Yc. Zhu et al., Effects of ramipril on cardiac gene transcription levels of angiotensin IIreceptors after myocardial infarction, ACT PHAR SI, 20(6), 1999, pp. 481-485
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.