Enhanced renal immunocytochemical expression of ANG-(1-7) and ACE2 during pregnancy

Previously we demonstrated that kidney concentration and urinary excretion of angiotensin-(1-7) are increased during normal pregnancy in rats. Since this finding may reflect local kidney production of angiotensin-(1-7), we determined the immunocytochemical distribution of angiotensin-(1-7) and its newly described processing enzyme, ACE2, in kidneys of virgin and 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were killed at the 19th day of pregnancy, and tissues were prepared for immunocytochemical by using a polyclonal antibody to angiotensin- (1-7) or a monoclonal antibody to ACE2. Angiotensin-(1-7) immunostaining was predominantly localized to the renal tubules traversing both the inner cortex and outer medulla. ACE2 immunostaining was localized throughout the cortex and outer medulla and was visualized in the renal tubules of both virgin and pregnant rats. The quantification of angiotensin-(1-7) and ACE2 immunocytochemical staining showed that in pregnant animals, the intensity of the staining increased by 56% and 117%, respectively (P<0.05). This first demonstration of the immunocytochemical distribution of angiotensin-(1-7) and ACE2 in kidneys of pregnant rats shows that pregnancy increases angiotensin-(1-7) immunocytochemical expression in association with increased ACE2 intensity of staining. The findings suggest that ACE2 may contribute to the local production and overexpression of angiotensin-(1-7) in the kidney during pregnancy.