Increased neuronal activity in the OVLT of Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rats with inducible Ang II-dependent malignant hypertension

► C-fos expression increased in the OVLT of Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats with Ang II-dependent hypertension. ► TRPV1 protein expression increased in the OVLT of Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats with malignant hypertension. ► Cyp1a1-Ren2 rat is a relevant model of pharmacologically induced Ang II-dependent hypertension. The contribution of angiotensin II (Ang II) to the pathophysiology of hypertension is established based on facts that high levels of circulating Ang II increase vasoconstriction of peripheral arteries causing a rise in blood pressure (BP). In addition, circulating Ang II has various effects on the central nervous system, including the osmosensitive neurons in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT). Osmosensitive neurons in the OVLT transduce hypertonicity via the activation of the nonselective cation channel known as transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), causing membrane depolarization, followed by increased action potential discharge. This effect is absent in mice lacking expression of the TRPV1 gene. Most observations related to the importance of the OVLT in cardiovascular control are mainly based on models of lesion of the entire preoptic periventricular tissue. However, it remains unclear whether neuronal activity and TRPV1 protein expression levels alter in the OVLT of Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rats with inducible Ang II-dependent malignant hypertension. C-fos was used as a marker of neuronal activity. Immunostaining was used to demonstrate distribution of c-fos positive neurons in the OVLT of Cyp1a1Ren2 transgenic rats. Western blot analysis showed increased c-fos and TRPV1 total protein expression levels in the OVLT of hypertensive rats. The present findings demonstrate increased c-fos and TRPV1 expression levels in the OVLT of Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rats with Ang II-dependent malignant hypertension.