Effects of ramipril on cardiac gene transcription levels of angiotensin IIreceptors after myocardial infarction

AIM: To study the early changes of cardiac angiotensin(Ang) II receptor gen e transcription after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats chronically treate d with the angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) inhibitor ramipril. METHODS : MI was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in ra ts and sham-operated rats were used as control. Rats were treated daily wit h ramipril (1 m . kg(-1)) or water, initiated 1 wk before surgery. Quantita tive RT-PCR was applied to determine the Ang II receptors AT1, AT2 receptor gene mRNA levels in the non-infarcted myocardium. RESULTS: AT1 and AT2 mRN A levels increased time point-dependently in the cardiac septum after MI re aching a peak on d 1. There was no significant difference of the myocardial AT1 and AT2 receptor mRNA levels between the ramipril-treated and water-tr eated rats after MI. CONCLUSION: The AT1 and AT2 receptor gene transcriptio n in the noninfarcted myocardium was associated with the process of cardiac remodeling after MI but not affected by ACE inhibition.