Angiotensinogen and natriuretic peptide mRNAs in rat brain: Localization and differential regulation by adrenal steroids in hypothalamus

Abstract

Adrenal steroids have been shown to modulate angiotensin II and natriuretic peptide systems--peptide synthesis and metabolism--in vitro. In the present study the effects of adrenal steroids on mRNA encoding the angiotensin II precursor, angiotensinogen (AOGEN), and the natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in the rat hypothalamus were investigated using quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry of [35S]- and [33P]-labeled oligonucleotide probes. Adrenalectomy produced an apparent overall decrease in preproAOGEN (ppAOGEN) mRNA in presumed astrocytes in the anterior hypothalamus with significant decreases (ANOVA) measured in the med..