Expression of angiotensin II AT(2) receptor in the acute phase of stroke in rats

A male Wistar rat model of stroke (middle cerebral artery occlusion; MCAO) was used to study the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor subtype 2 (AT(2)) ge ne expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) a nd immunohistochemical staining. After permanent occlusion of the middle ce rebral artery (MCA), AT2 receptor gene expression was found to increase in the infarct cortex by 2.7-fold (1 day) and 1.7-fold (3 days), respectively. Positive AT(2) immunostaining was also observed in the infarct area of the cerebral cortex. Apoptotic markers were detected in the necrotic area of t he stroke cerebral cortex 1 day after MCAO. This demonstrated up-regulation of AT2 receptor may be involved in the apoptosis of tissue repair after st roke. NeuroReport 11:1191-1194 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.