CHANGES IN MYOCARDIAL/RENAL/PULMONARY RENIN ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEMS IN HEART FAILURE

我们研究了局部肾素-各组分的表达

We studied the expression of various components of the local renin- angiotensin system (RAS) by quantitation of cardiac, renal, an pulmonary mRNA levels of renin, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II receptor subtypes (types AT-1 and AT-2) in rats with different severities of CHF, induced by the creation of an aortocaval fistula (ACF). Rats either compensate and maintain normal hypertrophy, which was greater in decompensated rats. Renal renin-mRNA increased 52% in compensated animals and 130% in decompensated rats. Renin mRNA levels in the myocardium also increased 68% and 140% in rats with compensated and decompensated CHF, respectively. ACE-mRNA increased in a similar pattern in the heart but not in the kidneys. Moreover, renal and cardiac ACE innumoreactivity levels, assessed by a different method showed the same trend. AT-1 recpetor mRNA levels decreased 54% only in the myocardium of decompensated rats, while AT-2 receptor mRNA did not change in any tissue studied. Thus, CHF is associated with a remarkable increase in the expression of the local RAS in the heart.