Browsing by Author "Ferrario, Carlos M."

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    ACE2 and ANG-(1-7) in the rat uterus during early and late gestation
    (AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC, 2008) Neves, Liomar A. A.; Stovall, Kathryn; Joyner, JaNae; Valdes, Gloria; Gallagher, Patricia E.; Ferrario, Carlos M.; Merrill, David C.; Brosnihan, K. Bridget
    The present study was designed to determine ANG peptide content [ANG I, ANG II, ANG( 1-7)], ACE2 mRNA, and the immunocytochemical distribution of ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 in the uteroembryonic unit during early and late gestation in Sprague-Dawley rats and in a rat model of pregnancy-induced hypertension, the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) model. At early pregnancy ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 staining were localized in the primary and secondary decidual zone and luminal and glandular epithelial cells. During late gestation, ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 staining was visualized in the labyrinth placenta and amniotic and yolk sac epithelium. Uterine ANG II concentration at early pregnancy was significantly decreased by 21-55% in the implantation and interimplantation sites compared with virgin rats, whereas ANG-(1-7) levels were maintained at prepregnancy levels. At late gestation, uterine concentrations of ANG I and ANG II were significantly increased (30% and 25%, respectively). In RUPP animals, ANG-(1-7) concentration is significantly reduced in the uterus (181 +/- 16 vs. 372 +/- 74 fmol/g of tissue) and placenta (143 +/- 26 vs. 197 +/- 20 fmol/g of tissue). ACE2 mRNA increased in the uterus of early pregnant compared with virgin rats, yet within the implantation site it was downregulated. At late pregnancy, ACE2 mRNA is elevated by 58% in the uterus and decreased by 59% in RUPP animals. The regulation of ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 in early and late pregnancy supports the hypothesis that ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 may act as a local autocrine/paracrine regulator throughout pregnancy, participating in the early (angiogenesis, apoptosis, and growth) and late (uteroplacental blood flow) events of pregnancy.
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    Urinary vasodilator and vasoconstrictor angiotensins during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and lactation
    (2001) Valdés, Gloria; Germain, Alfredo M.; Corthorn, Jenny; Berrios, Cecilia; Foradori, Arnaldo; Ferrario, Carlos M.; Brosnihan, K. Bridget