Reciprocal regulation of cholesterol excretion in apolipoprotein E-null mice by angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptor deficiency.

Aims: The effects of AT(1) and AT(2) receptor deficiency on the intake and excretion of cholesterol were examined using atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-null (ApoEKO) mice.

Main Methods: ApoEKO, AT(1)a/ApoEKO and AT(2)/ApoEKO mice received a high-cholesterol diet (HCD: 1.25% cholesterol) for 10 days before sampling.

Possible involvement of AT2 receptor dysfunction in age-related gender difference in vascular remodeling.

This study explored the possible involvement of AT(2) receptor stimulation in the age-related gender difference in vascular remodeling of mouse femoral artery induced by cuff placement. In the young adult group of wild-type mice (10 weeks of age), the increase in DNA synthesis, neointimal formation, expression of chemokines, and superoxide anion production in the injured femoral artery were smaller in female than in male mice. These gender differences were smaller in the aged group (50-55 weeks of age) of wild-type mice, because vascular responses of female mice in the aged group were stronger than those in the young group.

Nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker, attenuated glucose intolerance and white adipose tissue dysfunction in type 2 diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

Background: To explore the metabolic actions of nifedipine on diabetes, we examined glucose intolerance and white adipose tissue changes in type 2 diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

Methods: Male KK-A(y) mice were treated with nifedipine (1.5 mg/kg/day in lab chow) for 5 weeks, which did not affect blood pressure or feeding of KK-A(y) mice.

Improvement of glucose intolerance by combination of pravastatin and olmesartan in type II diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

The effects of the coadministration of pravastatin and an angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor blocker, olmesartan, on glucose intolerance were examined using type II diabetic mice. Male KK-A(y) mice (8 weeks of age) were treated with pravastatin and/or olmesartan for 2 weeks. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed with an administration of 2 g kg(-1) glucose.