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Sex Differences in Intrarenal ACE and ACE2 Activity May Explain Sex Disparities in Urinary Ang II Excretion
Author(s) -
Rands Vicky F,
Lara Lucienne S,
Seth Dale,
Prieto Minolfa C
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.835.8
Subject(s) - excretion , urinary system , medicine , endocrinology , physiology
Alterations in angiotensin (Ang) II synthesis and degradation have been implicated in hypertension due to dysregulation of the angiotensin converting enzymes, ACE and ACE2. To determine if this contributes to the sex disparity in hypertension, we compared the effects of chronic Ang II infusion (80 ng/min/14 days) on plasma and urinary levels of Ang II, as well as on ACE and ACE2 activity in the renal cortex and medulla of male and female Sprague‐Dawley rats (n=8–9/group). Sham females exhibited higher plasma Ang II levels yet lower urinary Ang II excretion than the males: [ Plasma Ang II (♂: 22±10 vs ♀ 150±48 fmol/ml, p<0.05); Urine Ang II (♂ 2080±361 vs ♀ 1080±127 fmol/day, p<0.05)]. Cortical ACE activity increased 2 fold in males but not females during Ang II infusion (♂ sham 14.3±3 vs ♂Ang II 33.8±10 RLU/mg/min, p<0.05). In contrast, kidney cortex ACE2 activity exhibited sex disparity: ( Sham : ♂16±3 vs ♀ 30±8 RLU/mg/min; Ang II : ♂ 11±3 vs ♀ 21±4 RLU/mg/min, p<0.05). Medullary ACE did not show differences however ACE2 levels in the medulla were 2–3 fold higher in the females than the males. ( Sham : ♂20±6 vs ♀45±5 RLU/mg/min; Ang II ♂21±10 vs ♀70±11 RLU/mg/min, p<0.05) These results demonstrating greater ACE2 activity in females than males in both sham and Ang II infused rats suggest that the ACE2 dependent degradation of Ang II contributes to the urinary Ang II levels in females. Tulane‐BIRCWH (K12HD043451), AHA (09BGIA2280440).