Nitric
Oxide Synthase mRNA Levels Correlate with Gene
Expression of Angiotensin II Type-1 but not
Type-2 Receptors, Renin or Angiotensin Converting
Enzyme in Selected Brain Areas
O.
KRIŽANOVÁ1, A. KISS2, Ľ.
ŽÁČIKOVÁ1, D. JEŽOVÁ2
1Institute
of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, and 2Institute
of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Received October 25,
2000
Accepted February 14, 2001
Summary
Recent
data suggest that there is interaction between
peripheral angiotensin II and nitric oxide.
However, sparse information is available on the
mutual interaction of these two compounds in the
brain. The potential intercourse of nitric oxide
with brain neuropeptides needs to be
substantiated by assessing its local production
and gene expression of the synthesizing enzymes
involved. The aim of the present study was to
evaluate whether the gene expression of brain
nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) is related to the
sites of gene expression of different components
of the rat brain renin angiotensin system (renin,
angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) or
angiotensin receptors of AT1 and AT2 subtypes).
The levels of corresponding mRNAs were measured
and correlated in nine structures of adult rat
brain (hippocampus, amygdala, septum, thalamus,
hypothalamus, cortex, pons, medulla and
cerebellum). As was expected, positive
correlation was observed between renin and
angiotensin-converting enzyme mRNAs. Moreover, a
significant correlation was found between brain
NO synthase and AT1 receptor mRNAs,
but not with mRNA of the AT2 receptor,
ACE and renin. Parallel distribution of mRNAs
coding for bNOS and AT1 receptors in
several rat brain structures suggests a possible
interaction between brain angiotensin II and
nitric oxide, which remains to be definitely
demonstrated by other approaches.
Key
words
Angiotensin
II · Nitric oxide synthase · AT1
receptors · AT2receptors · Rat brain
· Gene expression
Reprint
requests
Oľga
Krizanová, Ph.D., Institute of Molecular
Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of
Sciences, Vlárska 5, 833 34 Bratislava, Slovak
Republic, fax. +421 2 5477 3666, e-mail: umfgkriz@kramare.savba.sk
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