title: Pregnancy enhances the angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) vasodilator response in mesenteric arteries and increases the renal concentration and urinary excretion of Ang-(1-7).
abstract: The vasoactive effect of angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) in mesenteric resistance arteries together with its plasma and kidney concentration and urinary excretion was assessed in pregnant and virgin rats. Mesenteric arteries (230-290 microm) were mounted in a pressurized myograph system and Ang-(1-7) concentration-dependent response curves (10(-10)-10(-5) M) were determined in arteries preconstricted with endothelin-1 (10(-7) M). The Ang-(1-7) response was investigated in vessels with and without pretreatment with the Ang-(1-7) antagonist [D-[Ala(7)]-Ang-(1-7)] (10(-7) M). Ang-(1-7) caused a significantly enhanced, concentration-dependent dilation of mesenteric vessels (EC(50) = 2.7 nM) from pregnant compared with virgin female rats. D-[Ala(7)]-Ang-(1-7) eliminated the vasodilator effect of Ang-(1-7). There was no significant change in plasma concentration of Ang-(1-7) in pregnant animals. On the other hand, 24 h urinary excretion and kidney concentration of Ang-(1-7) were significantly higher in pregnant animals. The increased mesenteric dilation to Ang-(1-7) with enhanced kidney concentration and 24 h urinary excretion rate of Ang-(1-7) suggests an important role for this peptide in cardiovascular regulation during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Vascular Disease Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1932, USA.
authors.forename: Liomar A A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Aleck F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Averill
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walkup
authors.forename: K Bridget
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Brosnihan
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000803:Angiotensin I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)