Alamandine through MrgD receptor induces antidepressant-like effect in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen.

Alamandine (Ala-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro), a heptapeptide hormone of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), exerts its effects through the Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor of the type D, MrgD, which is expressed in different tissues, including the brain. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that alamandine could attenuate the depression-like behavior observed in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen, TGR (ASrAOGEN)680. Transgenic rats exhibited a significant increase in the immobility time in forced swim test, a phenotype reversed by intracerebroventricular infusion of alamandine.

Neuropsychiatric Properties of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas Pathway: A Brief Review.

The current pharmacological strategies for the management of anxiety disorders and depression, serious conditions which are gaining greater prevalence worldwide, depend on only two therapeutic classes of mood-stabilizing drugs: Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). Although first line agents with proven efficacy, their clinical success in the management of anxiety disorders and depression is still considered highly complex due to the multifaceted nature of such conditions. Several studies have shown a possible therapeutic target could be found in the form of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme [ACE] type 2 (ACE2), Angiotensin [Ang]-(1-7) and Mas receptor pathway of the Renin- Angiotensin System (RAS), which as will be discussed, has been described to exhibit promising therapeutic properties for the management of anxiety disorders and depression.