Hypertension in unilaterally nephrectomized rats induced by single-kidney transfection with angiotensinogen cDNA

Plasmid expression vectors containing angiotensinogen (ATG) cDNA were compl exed to cationic liposomes and injected into the renal artery of unilateral ly nephrectomized rats to evaluate the effect of intrarenal ATG cDNA on art erial blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin system. Systolic blood press ures measured by tail cuff on days 12, 16, and 18 after transfection were s ignificantly higher in rats that received ATG cDNA than in control rats tha t received the lac Z reporter gene. Plasma renin activity and plasma ATG co ncentration were unchanged, These results provide direct evidence that the availability of intrarenal ATG may be instrumental in the development of sy stemic hypertension.