Wortmannin, 200 nM). In addition, we demonstrated that the AT(1)R mediated the T(3)-induced activation of Akt/GSK-3 beta/mTOR signaling pathway, since the AT(1)R silencing and the AT(1)R blockade attenuated or totally prevented the activation of this signaling pathway. We also reported that local Angiotensin I/II (Ang I/II) levels (120%, P < 0.05) and the AT(1)R expression (180%, P < 0.05) were rapidly increased by T(3) treatment. These data demonstrate for the first time that the AT(1)R is a critical mediator to the T(3)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as well as to the activation of Akt/GSK-3 beta/mTOR signaling pathway. These results represent a new insight into the mechanism of T(3)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, indicating that the Ang I/II-AT(1)R-Akt/GSK-3 beta/mTOR pathway corresponds to a potential mediator of the trophic effect exerted by T(3) in cardiomyocytes.

Natriorexigenic effect of baclofen is reduced by AT(1) receptor blockade in the lateral parabrachial nucleus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

L-Type calcium channels mediate water intake induced by angiotensin injection into median preoptic nucleus

Calcium ions are widely accepted as critically important in responses of neurons to a stimulus. We have show previously the central involvement of angiotensin II (ANGII) in water intake. This study determined whether voltage-dependent calcium channels are involved in ANGII-induced behavioral drinking implicating nitrergic mechanism. The antidipsogenic actions of L-type calcium channel antagonists nifedipine, on ANGII-induced drinking behavior were studied when it is injected into the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). The influence of nitric oxide (NO) on nifedipine antidipsogenic action was also studied by utilizing the N-W-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) a constitutive nitric oxide synthase inhibitor constitutive (cNOSI) and 7-nitroindazol (7-NIT) a specific neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (nNOSI) and L-arginine a NO donor. Rats 200-250 g, with cannulae implanted into MnPO, pre-treated into MnPO with either nifedipine, followed by ANGII, drank significantly less water than controls during the first 15 min after injection. However, L-NAME potentiated the dipsogenic effect of ANGII that is blocked by prior injection of nifedipine and L-arginine. 7-NIT injected prior to ANGII into MnPO also potentiated the dipsogenic effect of ANGII but with a less intensity than L-NAME that it is also blocked by prior injection of nifedipine. The results described in this paper provide evidence that calcium channels play important roles in the ANGII-induced behavioral water intake. The structures containing NO in the brain such as MnPO include both endothelial cells and neurons might be responsible for the influence of nifedipine on dipsogenic effect of ANGII. These data shows the correlation between L-type calcium channel and a free radical gas NO produced endogenously from amino acids L-arginine by endothelial and neuronal NO synthase in the control of ANGII-dipsogenic effect. This suggests that an L-type calcium channel participates in both short- and longer-term neuronal actions of ANGII by nitrergic way. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of subtypes of adrenergic and angiotensinergic antagonists on the water and sodium intake induced by adrenaline injected into the paraventricular nucleus

The present experiments were conducted to investigate die role of the alpha(1A)-, alpha(1B)-, beta(1)-, beta(2)-adrenoceptors, and the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (selective ligands of the AT(1) and AT(2) angiotensin receptors, respectively) on the water and sodium intake elicited by paraventricular nucleus (PVN) injection of adrenaline. Male Holtzman rats with a stainless steel cannula implanted into the PVN were used. The ingestion of water and sodium was determined in separate groups submitted to water deprivation or sodium depletion with the diuretic furosemide (20 mg/rat). 5-Methylurapidil (an alpha(1A)-adrenergic antagonist) and ICI-118,551 (a beta(2)-adrenergic antagonist) injected into the PVN produced a dose-dependent increase, whereas cyclazosin (an alpha(1B)-adrenergic antagonist) and atenolol (a beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist) do not affect the inhibitory effect of water intake induced by adrenaline. on the other hand, the PVN administration of adrenaline increased the sodium intake in a dose-dependent manner. Previous injection of the alpha(1A) and beta(1) antagonists decreased, whereas injection of the alpha(1B) and beta(2) antagonists increased the salt intake induced by adrenaline. In rats with several doses of adrenaline into PVN, the previous administration of losartan increased in a dose-dependent manner the inhibitory effect of adrenaline and decreased the salt intake induced by adrenaline, while PVN CGP42112A was without effect. These results indicate that both appetites are mediated primarily by brain AT(1) receptors. However, the doses of losartan were more effective when combined with the doses of CGP42112A than given alone p < 0.05, suggesting that the water and salt intake effects of PVN adrenaline may involve activation of multiple angiotensin II (ANG II) receptors subtypes. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Paraventricular Nucleus Plays a Major Role in the Sympathoexcitatory Response to Salt

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Water deprivation-induced sodium appetite

A water deprived animal that ingests only water efficiently corrects its intracellular dehydration, but remains hypovolemic, in negative sodium balance, and with high plasma renin activity and angiotensin II. Therefore, it is not surprising that it also ingests sodium. However, separation between thirst and sodium appetite is necessary to use water deprivation as a method to understand the mechanisms subserving sodium appetite. For this purpose, we may use the water deprivation-partial repletion protocol, or WD-PR. This protocol allows performing a sodium appetite test after the rat has quenched its thirst; thus, the sodium intake during this test cannot be confounded with a response to thirst. This is confirmed by hedonic shift and selective ingestion of sodium solutions in the sodium appetite test that follows a WD-PR. The separation between thirst and sodium appetite induced by water deprivation permits the identification of brain states associated with sodium intake in the appetite test. One of these states relates to the activation of angiotensin II All receptors. Other states relate to cell activity in key areas, e.g. subfornical organ and central amygdala, as revealed by immediate early gene c-Fos immunoreactivity or focal lesions. Angiotensin II apparently sensitizes the brain of the water deprived rat to produce an enhanced sodium intake, as that expressed by spontaneously hypertensive and by young normotensive rat. The enhancement in sodium intake produced by history of water deprivation is perhaps a clue to understand the putative salt addiction in humans.The paper represents an invited review by a symposium, award winner or keynote speaker at the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior [SSIB] Annual Meeting in Portland, July 2009. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Nitric oxide and L-type calcium channel influences the changes in arterial blood pressure and heart rate induced by central angiotesin II

We study the voltage dependent calcium channels and nitric oxide involvement in angiotensin II-induced pressor effect. The antipressor action of L-Type calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine, has been studied when it was injected into the third ventricle prior to angiotensin II. The influence of nitric oxide on nifedipine antipressor action has also been studied by utilizing N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (LNAME) (40 mu g/0.2 mu l) a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and L-arginine ( 20 mu g/0.2 mu l), a nitric oxide donor agent. Adult male Holtzman rats weighting 200-250 g, with cannulae implanted into the third ventricle were injected with angiotensin II. Angiotensin II produced an elevation in mean arterial pressure and a decreased in heart rate. Such effects were potentiated by the prior injection of LNAME. L-arginine and nifedipine blocked the effects of angiotensin II. These data showed the involvement of L-Type calcium channel and a free radical gas nitric oxide in the central control of angiotensin II-induced pressor effect. This suggested that L-Type calcium channel of the circunventricular structures of central nervous system participated in both short and long term neuronal actions of ANG II with the influence of nitrergic system.

Antidipsogenic effects of central adenosine-5'-triphosphate

Besides other physiological functions, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is also a neurotransmitter that acts on purinergic receptors. In spite of the presence of purinergic receptors in forebrain areas involved with fluid-electrolyte balance, the effect of ATP on water intake has not been investigated. Therefore, we studied the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of ATP (100, 200 and 300 nmol/µL) alone or combined with DPCPX or PPADS (P1 and P2 purinergic antagonists, respectively, 25 nmol/µL) on water intake induced by water deprivation. In addition, the effect of icv ATP was also tested on water intake induced by intragastric load of 12% NaCl (2 mL/rat), acute treatment with the diuretic/natriuretic furosemide (20 mg/kg), icv angiotensin II (50 ng/µL) or icv carbachol (a cholinergic agonist, 4 nmol/µL), on sodium depletion-induced 1.8% NaCl intake, and on food intake induced by food deprivation. Male Holtzman rats (280-320 g, N = 7-11) had cannulas implanted into the lateral ventricle. Icv ATP (300 nmol/µL) reduced water intake induced by water deprivation (13.1 ± 1.9 vs saline: 19.0 ± 1.4 mL/2 h; P < 0.05), an effect blocked by pre-treatment with PPADS, but not DPCPX. Icv ATP also reduced water intake induced by NaCl intragastric load (5.6 ± 0.9 vs saline: 10.3 ± 1.4 mL/2 h; P < 0.05), acute furosemide treatment (0.5 ± 0.2 vs saline: 2.3 ± 0.6 mL/15 min; P < 0.05), and icv angiotensin II (2.2 ± 0.8 vs saline: 10.4 ± 2.0 mL/2 h; P < 0.05), without changing icv carbachol-induced water intake, sodium depletion-induced 1.8% NaCl intake and food deprivation-induced food intake. These data suggest that central ATP, acting on purinergic P2 receptors, reduces water intake induced by intracellular and extracellular dehydration.

AT(1) receptor blockade in the lateral parabrachial nucleus reduces the effects of muscimol on sodium intake

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CENTRAL ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-BLOCKADE AND THIRST

1. The effect of lisinopril, a potent inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), injected into the medial preoptic area (MPOA) on water intake was investigated in male Holtzman rats (200-250 g).2. Injection of lisinopril (2 mug/mul) into the MPOA abolished the water intake induced by subcutaneous (sc) injection of isoprenaline (100%) and water deprivation (90%) and drastically reduced the water intake induced by sc injection of polyethyleneglycol (60%). A small reduction of water intake induced by lisinopril was also observed 90 and 120 min after sc hypertonic saline (N = 10 for each group).3. These results suggest that central ACE activation, particularly in the MPOA, plays an important role in the dipsogenic responses induced by the agents studied.

Central serotonergic and adrenergic/imidazoline inhibitory mechanisms on sodium and water intake

Recent studies have shown the existence of two important inhibitory mechanisms for the control of NaCl and water intake: one mechanism involves serotonin in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) and the other depends on alpha(2)-adrenergic/imidazoline receptors probably in the forebrain areas. In the present study we investigated if alpha(2)-adrenergic/imidazoline and serotonergic inhibitory mechanisms interact to control NaCl and water intake. Male Holtzman rats with cannulas implanted simultaneously into the lateral ventricle (LV) and bilaterally into the LPBN were used. The ingestion of 0.3 M NaCl and water was induced by treatment with the diuretic furosemide (10 mg/kg of body weight)+the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (5 mg/kg) injected subcutaneously 1 h before the access of rats to water and 0.3 M NaCl. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of the alpha(1)-adrenergic/imidazoline agonist clonidine (20 nmol/l RI) almost abolished water (1.6 +/- 1.2, vs. vehicle: 7.5 +/- 2.2 ml/2 h) and 0.3 M NaCl intake (0.5 +/- 0.3, vs. vehicle: 2.2 0.8 ml/2 h). Similar effects were produced by bilateral injections of the 5HT(2a/2b) serotonergic agonist 2,5-dimetoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, 5 mug/0.2 mul each site) into the LPBN on water (3.6 +/- 0.9 ml/2 h) and 0.3 M NaCl intake (0.4 +/- 0.2 m1/2 h). Injection of the (alpha(2)-adrenergic/imidazoline antagonist idazoxan (320 nmol) i.c.v. completely blocked the effects of clonidine on water (8.4 +/- 1.5 ml/2 h) and NaCl intake (4.0 +/- 1.2 ml/2 h), but did not change the effects of LPBN injections of DOI on water (4.2 +/- 1.0 ml/2 h) and NaCl intake (0.7 +/- 0.2 ml/2 h). Bilateral injections of methysergide (4 mug/0.2 mul each site) into the LPBN increased 0.3 M NaCl intake (6.4 +/- 1.9 ml/2 h), not water intake. The inhibitory effect of i.c.v. clonidine on water and 0.3 M NaCl was still present after injections of methysergide into the LPBN (1.5 +/- 0.8 and 1.7 +/- 1.4 ml/2 h, respectively). The results show that the inhibitory effects of the activation of a,-adrenergic/imidazoline receptors in the forebrain are still present after blockade of the LPBN serotonergic mechanisms and vice versa for the activation of serotonergic mechanisms of the LPBN. Therefore, each system may act independently to inhibit NaCl and water intake. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

PRESSER MECHANISMS IN ADRIAMYCIN-INDUCED NEPHROPATHY WITH HYPERTENSION IN RATS

We explored the role of angiotensin II and vasopressin in the maintenance of blood pressure during the nephrotic syndrome of adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats. All 91 rats treated with adriamycin developed chronic renal failure with nephrotic syndrome, which was more pronounced in the normotensive rats than the 35% who became hypertensive. Angiotensin II blockade with DuP 753 produced a significantly greater hypotensive response in both the adriamycin-hypertensive (-16+/-3 mmHg) and adriamycin-normotensive (-14+/-5 mmHg) groups than the saline-treated controls (-5+/-1 mm Hg, P<.05). Vasopressin blockade with either a V1V2 inhibitor or a selective V-1 inhibitor produced a hypotensive response in adriamycin-hypertensive rats only (by -16+/-4 and -17+/-2 mm Hg, respectively, P<.01), although the nonselective vasopressin inhibitor produced similar fluid loss and body weight reduction in all three groups. The data suggest that in adriamycin-induced nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome, angiotensin II contributes to blood pressure maintenance in both hypertensive and normotensive animals, whereas the presser action of vasopressin contributes to elevated blood pressure in hypertensive animals only.

Effects of central alpha-adrenergic agonists on hormone-induced 3% NaCl and water intake

Male rats received intracerebroventricular (ICV) renin (600 ng) or daily subcutaneous injections of deoxycorticosterone (5 mg) to induce 3% NaCl and water intake. Noradrenaline (NOR; 40-160 nmol) and clonidine (CLO; 5-20 nmol) injected ICV. induced 70 to 100% inhibition of the intakes. Phenylephrine (PHE; 40-160 nmol) injected ICV induced 60 to 95% inhibition of the intakes. NOR and PHE induced a stronger inhibition on the 3% NaCl intake induced by renin than on the intake induced by deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and CLO did the opposite. CLO was always more effective than PHE to induce inhibition of the intakes. The results suggest that NOR inhibits hormone (angiotensin II, aldosterone)-induced NaCl intake by acting mainly on alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors.

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of TOAC-labeled angiotensin and bradykinin analogs

Angiotensin II (AngII) and bradykinin (BK) derivatives containing the TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid) spin label were synthesized by solid phase methodology. Ammonium hydroxide (pH 10, 50degreesC, 1 h) was the best means for reverting nitroxide protonation occurring during peptide cleavage. EPR spectra yielded rotational correlation times for internally labeled analogs that were nearly twice as large as those of N-terminally labeled analogs. Except for TOAC(1)-AngII and TOAC(0)-BK, which showed high intrinsic activities, other derivatives were inactive in smooth muscle preparations. These active paramagnetic analogs may be useful for conformational studies in solution and in the presence of model and biological membranes. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Losartan (DUP-753) blocks the natriuretic, kaliuretic and antidiuretic effect of intracerebroventricular injection of carbachol in water-loaded rats

We determined the effect of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of losartan, an angiotensin II (ANG II) subtype 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist, on icv carbachol-induced natriuresis, kaliuresis and antidiuresis in water-loaded male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) with a cannula implanted into the lateral ventricle (LV). The rats were water loaded with 5% of their body weight by gavage twice, with the second gavage one hour after the first. Carbachol (2 nmol in 1 mu l) was injected icv immediately after the second load. When losartan (DUP-753, 50 nmol in 1 mu l) was administered icv, it was given 3 min before carbachol. Previous icv treatment with losartan significantly reduced the icv carbachol-induced natriuresis (324 +/- 17 mu Eq/120 min), kaliuresis (103 +/- 15 mu Eq/120 min) and antidiuresis (13.5 +/- 2.1 ml/120 min) compared to the effects of previous icv injection of saline (Nai excretion = 498 +/- 22 mu Eq/120 min; K+ excretion = 167 +/- 20 mu Eq/120 min; urine volume = 5.2 +/- 1.2 ml/120 min). These results, reported as means +/- SEM for 12 rats in each group, are consistent with the hypothesis that AT1 subtype receptors participate in the regulation of body electrolyte balance.