Evidence for a functional role of angiotensin II type 2 receptor in the cardiac hypertrophic process in vivo in the rat heart

The precise function of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2-R) in the mammalian heart in vivo is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of AT2-R in cardiac pressure overload. Rats were infused with vehicle, angiotensin II (Ang II), PD123319 (an AT2-R antagonist), or the combination of Ang II and PD123319 via subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps for 12 or 72 hours. Ang II-induced increases in mean arterial pressure, left ventricular weight/body weight ratio, and elevation of skeletal alpha-actin and beta-myosin heavy chain mRNA levels were not altered by PD123319. In contrast, AT2-R blockade resulted in a marked increase in the gene expression of c-fos, endothelin-1, and insulin-like growth factor-1 in Ang II-induced hypertension. In parallel, Ang II-stimulated mRNA and protein expression of atrial natriuretic peptide were significantly augmented by AT2-R blockade. Moreover, PD123319 markedly increased the synthesis of B-type natriuretic peptide. Furthermore, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-1 was downregulated by Ang II only in the presence of AT2-R blockade. Our results provide evidence that AT2-R plays a functional role in the cardiac hypertrophic process in vivo by selectively regulating the expression of growth-promoting and growth-inhibiting factors.