Although angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) and its role as a part of the "protective" axis of the renin-angiotensin system are well described in the literature, the mechanisms of its angiotensin II-like pressor and tachycardic effects following its acute central administration are not fully understood. It was the aim of the present study to examine which receptors contribute to the aforementioned cardiovascular effects. Ang 1-7 and antagonists for glutamate, GABA, vasopressin, thromboxane A (TP), α-adrenergic, and P2X purinoceptors or modulators of oxidative stress were injected into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) of urethane-anesthetized male Wistar rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
October 2024
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, incurable, and progressive disease. Although there is increasing evidence that immune disorders, particularly those associated with connective tissue diseases, are a strong predisposing factor in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), there is currently a lack of knowledge about the detailed molecular mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Exploring this topic is crucial because patients with an immune disorder combined with PAH have a worse prognosis and higher mortality compared with patients with other PAH subtypes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe enhancement of the endocannabinoid tone might have a beneficial influence on hypertension. Polypharmacology proposes multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of complex diseases. In the present paper, we studied JZL195, a dual inhibitor of the two major endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating compound of Cannabis with anti-fibrotic properties. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease that can lead to right ventricular (RV) failure and premature death. There is evidence that CBD reduces monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH, including reducing right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), vasorelaxant effect on pulmonary arteries, and decreasing expression of profibrotic markers in the lungs.
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