Physiological genomic analysis of the brain renin-angiotensin system

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2003-09, Vol.285 (3), p.498-R511
• Main Author: Davisson, Robin L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - physiology; Genomics; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Hypertension - physiopathology; Renin-Angiotensin System - genetics
• ISSN: 0363-6119; 1522-1490
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00190.2003

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, and The Cardiovascular Center, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 The brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has long been considered pivotal in cardiovascular regulation and important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and heart failure. However, despite more than 30 years of study, the brain RAS continues to defy explanation. Our lack of understanding of how the brain RAS is organized at the cellular and regional levels has made it difficult to resolve long-sought questions of how ANG II is produced in the brain and the precise mechanisms by which it exerts its actions. A major reason for this is the difficulty in experimentally dissecting the brain RAS at the regional, cellular, and whole organism levels. Recently, we and others developed a series of molecular tools for selective manipulation of the murine brain RAS, in parallel with technologies for integrative analysis of cardiovascular and volume homeostasis in the conscious mouse. This review, based in part on a lecture given in conjunction with the American Physiological Society Young Investigator Award in Regulatory and Integrative Physiology (Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section), outlines the physiological genomics strategy that we have taken in an effort to unravel some of the complexities of this system. It also summarizes the principles, progress, and prospects for a better understanding of the brain RAS in health and disease. transgenic mice; gene transfer; blood pressure; heart rate; dipsogenesis; reactive oxygen species; Cre-lox system; hypertension; heart failure Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: R. L. Davisson, Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 1-251 Bowen Science Bldg., The Univ. of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242 (E-mail: robin-davisson{at}uiowa.edu ).