The genetic deletion of Mas abolishes salt induced hypertension in mice

The G protein-coupled receptor Mas is a physiological antagonist of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor and is associated with angiotensin-(1-7) signaling. We investigated the effect of Mas-deficiency on blood pressure regulation under physiological conditions and salt load using radiotelemetry. Mas-knockout mice and their wild-type controls received a telemetry implant in the carotid artery. One week after surgery, animals were monitored for 3 days receiving normal diet (0.6% NaCl) followed by one-week high-salt diet (8% NaCl). Under same high-salt diet, another set of mice was placed in individual metabolic cages for 4 days. Basal mean arterial pressure, heart rate and locomotor activity displayed normal day-night rhythm in Mas-deficient mice. Mas-knockout mice were normotensive. High dietary NaCl ingestion did not alter heart rate or locomotor activity in both groups, but significantly increased night time mean arterial pressure in control mice whereas this increase was blunted in Mas-deficient mice. Baseline food and water intake and urine osmolality were not different between both genotypes. Under high-salt diet, water consumption and food intake were equally increased in wild-type controls and Mas-knockout, but urinary electrolytes and osmolality were significantly higher in Mas-knockout. Taken together, basal hemodynamic parameters are unchanged in Mas-knockout mice. In contrast to wild-type controls, telemetric mean arterial pressure measurement revealed salt resistance in Mas-deficient animals, probably due to their higher urinary NaCl excretion. This is the first direct proof that Mas blockade might be a new option in the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension.