Effects of female sex hormones on expression of the Ang-(1-7)/Mas-R/nNOS pathways in rat brain.
Female sex hormones are considered to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. As a part of the renin-angiotensin system, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] has recently been reported to play a role in protecting neuronal tissues from ischemic stroke. Thus, we examined the effects of female sex hormones on the levels of Ang-(1-7) and its downstream pathways in the brain. Female rats were ovariectomized and 17β-estradiol (17β-EST), progesterone (PGR), or a combination of 17β-EST plus PGR were administered. Our data demonstrated that lack of female sex hormones significantly decreased the levels of Ang-(1-7) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area. Also, we observed a linear relationship between cortex levels of Ang-(1-7) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels (as an indicator for risk of ischemic stroke). We further showed that lack of female sex hormones decreased the expression of Ang-(1-7), Mas-receptor (Mas-R), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Overall, our findings show for the first time that Ang-(1-7) and Mas-R/nNOS in the cortex are influenced by circulating 17β-EST and (or) PGR, whereas Ang-(1-7) and its pathways in the hippocampal CA1 area are primarily altered by 17β-EST. This suggests that female sex hormones play a role in regulating the expression of Ang-(1-7) and its pathways during ischemic brain injuries.
Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.|Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
Yuan
Y
Cheng
Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.|Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
Qiaoying
Q
Li
Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.|Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
Yidan
Y
Zhang
Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.|Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
Quan
Q
Wen
Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.|Department of Neurology, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, 1478 Gongnong Road, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
Jianjun
J
Zhao
D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000803:Angiotensin I; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)
17β-estradiol; 17β-œstradiol, progestérone; Ang-(1–7); Ang-(1–7), AVC ischémique, NOSn, cortex cérébral, région CA1 de l’hippocampe; cerebral cortex; hippocampal CA1; ischemic stroke; nNOS; progesterone