Adjacent expression of renin and angiotensinogen in the rostral ventrolateral medulla using a dual-reporter transgenic model

JL Lavoie, MD Cassell, KW Gross, CD Sigmund - Hypertension, 2004 - Am Heart Assoc
JL Lavoie, MD Cassell, KW Gross, CD Sigmund
Hypertension, 2004Am Heart Assoc
All components of the renin-angiotensin system are localized in the brain. However,
because renin is present in very low concentrations, the mechanism by which angiotensin II
is formed in the brain remains unclear. We previously reported the development of 2
transgenic mouse models using sensitive reporters, enhanced green fluorescent protein
(eGFP) and β-galactosidase (β-Gal), to examine the cellular localization of renin and
angiotensinogen in the mouse brain. To determine whether renin and angiotensinogen are …
All components of the renin-angiotensin system are localized in the brain. However, because renin is present in very low concentrations, the mechanism by which angiotensin II is formed in the brain remains unclear. We previously reported the development of 2 transgenic mouse models using sensitive reporters, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and β-galactosidase (β-Gal), to examine the cellular localization of renin and angiotensinogen in the mouse brain. To determine whether renin and angiotensinogen are coexpressed or present in neighboring cells in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and other cardiovascular control regions of the brain, we produced and examined double-transgenic mice, which express eGFP driven by the renin promoter (REN-1c/eGFP) and β-gal driven by the human angiotensinogen promoter (hAGT/β-gal). Using these reporter transgenes as sensitive markers for renin and angiotensinogen expression, we conclude that both proteins are coexpressed in the parabrachial nucleus and central nucleus of the amygdala and are in adjacent cells in the RVLM, reticular formation, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, subfornical organ, and CA1–3 region. These data suggests that, in these areas, both renin and angiotensinogen are in close proximity providing the potential for the local formation of angiotensin I either intracellularly, when there is colocalization, or in the interstitium, when they are in juxtaposed cells.
Am Heart Assoc