title: Contribution of the renin-angiotensin system in chronic foot-shock induced hypertension in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic foot shock has been demonstrated to induce hypertension. The present study was designed to explore whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in this process and the possible mechanisms involved in chronic-foot-shock-induced hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a two-week foot shock with or without an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor blocker (ARB, candesartan) or an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, captopril). The expression of RAS components in the central nervous and circulatory systems was examined. Antioxidant levels in the plasma were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-week foot shock significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). Angiotensinogen, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE)-1, ACE-2, angiotensin type 1a and type 1b receptors, and vasopressin (VAP) mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus were increased along with the concentration of renin and Ang II in the plasma; these changes were accompanied by decreased glutathione peroxidase activity and increased lipid peroxidation levels and plasma corticosterone concentrations. Both candesartan and captopril suppressed not only the increases in SBP but also the increases in VAP expression in the hypothalamus and RAS components in the central nervous system and the circulatory system. The decreases in antioxidant levels and the increases in lipid peroxidation and corticosterone levels were also partially reversed by candesartan or captopril treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic foot shock increases expression of the main RAS components, which play an important role in the development of high blood pressure through increased VAP levels, oxidative stress levels and stress hormone levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
authors.forename: Bei-Bei
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Suzhou Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 18 Yang-Su Road, Suzhou 215003, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Suzhou Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 18 Yang-Su Road, Suzhou 215003, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, High-Tech Zone Hospital, Soochow University, 28 Kang-Fu Alley, Suzhou High-Tech Zone Hu-Shu-Guan town, Suzhou 215151, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, PR China. Electronic address: zhangguoxing@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004597:Electroshock; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D006728:Hormones
keywords: Foot shock stress; High blood pressure; Oxidative stress; Renin–angiotensin system (RAS)