Protective effects of angiotensin receptor control on ischemic neuronal injury

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Mitochondrial apoptosis after cerebral ischemia is known to mediate neuronal injury. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor activation results in production of superoxide, but whether angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade prevents mitochondrial apoptosis after ischemia remains unclear. Normotensive rats received the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, candesartan or only vehicle before induction of global cerebral ischemia. Approximately 30% of the hippocampal CA1 neurons survived in candesartan-treated animals, whereas only 2% of neurons survived in vehicle-treated animals. Superoxide production and cytochrome c release were significantly less in these vulnerable neurons in candesartan-treated animals than in vehicle-treated animals. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor may have an essential role in apoptotic cell death in vulnerable neurons after global cerebral ischemia.