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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors
Published on: June 7, 2016
Renin and angiotensin II receptor expression in the brains of DES-treated Syrian hamsters
A H Dodge1, I A Reid, T Inagami
1Department of Basic Sciences, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco 94115, USA.
Background:
The renin angiotensin system (RAS) promotes vasoconstriction. Expression of RAS is induced by different factors.
Methods:
In this study, forebrain sections of hamster brains were studied by immunohistochemical methods to determine the location of renin-positive and angiotensin II receptor-positive cells. The brain sections were obtained from diethylstilbesterol- (DES-) treated hamsters, adult non-DES-treated hamsters, elderly non-DES-treated hamsters, neonatal hamsters, and 15-day fetal hamsters. Circulating renin activity was determined for all but the neonatal and 15-day fetal hamsters.
Results:
Renin-positive and angiotensin II receptor-positive vascular smooth muscle cells were observed in DES-treated hamsters. No positive cells were observed in neonatal, 15-day fetal, and adult non-DES-treated hamsters. Some expression was observed in elderly hamsters.
Conclusions:
Therefore, focal expression of the renin angiotensin system in brain vasculature was induced by the synthetic estrogen DES.
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