• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.771-778
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• 1998

To investigate interaction of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with local tissue renin- angiotensin system (RAS), changes in gene expression of the RAS components in various tissues in response to chronic administration of an ACE inhibitor, enalapril, were examined in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Enalapril was administered in their drinking water $(3{\sim}4\;mg/day)$ over 8 wk. Plasma and renal ACE activity increased significantly after 4 and 8 wk of enalapril treatment. Renin levels of the plasma and kidney of the enalapril-treated rats markedly increased after 4 wk and decreased thereafter, but still remained significantly higher than those of control rats. Kidney mRNA levels of renin markedly increased after 4 and 8 wk of enalapril treatment, but those of angiotensinogen and ANG II-receptor subtypes, $AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$, did not change significantly. The liver expressed genes for renin, angiotensinogen and $AT_{1A}$ receptor subtype, but $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtype mRNA was not detectable by RT-PCR. None of mRNA for these RAS components in the liver changed significantly by enalapril treatment. The hypothalamus showed mRNA expressions of renin, angiotensinogen, $AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtypes. $AT_{1A}$ receptor subtype mRNA was more abundant than $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtype in the hypothalamus as shown in the kidney. However, gene expression of the RAS components remained unchanged during 8-wk treatment of enalapril. In the present study, chronic ACE inhibition increased plasma and renal levels of ACE and renin, but did not affect mRNA levels of other RAS components such as angiotensinogen, ANG II receptor subtypes in the kidney. Gene levels of the RAS components in the liver and hypothalamus were not altered by chronic treatment of enalapril. These results suggest the differential expression of the RAS components in response to enalapril, and localized action and some degree of tissue specificity of enalapril.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.121-122
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• 2021

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.175-193
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• 2016

Objective : Diuretics are effective on the patients with hypertension and heart failure, as well as edema by regulating the function of kidney, which is key organ to maintain the balance of the different electrolytes in the body. The present review article is designed to review the diuretic effect of Korean medicinal prescription base on the experimental studies.Method : For this purpose, every article related to ‘diuresis’ and 'Korean medicinal prescription' were analysed from articles which published at domestic and international journals.Results : 1. Representative Korean medicine prescriptions showed diuretic effect along with electrolyte excretion were Oryeong-san, Paeryung-tang, Hwangryungbokryung-tang and Daeganghwal-tang. 2. Some Korean medicinal prescription including Oryeong-san, Jueryeong-tang, Sipcho-tang distribute diuresis through the inhibition of renin-angiotensin-system. 3. Oryeong-san, Bojungchiseup-tang had a diuretic effect on the down-regulation of aquaporin water channel in the renal collecting duct.Conclusion : Korean medicinal transcriptions have a diuretic effect through several types of mechanism such as along with electrolytes excretion, inhibition of renin-angiotensin system, and down-regulation of water channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 1989

Mammalian cardiocytes secrete atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs) into plasma, which cause marked natriuresis, diuresis, vasorelaxation and inhibition of hormone secretions. Aging influences the ability of the kidney both to conserve and to excrete sodium; i.e., in old animals, the excretory capacity of sodium is reduced and the time required to excrete sodium load is prolonged. Therefore, it is possible that animals differing in ages may respond differently to ANP. In the present study, we determined whether the renal, hormonal and vascular effects of ANP may be influenced by aging in conscious rabbits. The plasma renin concentration decreased with aging but plasma ANP concentration was significantly lower only in 24-month-old rabbits. Plasma aldosterone concentration and atrial ANP content did not change by aging. In 1-month-old rabbits, ANP (atriopeptin III, 3 ug/kg) administered intravenously caused hypotension and decreased in plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations, but did not cause diuresis and natriuresis. In 2 to 5 month-old rabbits, ANP caused hypotension, decreases in Plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations and marked renal effects. However, in 24-month-old rabbits, all the above effects of ANP was blunted. With hydration of physiological saline at a rate of 15 ml/kg/h for 2hr, urine volume and glomerular filtration rate did not change but the electrolyte excretion as well as fractional excretion of sodium significantly increased. The plasma concentrations of active renin and aldosterone were decreased but plasma inactive renin and ANP concentrations were increased. The changes in renal function and plasma level of hormone showed no differences in different ages. These results suggest that the peripheral vascular receptors to ANP may develop earlier than those in the kidney, and the attenuated vascular and renal responses to ANP in the old age may be due to age-related modifications in renal function and blood vessel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 1994

The present study was aimed to determine if endogenous L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway has central, rather than peripheral, mechanisms in blood pressure regulation. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate responses to acute inhibition of the t-arginine-NO pathway were examined in rats anesthetized with thiopental (50 mg/kg, IP). An intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula was placed in the left lateral ventricle. The right femoral artery was cannulated to measure arterial blood pressure and the vein to serve as an infusion route. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester (L-NAME) was infused either intracerebroventricularly or intravenously. ICV infusion $(1.25\;{\mu}L/min)$ of L-NAME $(20\;or\;100\;{\mu}g/kg)$ per minute for 60 min) increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate. Plasma renin concentrations(PRC) were significantly lower in L-NAME-infused group than in the control. L-Arginine $(60\;{\mu}g/min,\;ICV)$ prevented the pressor response to ICV L-NAME. The pressor response was not affected by simultaneous intravenous infusion of saralasin, but was abolished by hexamethonium treatment. Intravenous infusion $(40\;{\mu}L/min,\;10{\sim}100\;{\mu}g/kg\;per\;minute\;for\;60\;min)$ also increased blood pressure, while it decreased heart rate. These results indicate that endogenous L-arginine-NO pathway has separate central and peripheral mechanisms in regulating the cardiovascular function. The central effect may not be mediated via activation of renin-angiotensin system, but via, at least in part, activation of the sympathetic outflow.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.363-375
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• 1989

It has been well known that peripheral infusion of angiotensin II results in an increase of blood pressure, and an elevation of aldosterone secretion, and an inhibition of renin relase. However, the direct effect of angiotensin II on renal function has not been clearly established. In the present study, to investigate the effect of angiotensin II on renal function and renin release, angiotensin II (0.3, 3 and 10 ng/kg/min) was infused into a unilateral renal artery of the unanesthetized rabbit and changes in renal function and active and inactive renin secretion rate (ARSR, IRSR) were measured. In addition, to determine the relationship between the renal effect of angiotensin II and adenosine, the angiotensin II effect was evaluated in the presence of simultaneously infused 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, 30 nmole/min), adenosine A 1 receptor antagonist. Angiotensin II infusion at dose less than 10 ng/kg/min decreased urine flow, clearances of para-amino-hippuric acid and creatinine, and urinary excretion of electrolytes in dose-dependent manner. The changes in urine flow and sodium excretion were significantly correlated with the change in renal hemodynamics. Infusion of angiotensin II at 10 ng/kg/min also decreased ARSR, but it has no significant effect on IRSR. The change in ARSR was inversely correlated with the change in IRSR. The plasma concentration of catecholamine was not altered by an intarenal infusion of angiotensin II. In the presence of 8-PT in the infusate, the effect of angiotensin II on renal function was significantly attenuated, but that on renin secretion was not modified. These results suggest that the reduction in urine flow and Na excretion during intrarenal infusion of angiotensin II was not due to direct inhibitions of renal tubular transport systems, but to alterations of renal hemodynamics which may partly be mediated by the adenosine receptor.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.192-205
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is known that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the brain could regulate cognitive functions as well as blood pressure. Inhibition of RAS for the improvement of cognitive function may be a new strategy, but studies so far have mostly reported on the effects of RAS inhibition by drugs, and there is no research on cognitive improvement through RAS inhibition of food ingredients. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of curcumin on blood pressure and cognitive function and its related mechanism in spontaneously hypertensive rat/Izm (SHR/Izm). MATERIALS/METHODS: Six-week-old SHR/Izm rats were divided into 5 groups: control group (CON), scopolamine group (SCO, drug for inducing cognitive deficits), positive control (SCO and tacrine [TAC]), curcumin 100 group (CUR100, SCO + Cur 100 mg/kg), and curcumin 200 group (CUR200, SCO + Cur 200 mg/kg). Changes in blood pressure, RAS, cholinergic system, and cognitive function were compared before and after cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The SCO group showed increased blood pressure and significantly reduced cognitive function based on the y-maze and passive avoidance test. Curcumin treatments significantly improved blood pressure and cognitive function compared with the SCO group. In both the CUR100 and CUR200 groups, the mRNA expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II receptor type1 (AT1), as well as the concentrations of angiotensin II (Ang II) in brain tissue were significantly decreased. The mRNA expression of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) and acetylcholine (ACh) content was significantly increased, compared with the SCO group. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of curcumin improved blood pressure and cognitive function in SCO-induced hypertensive mice, indicating that the cholinergic system was improved by suppressing RAS and AT1 receptor expression and increasing the mAChR expression.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.938-943
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• 2009

Purpose : We performed this study in order to investigate the effect of direct renin inhibition on an experimental animal model with nephrotoxic serum nephritis and tried to give useful information for clinical research and renin inhibitor treatment. Methods : Thirty BALB/c 6-week-old male mice were divided into 4 groups: control group (CO, n=5), control-treatment group with aliskiren (CT, n=5), disease group (DO, n=10), and disease treatment group with aliskiren (DT, n=10). Nephritis was induced by an intravenous injection of 0.25 mg/g weight of rabbit anti-GBM immunoglobulin G. Model 2002 Alzet mini-osmotic pumps (Durect Corp.) for aliskiren infusion were implanted into CT and DT. Each group strain was sacrificed serially one at a time on day 14. We estimated the protein-creatinine ratio in 12-hour-collected urine (UP/Cr) and measured the mesangial matrix score in the PAS-stained kidney of each strain. Results : One strain at CT and DT died on day 6 and 7, respectively. Each group strain was sacrificed serially at a time on day 10 because DO were seriously ill. The UP/Cr of each group is as follows: CO, $31.24{\pm}6.54mg/mg$, CT, $23.38{\pm}13.60mg/mg$, DO, $112.72{\pm}10.97mg/mg$, DT $114.07{\pm}32.30mg/mg$. There was no significant difference between DO and DT. The mesangial matrix score of each group was CO, $0.23{\pm}0.10$; CT, $0.13{\pm}0.03$; DO, $1.90{\pm}0.48$; and DT, $1.28{\pm}0.41$, respectively, and there was a significant difference between DO and DT in the extent of mesangial matrix expansion (P=0.008). Conclusion : We found that renin inhibition was able to suppress the mesangial matrix expansion in experimental mice with acute nephritis, although there were no significant differences in UP/Cr.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2015

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is normally related to multiorgan dysfunction and local complications. Studies have found that local pancreatic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was significantly upregulated in drug-induced SAP. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of angiotensin II receptors inhibitor valsartan on dual role of RAS in SAP in a rat model and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. 3.8% sodium taurocholate (1 ml/kg) was injected to the pancreatic capsule in order for pancreatitis induction. Rats in the sham group were injected with normal saline in identical locations. We also investigated the regulation of experimentally induced SAP on local RAS expression in the pancreas through determination of the activities of serum amylase, lipase and myeloperoxidase, histological and biochemical analysis, radioimmunoassay, fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. The results indicated that valsartan could effectively suppress the local RAS to protect against experimental acute pancreatitis through inhibition of microcirculation disturbances and inflammation. The results suggest that pancreatic RAS plays a critical role in the regulation of pancreatic functions and demonstrates application potential as AT1 receptor antagonists. Moreover, other RAS inhibitors could be a new therapeutic target in acute pancreatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 1993

Effect of BR-900317 on the angiotensin I-induced pressor response in pithed rats and the effects of its single oral administration on plasma angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities in normotensive rats and on the cardiovascular system in hypertensive model rats (SHR, RHR), were compared with those of captopril. BR-900317 attenuated the angiotensin I-induced pressor effects in pithed rats. In a single oral dose administration study, BR-900317 inhibited the plasma ACE activities in a dose-dependent fashion. Duration of the action of BR-900317 was similar to that of captopril. BR-900317 produced antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats and dose-dependent antihypertensive effect in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive rats without affecting heart rate. These results suggest that the main mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of BR-900317 is the suppression of angiotensin II production due to the inhibition of the ACE.