Angiotensin-(1-7) causes endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine middle cerebral artery

The heptapeptide, angiotensin-(1-7), is an active member of the renin-angiotensin system. The present study was designed to characterize the role of endothelium in relaxations of large cerebral arteries to angiotensin-(1-7). Rings of canine middle cerebral arteries were suspended in organ chambers for isometric force recording. The levels of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) were assessed by radioimmunoassay. During contraction to uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP, 3x10(-6) to 10(-5) mol/l), angiotensin-(1-7) (10(-9) to 3x10(-5) mol/l) caused concentration-dependent relaxations in arteries with endothelium, but not in endothelium-denuded vessels. Angiotensin-(1-7) significantly increased formation of cGMP. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 3x10(-4) mol/l), and selective soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, 1 H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinozalin-1-one (ODQ, 3x10(-6) mol/l), abolished angiotensin-(1-7)-induced relaxations. Angiotensin receptor antagonists, losartan (10(-5) mol/l), PD 123319 (10(-5) mol/l), [Sar(1),Thr(8)]-angiotensin II (10(-5) mol/l) [Sar(1),Val(5), Ala(8)]-angiotensin II (10(-5) mol/l) or [7-D-Ala]-angiotensin 1-7 (10(-6) mol/l) did not affect these relaxations. However, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (10(-5) mol/l) augmented relaxations to angiotensin-(1-7). Finally, bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist, [D-Arg(0),Hyp(3),Thi(5),D-Tic(7), Oic(8)]-bradykinin (HOE 140, 5x10(-8) mol/l) significantly reduced the effect of angiotensin-(1-7), while bradykinin B(1) receptor antagonist, des-Arg(9), [Leu(8)]-bradykinin (6x10(-9) mol/l) did not influence the vascular response to the heptapeptide. These findings indicate that (1) angiotensin-(1-7) produces relaxation of canine middle cerebral arteries by the release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells, (2) angiotensin receptors do not mediate endothelium-dependent relaxations to the heptapeptide, and (3) this effect appears to be dependent on activation of local production of kinins. Our studies support the concept that angiotensin-(1-7), as a natural vasodilator hormone, may counterbalance the hemodynamic actions of angiotensin II.