[The role of angiotensin II in the development of cardiovascular remodeling]

We examined the role of AT1 in the development of cardiovascular remodeling using AT1a knockout (KO) mice. 1. Pressure overload and mechanical stretch induced hypertrophic responses in KO and wild type (WT) cardiomyocytes (CM). Stretch activated MAPK through PKC in WT CM and through tyrosine kinase in KO CM. 2. The number of ventricular premature beats and tachycardia was larger in WT mice than KO mice. 3. Left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction was more remarkable in WT mice than KO mice. 4. Vascular injury induced neointimal formation in KO mice as well as in WT mice.