Identification and role of aldosterone receptors in the cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular system is now recognized as an important mineralocortico id target. All components required for specific and selective aldosterone e ffects are present in the cardiovascular system. Mineralocorticoid receptor s (MR) are expressed in the heart and large blood vessels together with the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II, which ensures the enzymatic protection of MR against glucocorticoids. The recent description of local v ascular and cardiac aldosterone biosynthesis strongly supports an autocrine /paracrine hormonal action. Establishment of transgenic mice models of targ eted overexpression of the mineralocorticoid receptor should facilitate new insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aldosterone actions in the cardiovascular system.