Central AT1 and AT2 receptors mediate chronic intracerebroventricular angiotensin II-induced drinking in rats fed high sodium chloride diet from weaning

Phosphorus Absorption and Excretion in Hybrid Sturgeon (Huso dauricus♀ X Acipenser schrenckii♂) Intubated with Different Ca/P Ratios

To study the effect of Ca/P ratio on the P and Ca absorption and excretion in hybrid sturgeon (Huso dauricus♀ X Acipenser schrenckii♂), five groups of fish were intubated with 100 mg P·kg−1 BW with the Ca/P ratios of 0:1, 0.25:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, and 2:1. Plasma P concentrations were significantly elevated at Ca/P ratios below 2:1, and the highest value was obtained at Ca/P ratio of 0.5:1. Plasma Ca content was significantly increased at the highest Ca/P ratio. Urine P excretion rate in the fish intubated with Ca/P ratio of 0.5:1 was significantly higher than that of the groups with Ca/P ratios of 0:1 and 2:1. The highest urea excretion rates were observed at Ca/P ratio of 0.5:1 and 1:1. The total P excretion at 48 h post intubation reached about 30 mg·kg−1 BW, which was recorded for the group with Ca/P ratio of 0.5:1. The present study showed that P absorption efficiency was improved in hybrid sturgeon at Ca/P ratio of 0.5:1, indicating that P inclusion level in sturgeon feed can be further optimized to reduce dietary P input and lower the excessive undigested P discharge into the rearing water.

Effects of Selenium as a Dietary Source on Performance, Inflammation, Cell Damage, and Reproduction of Livestock Induced by Heat Stress: A Review

Heat stress as a result of global warming has harmful consequences for livestock and is thus becoming an urgent issue for animal husbandry worldwide. Ruminants, growing pigs, and poultry are very susceptible to heat stress because of their fast growth, rapid metabolism, high production levels, and sensitivity to temperature. Heat stress compromises the efficiency of animal husbandry by affecting performance, gastrointestinal health, reproductive physiology, and causing cell damage. Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional trace element for livestock production, which acts as a structural component in at least 25 selenoproteins (SELs); it is involved in thyroid hormone synthesis, and plays a key role in the antioxidant defense system. Dietary Se supplementation has been confirmed to support gastrointestinal health, production performance, and reproductive physiology under conditions of heat stress. The underlying mechanisms include the regulation of nutrient digestibility influenced by gastrointestinal microorganisms, antioxidant status, and immunocompetence. Moreover, heat stress damage to the gastrointestinal and mammary barrier is closely related to cell physiological functions, such as the fluidity and stability of cellular membranes, and the inhibition of receptors as well as transmembrane transport protein function. Se also plays an important role in inhibiting cell apoptosis and reducing cell inflammatory response induced by heat stress. This review highlights the progress of research regarding the dietary supplementation of Se in the mitigation of heat stress, addressing its mechanism and explaining the effect of Se on cell damage caused by heat stress, in order to provide a theoretical reference for the use of Se to mitigate heat stress in livestock.

Central TrkB blockade attenuates ICV angiotensin II-hypertension and sympathetic nerve activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Increased sympathetic nerve activity and the activation of the central renin-angiotensin system are commonly associated with cardiovascular disease states such as hypertension and heart failure, yet the precise mechanisms contributing to the long-term maintenance of this sympatho-excitation are incompletely understood. Due to the established physiological role of neurotrophins contributing toward neuroplasticity and neuronal excitability along with recent evidence linking the renin-angiotensin system and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) along with its receptor (TrkB), it is likely the two systems interact to promote sympatho-excitation during cardiovascular disease. However, this interaction has not yet been fully demonstrated, in vivo. Thus, we hypothesized that central angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment will evoke a sympatho-excitatory state mediated through the actions of BDNF/TrkB. We infused Ang II (20ng/min) into the right lateral ventricle of male Sprague-Dawley rats for twelve days with or without the TrkB receptor antagonist, ANA-12 (50ng/h). We found that ICV infusion of Ang II increased mean arterial pressure (+40.4mmHg), increased renal sympathetic nerve activity (+19.4% max activity), and induced baroreflex dysfunction relative to vehicle. Co-infusion of ANA-12 attenuated the increase in blood pressure (-20.6mmHg) and prevented the increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity (-22.2% max) and baroreflex dysfunction relative to Ang II alone. Ang II increased thirst and decreased food consumption, and Ang II+ANA-12 augmented the thirst response while attenuating the decrease in food consumption. We conclude that TrkB signaling is a mediator of the long-term blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity responses to central Ang II activity. These findings demonstrate the involvement of neurotrophins such as BDNF in promoting Ang II-induced autonomic dysfunction and further implicate TrkB signaling in modulating presympathetic autonomic neurons during cardiovascular disease.

Endogenous angiotensin II in the paraventricular nucleus regulates arterial pressure during hypotension in rat, a single-unit study

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) controls cardiovascular regulation through vasopressin and sympathetic system. The PVN contains angiotensin II (AngII) and AngII receptors. We have already shown that microinjection of AngII into PVN produced a pressor response concomitant with an increase in firing rate of some PVN neurons. This study was performed to find if PVN AngII plays a regulatory function during hypotension. Hypovolemic-hypotension was induced and the possible role of the PVN AngII in returning arterial pressure toward normal was assessed by monitoring cardiovascular response and single-unit activity of the PVN neurons. Hemorrhage augmented the pressor, tachycardic and single-unit responses to AngII. After-hemorrhage injection of PD123319, an AT2 antagonist, into PVN resulted in a significant decrease in firing rate of some neurons, indicating that AngII was released into the PVN due to hemorrhage. Using single-unit recording, we found that PVN receives electrical signals from baroreceptors and from circulating AngII through circumventricular organs. In addition, by producing hemorrhagic-hypotension and bilateral blockade of AT2 receptors of the PVN, we found that AngII regulates arterial pressure toward normal during hypotension. So for the first time, it was verified that brain renin-angiotensin system is also a major regulatory system of the cardiovascular system.

Prenatal water deprivation alters brain angiotensin system and dipsogenic changes in the offspring

OBJECTIVE

Central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in regulating body fluid balance. The present study determined the effect of maternal dehydration on brain expression levels of angiotensinogen, angiotensin II receptor subtypes, and dipsogenic responses in offspring.

METHODS

Pregnant rats were deprived of water during late gestation. Expressions of brain angiotensinogen, angiotensin II receptors, and dipsogenic responses were determined.

RESULTS

Maternal water deprivation significantly decreased fetal body and brain weight, and body and tail length. Fetal plasma sodium, osmolality, and hematocrit were increased. Both AT(1)R and AT(2)R protein abundance was significantly increased in the fetal brain, associating with increased mRNA levels of AT(1a)R and AT(2)R. Additionally, angiotensinogen mRNA was increased. In adult offspring, prenatal dehydration resulted in significant increases in AT(1)R protein and AT(1a)R mRNA, as well as angiotensinogen mRNA in the forebrain in both males and females. In contrast, AT(2)R mRNA and protein were increased only in males. Prenatal dehydration resulted in a significant increase in intracerebroventricular angiotensin II-induced water intake in male, but not female, offspring.

CONCLUSION

The results provided new information that antenatal water deprivation induces a reprogramming of brain RAS and Ang II receptor expression patterns and alters the central Ang II-mediated dipsogenic response in offspring in a sex-dependent manner.

Hypertensive effects of central angiotensin II infusion and restraint stress are reduced with age

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effect of age on cardiovascular responses mediated by central angiotensin II (AngII) after intracerebroventricular infusion of AngII, and during restraint stress.

METHODS

Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of young (5-month-old) and old (27-month-old) male Fischer-344 x Brown-Norway rats were measured using radiotelemetry. AngII was infused intracerebroventricularly using osmotic minipumps (10 ng/0.5 microl/h for 11 days). BP and HR responses to stress were evaluated by placing animals in restrainers for 20 min before and after intracerebroventricular infusion of the AngII-type-1 receptor inhibitor losartan (15 microg/microl per h for 3 days).

RESULTS

Resting BP was significantly elevated and HR was significantly lower in old rats compared with young. AngII-induced BP increase was markedly reduced in old rats, but HR responses were similar. Diurnal variation of both BP and HR was lower in old animals, and AngII reduced the amplitude of BP variation in young rats, but not in old. Restraint stress-induced BP and HR elevations were reduced with age. BP responses were diminished by central losartan infusion in both young and old, but this effect was more significant in young rats. In addition, expression of CuZn-superoxide dismutase and catalase declined significantly with age in the hypothalamus, whereas baseline oxidative stress increased. In contrast, AngII-induced increase in hypothalamic oxidative stress decreased with age.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the role of central AngII diminishes with age in the regulation of BP both during baseline conditions and during stress, whereas the involvement of AngII in the regulation of HR remains unaffected.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptors have a major somatodendritic distribution in vasopressin-containing neurons in the mouse hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and angiotensin II (AngII) play critical roles in cardiovascular and neurohumoral regulation ascribed in part to vasopressin (VP) release. The AngII actions in the PVN are mediated largely through angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors. However, there is indirect evidence that the functionally elusive central angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptors are also mediators of AngII signaling in the PVN. We used electron microscopic dual immunolabeling of antisera recognizing the AT2 receptor and VP to test the hypothesis that mouse PVN neurons expressing VP are among the cellular sites where this receptor has a subcellular distribution conducive to local activation. Immunoreactivity for the AT2 receptor was detected in somatodendritic profiles, of which approximately 60% of the somata and approximately 28% of the dendrites also contained VP. In comparison with somata and dendrites, axons, axon terminals, and glia less frequently contained the AT2 receptor. Somatic labeling for the AT2 receptor was often seen in the cytoplasm near the Golgi lamellae and other endomembrane structures implicated in receptor trafficking. AT2 receptor immunoreactivity in dendrites was commonly localized to cytoplasmic endomembranes, but was occasionally observed on extra- or peri-synaptic portions of the plasma membrane apposed by astrocytic processes or by unlabeled axon terminals. The labeled dendritic plasmalemmal segments containing AT2 receptors received asymmetric excitatory-type or more rarely symmetric inhibitory-type contacts from unlabeled axon terminals containing dense core vesicles, many of which are known to store neuropeptides. These results provide the first ultrastructural evidence that AT2 receptors in PVN neurons expressing VP and other neuromodulators are strategically positioned for surface activation by AngII and/or intracellular trafficking.

Local production of angiotensin II in the subfornical organ causes elevated drinking

The mechanism controlling cell-specific Ang II production in the brain remains unclear despite evidence supporting neuron-specific renin and glial- and neuronal-specific angiotensinogen (AGT) expression. We generated double-transgenic mice expressing human renin (hREN) from a neuron-specific promoter and human AGT (hAGT) from its own promoter (SRA mice) to emulate this expression. SRA mice exhibited an increase in water and salt intake and urinary volume, which were significantly reduced after chronic intracerebroventricular delivery of losartan. Ang II-like immunoreactivity was markedly increased in the subfornical organ (SFO). To further evaluate the physiological importance of de novo Ang II production specifically in the SFO, we utilized a transgenic mouse model expressing a floxed version of hAGT (hAGT(flox)), so that deletions could be induced with Cre recombinase. We targeted SFO-specific ablation of hAGT(flox) by microinjection of an adenovirus encoding Cre recombinase (AdCre). SRA(flox) mice exhibited a marked increase in drinking at baseline and a significant decrease in water intake after administration of AdCre/adenovirus encoding enhanced GFP (AdCre/AdEGFP), but not after administration of AdEGFP alone. This decrease only occurred when Cre recombinase correctly targeted the SFO and correlated with a loss of hAGT and angiotensin peptide immunostaining in the SFO. These data provide strong genetic evidence implicating de novo synthesis of Ang II in the SFO as an integral player in fluid homeostasis.

Adenovirus-mediated small-interference RNA for in vivo silencing of angiotensin AT1a receptors in mouse brain

Because of the lack of pharmacological approaches, molecular genetic methods have been required to differentiate between angiotensin type 1(AT1) receptor subtypes AT1a and AT1b. RNA interference is a new tool for the study of gene function, producing specific downregulation of protein expression. In this study, we used the small hairpin RNA (shRNA) cassette method to screen target sites for selectively silencing AT1a or AT1b receptor subtypes in cultured Neuro-2a cells using real-time RT-PCR. For in vivo functional studies, we used C57BL mice with arterial telemetric probes and computerized licking monitors to test the effect of adenovirus carrying the DNA sequence coding AT1a shRNA (Ad-AT1a-shRNA). Ad-AT1a-shRNA was injected into the lateral ventricle (intracerebroventricular) or the brain stem nucleus tractus solitaries/dorsal vagal nucleus (NTS/DVN) with measurement of water intake, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) for up to 20 days after injection. Tissue culture studies verified the specificity and the efficiency of the constructs. In animal studies, beta-galactosidase staining and Ang receptor binding assays showed expression of shRNA and downregulation of Ang AT1 receptors in the subfornical organ and NTS/DVN by >70%. Intracerebroventricular injection of Ad-AT1a-shRNA increased water intake with no effect on BP or HR. In contrast, microinjection of Ad-AT1a-shRNA into NTS/DVN caused a decrease in BP with no effect on HR or water intake. Results demonstrate the use of the RNA interference method in site-directed silencing of gene expression and provide a method for the in vivo study of Ang AT1 receptor function.

Interaction between arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II receptors in the central regulation of sodium balance

We speculated that the influence of lateral preoptic area (LPO) in sodium balance, involves arginine8-vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin (ANG II) on Na+ uptake in LPO. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of central administration of specific AVP and ANG II antagonists (d(CH2)5-Tyr (Me)-AVP (AAVP) and [Adamanteanacetyl1, 0-ET-d-Tyr2, Val4, Aminobutyryl6, Arg(8,9)]-AVP (ATAVP) antagonists of V1 and V2 receptors of AVP. Also the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (selective ligands of the AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors, respectively), was investigated on Na+ uptake and renal fluid and electrolyte excretion. After an acclimatization period of 7 days, the animals were maintained under tribromoethanol (200 mg/kg body weight, intraperitonial) anesthesia and placed in a Kopf stereotaxic instrument. Stainless guide cannula was implanted into the LPO. AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LPO prior to AVP produced a reduction in the NaCl intake. Both the AT1 and AT2 ligands administered into the LPO elicited a decrease in the NaCl intake induced by AVP injected into the LPO. AVP injection into the LPO increased sodium renal excretion, but this was reduced by prior AAVP administration. The ATAVP produced a decreased in the natriuretic effect of AVP. The losartan injected into LPO previous to AVP decreased the sodium excretion and the CGP 421122A also decreased the natriuretic effect of AVP. The AVP produced an antidiuresis effect that was inhibited by prior administration into LPO of the ATAVP. The AAVP produced no change in the antidiuretic effect of AVP. These results suggest that LPO are implicated in sodium balance that is mediated by V1, V2, AT1 and AT2 receptors.

Central angiotensin II AT1 receptors mediate fetal swallowing and pressor responses in the near-term ovine fetus

Swallowed volumes in the fetus are greater than adult values (per body weight) and serve to regulate amniotic fluid volume. Central ANG II stimulates swallowing, and nonspecific ANG II receptor antagonists inhibit both spontaneous and ANG II-stimulated swallowing. In the adult rat, AT1 receptors mediate both stimulated drinking and pressor activities, while the role of AT2 receptors is controversial. As fetal brain contains increased ANG II receptors compared with the adult brain, we sought to investigate the role of both AT1 and AT2 receptors in mediating fetal swallowing and pressor activities. Five pregnant ewes with singleton fetuses (130 +/- 1 days) were prepared with fetal vascular and lateral ventricle (LV) catheters and electrocorticogram and esophageal electromyogram electrodes and received three studies over 5 days. On day 1 (ANG II), following a 2-h basal period, 1 ml artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) was injected in the LV. At time 4 h, ANG II (6.4 microg) was injected in the LV, and the fetus was monitored for a final 2 h. On day 3, AT1 receptor blocker (losartan 0.5 mg) was administered at 2 h, and ANG II plus losartan was administered at 4 h. On day 5, AT2 receptor blocker (PD-123319; 0.8 mg was administered at 2 h and ANG II plus PD-123319 at 4 h. In the ANG II study, LV injection of ANG II significantly increased fetal swallowing (0.9 +/- 0.1 to 1.4 +/- 0.1 swallows/min; P < 0.05). In the losartan study, basal fetal swallowing significantly decreased in response to blockade of AT1 receptors (0.9 +/- 0.1 to 0.4 +/- 0.1 swallows/min; P < 0.05), while central injection of ANG II in the presence of AT1 receptor antagonism did not increase fetal swallowing (0.6 +/- 0.1 swallows/min). In the PD-123319 study, basal fetal swallowing did not change in response to blockade of AT2 receptor (0.9 +/- 0.1 swallows/min), while central injection of ANG II in the presence of AT2 blockade significantly increased fetal swallowing (1.5 +/- 0.1 swallows/min; P < 0.05). ANG II caused significant pressor responses in the control and PD-123319 studies but no pressor response in the presence of AT1 blockade. These data demonstrate that in the near-term ovine fetus, AT1 receptor but not AT2 receptors accessible via CSF contribute to dipsogenic and pressor responses.

Influence of arginine vasopressin receptors and angiotensin receptor subtypes on the water intake and arterial blood pressure induced by vasopressin injected into the lateral septal area of the rat

In this study we investigated the influence of d(CH2)5-Tyr(Me)-[Arg8]vasopressin (AAVP) and [adamanteanacetyl1,0-ET-d-Tyr2,Val4,aminobutyryl6,Arg8,9]-[Arg8]vasopressin (ATAVP), which are antagonists of vasopressin V1 and V2 receptors, and the effects of losartan, a selective angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, and CGP42112A, a selective AT2 receptor antagonist, injected into the lateral septal area (LSA) on thirst and hypertension induced by [Arg8]vasopressin (AVP). AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LSA reduced the drinking responses elicited by injecting AVP into the LSA. Both the AT1 and AT2 ligands administered into the LSA elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in the water intake induced by AVP injected into the LSA, but losartan was more effective than CGP42112A. The increase in MAP, due to injection of AVP into the LSA, was reduced by prior injection of AAVP from 18 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 1 mm Hg. Losartan injected into the LSA prior to AVP reduced the increase in MAP to 7 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. ATAVP and CGP42112A produced no changes in the pressor effect of AVP. These results suggest that the dipsogenic effects induced by injecting AVP into the LSA were mediated primarily by AT1 receptors. However, doses of losartan were more effective when combined with CGP42112A than when given alone, suggesting that the thirst induced by AVP injections into LSA may involve activation of multiple AVP and angiotensin II receptor subtypes. The pressor response of AVP was reduced by losartan and by AAVP. CGP42112A and ATAVP did not change the AVP pressor response. These results suggest that facilitator effects of AVP on water intake are mediated through the activation of V1 receptors and that the inhibitory effect requires V2 receptors. The involvement of AT1 and AT2 receptors can be postulated. Based on the present findings, we suggest that the AVP in the LSA may play a role in the control of water and arterial blood pressure balance.

Interaction between supraoptic nucleus and septal area in the control of water, sodium intake and arterial blood pressure induced by injection of angiotensin II

We investigated the effects of injection into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of losartanand PD 123319 (nonpeptide AT(1) and AT(2)-angiotensin II [ANG II] receptor antagonists, respectively); d(CH(2))(5)-Tyr(Me)-AVP (AVPA; an arginine-vasopressin [AVP] V(1) receptor antagonist), FK 409 (a nitric oxide [NO] donor), and N(W)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; an NO synthase inhibitor) on water intake, sodium chloride 3% (NaCl) intake and arterial blood pressure induced by injection of ANG II into the lateral septal area (LSA). Male Holtzman rats (250-300 g) were implanted with cannulae into SON and LSA unilaterally. The drugs were injected in 0.5 microl over 30-60 s. Controls were injected with a similar volume of 0.15 M NaCl. ANG II was injected at a dose of 10 pmol. ANG II antagonists and AVPA were injected at doses of 80 nmol. FK 409 and l-NAME were injected at doses of 20 and 40 microg, respectively. Water and NaCl intake was measured over a 2-h period. Prior administration of losartan into the SON decreased water and NaCl intake induced by injection of ANG II. While there was a decrease in water intake, ANG II-induced NaCl intake was significantly increased following injection of AVPA. FK 409 injection decreased water intake and sodium intake induced by ANG II. l-NAME alone increased water and sodium intake and induced a pressor effect. l-NAME-potentiated water and sodium intake induced by ANG II. PD 123319 produced no changes in water or sodium intake induced by ANG II. The prior administration of losartan or AVPA decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) induced by ANG II. PD 123319 decreased the pressor effect of ANG II to a lesser degree than losartan. FK 409 decreased the pressor effect of ANG II while l-NAME potentiated it. These results suggest that both ANG II AT(1) and AVP V(1) receptors and NO within the SON may be involved in water intake, NaCl intake and the pressor response were induced by activation of ANG II receptors within the LSA. These results do not support the involvement of LSA AT(2) receptors in the mediation of water and NaCl intake responses induced by ANG II, but influence the pressor response.

Central AII evokes a normal sodium appetite in the Fischer rat, but its low spontaneous sodium intake may be related to reduced excitation and increased inhibition in septo-preoptic AII neurons

Fischer rats show a low or absent basal salt appetite and a reduced intake of salt solutions in response to peripherally administered angiotensin II (AII) when compared to other strains. We investigated spontaneous sodium intake, and sodium intake after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) AII and losartan, and septo-preoptic neuronal responses to AII and losartan, in age-matched male Fischer and Wistar rats. Spontaneous intake of 1.8% NaCl was lower in Fischers, but i.c.v. injection of 10 pmol AII produced similar 2 h intakes in a 2 h test period. Iontophoretic application of AII and losartan onto neurons in the septo-preoptic continuum revealed differences between the two strains of rat. In the Fischer rats only 11% of the spontaneously active neurons were sensitive to locally applied AII compared to approximately 30% in the Wistar. Local application of losartan produced neuronal inhibition in Fischer rats but neuronal excitation in Wistars. The central AII system appears to be regulated differently in these two strains, and may be related to the differences in their spontaneous sodium intake, but not to AII aroused sodium appetite.

Role of AT2 receptor in the brain in regulation of blood pressure and water intake

The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of angiotensin II (ANG II) on blood pressure and water intake were examined with the use of ANG II receptor-deficient mice. ICV injection of ANG II increased systolic blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner in wild-type (WT) mice and ANG type 2 AT(2) receptor null (knockout) (AT(2)KO) mice; however, this increase was significantly greater in AT(2)KO mice than in WT mice. The pressor response to a central injection of ANG II in WT mice was inhibited by ICV preinjection of the selective AT(1) receptor blocker valsartan but exaggerated by the AT(2) receptor blocker PD-123319. ICV injection of ANG II also increased water intake. It was partly but significantly suppressed both in AT(2)KO and AT(1)aKO mice. Water intake in AT(2)/AT(1)aKO mice did not respond to ICV injection of ANG II. Both valsartan and PD-123319 partly inhibited water intake in WT mice. These results indicate an antagonistic action between central AT(1)a and AT(2) receptors in the regulation of blood pressure, but they act synergistically in the regulation of water intake induced by ANG II.