title: Continuous activation of renin-angiotensin system impairs cognitive function in renin/angiotensinogen transgenic mice.
abstract: We examined the possibility that continuous activation of the human brain renin-angiotensin system causes cognitive impairment, using human renin (hRN) and human angiotensinogen (hANG) gene chimeric transgenic (Tg) mice. Cognitive function was evaluated by the shuttle avoidance test once a week from 10 to 20 weeks of age. The avoidance rate in wild-type mice gradually increased. In contrast, the avoidance rate in chimeric hRN/hANG-Tg mice also increased; however, no further increase in avoidance rate was observed from 14 weeks of age, and it decreased thereafter. Cerebral surface blood flow was markedly reduced in 20-week-old hRN/hANG-Tg mice. Superoxide anion production in the brain was already higher in 10-week-old hRN/hANG-Tg mice and further increased thereafter with an increase in NADPH oxidase activity. Moreover, expression of p47(phox) and Nox4 in the brain of hRN/hANG-Tg mice also increased. Administration of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, olmesartan (5.0 mg/kg per day), attenuated the increase in blood pressure and ameliorated cognitive decline with enhancement of cerebral surface blood flow and a reduction of oxidative stress in hRN/hANG-Tg mice. On the other hand, hydralazine (0.5 mg/kg per day) did not improve the decrease in avoidance rate, and did not influence cerebral surface blood flow or oxidative stress in hRN/hANG-Tg mice, in spite of a similar reduction of blood pressure to that by olmesartan. Moreover, we observed that treatment with Tempol improved impaired cognitive function in hRN/hANG-Tg mice. These results suggest that continuous activation of the brain renin-angiotensin system impairs cognitive function via stimulation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor with a decrease in cerebral surface blood flow and an increase in oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology and Pharmacology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Tohon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuno
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomono
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Senba
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.forename: Jitsuo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012083:Renin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D013113:Spin Labels; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000975:Antioxidants; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D007093:Imidazoles; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D013113:Spin Labels; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000808:Angiotensinogen; D013481:Superoxides; C437965:olmesartan; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C422943:Nox4 protein, mouse; C060505:neutrophil cytosolic factor 1; D012083:Renin; C001803:tempol