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Brain parenchyma vessels and the angiotensin system
F Alliot1, J Rutin, P J Leenen
1CNRS UPR 9035 and ER 1783 'Développement et Immunité du Système Nerveux Central', 15 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 75270, Paris cedex 06, France.
Brain Research
|June 3, 1999
Summary
The brain has its own angiotensin system. Researchers found angiotensin peptides and their metabolizing enzymes, aminopeptidase A (APA) and aminopeptidase N (APN), located together around brain vessels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- The brain possesses an intrinsic angiotensin (AG) system.
- Aminopeptidases A (APA) and N (APN) are crucial for angiotensin metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the localization of angiotensin peptides and their metabolizing enzymes in the adult mouse brain.
- To explore the functional relationship between brain perivascular angiotensins and their metabolizing enzymes.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to detect enzyme and peptide localization.
- Antibodies against angiotensin I, II(III), APA, APN, and AT1-receptor were used.
Main Results:
- APA and APN were expressed on the plasma membrane of capillary pericytes and periendothelial cells in the brain parenchyma.
- Angiotensin I and II(III) immunoreactivity was observed around most brain vessels.
- Angiotensins were localized on the plasma membrane of brain parenchymal cells, including perivascular astrocytes expressing AT1-receptor antibodies.
Conclusions:
- The co-localization of angiotensins and their metabolizing enzymes (APA, APN) suggests a specific functional role for perivascular angiotensins in the brain.
- These findings highlight the intricate neurovascular regulation mediated by the brain's intrinsic angiotensin system.