Hypotensive effect induced by microinjection of Alamandine, a derivative of angiotensin-(1–7), into caudal ventrolateral medulla of 2K1C hypertensive rats

•The hypotensive effect of Alamandine at the CVLM involves different mechanisms.•There is difference in the effects of alamandine at CVLM of normotensive and 2K1C hypertensive rats.•CVLM hypotensive effect induced by alamandine was blocked by D-Pro7-Ang-(1–7) and PD antagonists.•Alamandine produced U-shapped effect on blood pressure in the CVLM of 2K1C rats. In the present study we evaluated the cardiovascular effects produced by microinjection of the new component of the renin-angiotensin system, alamandine, into caudal ventrolateral medulla of urethane-anesthetized normotensive and hypertensive 2K1C rats. The participation of different angiotensin receptors in the effects of alamandine was also evaluated. Microinjection of angiotensin-(1–7) was used for comparison. The microinjection of 4, 40 and 140pmol of alamandine or angiotensin-(1–7) into caudal ventrolateral medulla induced similar hypotensive effects in Sham-operated rats. However, contrasting with angiotensin-(1–7), in 2K1C rats the MAP response to the highest dose of alamandine was similar to that observed with saline. The microinjection of A-779, a selective Mas receptor antagonist, blunted the angiotensin-(1–7) effects but did not block the hypotensive effect of alamandine in Sham or in 2K1C rats. However, microinjection of D-Pro7-angiotensin-(1–7), a Mas/MrgD receptor antagonist, blocked the hypotensive effect induced by both peptides. Furthermore, microinjection of PD123319, a putative AT2 receptor antagonist blocked the hypotensive effect of alamandine, but not of angiotensin-(1–7), in Sham and 2K1C rats. Microinjection of the AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, did not alter the hypotensive effect of angiotensin-(1–7) or alamandine in both groups. These results provide new insights about the differential mechanisms participating in the central cardiovascular effects of alamandine and angiotensin-(1–7) in normotensive and 2K1C hypertensive rats.