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ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTORS AND RENIN IN THE PORCINE UTERUS: MYOMETRIAL AT 2 AND ENDOMETRIAL AT 1 RECEPTORS ARE DOWN‐REGULATED DURING GESTATION
Author(s) -
Nielsen AH,
Schauser K.,
Winther H.,
Dantzer V.,
Poulsen K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb01193.x
Subject(s) - myometrium , receptor , endocrinology , medicine , endometrium , angiotensin ii , renin–angiotensin system , angiotensin ii receptor type 1 , uterus , gestation , angiotensin receptor , biology , pregnancy , genetics , blood pressure
SUMMARY 1. The aim of the present study was to characterize the angiotensin II (AngII) receptor subtypes in the porcine uterus and the variation of receptor densities and renin concentrations during gestation. 2. In myometrium from non‐pregnant sows, the AngII receptors were almost exclusively AT 2 receptors. During gestation, the AngII receptor density was decreased and the AT 1 receptor became predominant in the last part of gestation as a result of a down‐regulation of the AT 2 receptor. 3. In the endometrium, the AT 1 receptor was predominant both in non‐pregnant sows and throughout gestation. The AngII receptor density was decreased during gestation as a consequence of down‐regulation of the AT 1 receptor. 4. The renin concentrations in the myometrium and endometrium of pregnant sows did not differ from those in non‐pregnant animals. 5. The finding of enzymatically active renin and high densities of AngII receptors in the porcine uterus is in accordance with a functional renin‐angiotensin system (RAS), which may be important for an increased vascular permeability and stimulated angiogenesis in early pregnancy and for contraction of the myo‐metrial smooth muscle cells during parturition. The predominance of ATi receptors in the endometrium of non‐pregnant sows differs from an earlier finding in non‐pregnant women, where AT2 receptors were predominant in the endometrium. This is in accordance with earlier studies, indicating species differences in the expression and possibly also the physiological roles of the RAS in reproductive tissues.