Le Système Rénine Angiotensine tient une place prépondérante au sein de la circulation cérébrale. Les Antagonistes des Récepteurs AT1 à l'Angiotensine II (ARAII) ont prouvé leur efficacité dans la prévention de l'Accident Vasculaire Cérébral (AVC), indépendamment de leur effet anti-hypertenseur. Plusieurs mécanismes pourraient être impliqués dans cette cérébroprotection. D'une part, en bloquant les récepteurs AT1, les ARAII favorisent la stimulation des récepteurs AT2 à l'angiotensine II. Le caractère bénéfique lié à la stimulation des récepteurs AT2 s'oppose au caractère délétère lié à la stimulation des récepteurs AT1. Nous avons montré que cet équilibre AT1 - AT2 est modifié au niveau cérébrovasculaire suite à un régime hypersodé. En effet, la vasodilatation des artérioles cérébrales médiée par les récepteurs AT2 est abolie, ce qui pourrait constituer un élément délétère lors de la survenue d'un évènement ischémique. D'autre part, certains ARAII présentent une affinité pour les récepteurs PPAR-gamma. Cette activité, démontrée comme protectrice à différents niveaux vasculaires, pourrait également être bénéfique pour la circulation cérébrale. Nous avons en particulier montré que l'activation PPAR-gamma améliore les effets des ARAII au niveau de la circulation cérébrale (diamètre artériolaire, réactivité à l'angiotensine II). Les mécanismes en jeu semblent impliquer des modifications de la fonction des récepteurs AT1-AT2, indépendamment de leur expression. La stimulation des récepteurs AT2 et l'activation PPAR-gamma constituent donc deux propriétés particulières des ARAII. Ces propriétés pourraient participer au caractère cérébroprotecteur des ARAII, au-delà du seul blocage des récepteurs AT1. Le développement de molécules duales regroupant les activités antagoniste AT1 - agoniste PPAR-gamma pourrait constituer un avenir thérapeutique intéressant dans le traitement de l'hypertension en apportant une protection cérébrovasculaire supérieure aux traitements actuels / The Renin Angiotensin System plays a major role in cerebral circulation. AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs) afford protection against cerebrovascular complications that go beyond that to be expected from their blood pressure lowering action. Several mechanisms could explain such beneficial effects. Firstly, by blocking AT1 receptors, ARBs promote AT2 receptor stimulation by angiotensin II. The beneficial effect related to stimulation of AT2 receptors (vasodilation) counterbalances the deleterious actions of AT1 receptors stimulation. Changes in this ratio may then alter cerebral circulation. We demonstrated that the AT1- AT2 ratio is modified at the cerebrovascular level during high salt intake, which is a risk factor for stroke. The AT2-mediated vasodilation of pial arterioles is abolished. Secondly, some ARBs act as partial agonists of PPAR-gamma. Such an activity, which has been demonstrated to protect extracerebral vessels, could also be beneficial for cerebral circulation. Our results showed that PPAR-gamma activation improves ARB effects on cerebral circulation (arteriolar diameter, angiotensin II reactivity). The underlying mechanisms could imply functional regulation of AT1-AT2 receptors without any change in expression status. AT2 receptor stimulation and PPAR-gamma activity are two special properties of ARBs. These properties could contribute to the cerebroprotection induced by ARBs, beyond the AT1-receptor blockade. Development of new molecules with AT1-receptor blockade and PPAR-gamma activity could take part into the future therapeutic management of hypertension, providing a better cerebrovascular protection

O alto consumo de sódio é o principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardíacas. A sobrecarga de sal na dieta aumenta o conteúdo de angiotensina II no coração. Muitos estudos tem avaliado o papel da angiotensina II no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia e fibrose cardíaca. A angiotensina II age através de dois receptores: o receptor de angiotensina II tipo 1 (AT1) e o receptor de angiotensina tipo 2 (AT2). Embora muitos estudos têm elucidado o papel do receptor AT1 e sobrecarga de sal na dieta no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia, os estudos envolvendo o receptor AT2 ainda são controversos. Com o objetivo de entender melhor o papel do AT2 em modelos de sobrecarga de sal na dieta no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia cardíaca, ratos Wistars machos foram alimentados com uma dieta normal ou hipersódica desde o desmame até a décima oitava semana de idade. Ambos os grupos foram subdivididos em dois subgrupos. A partir da sétima semana de idade cada um dos subgrupos recebeu o tratamento com composto 21 (3mg/kg por dia, n=16), um agonista do AT2. Peso corporal, pressão arterial caudal, consumo de ração, ingestão hídrica, volume urinário, hematócrito, massas ventriculares, diâmetro transverso do cardiomiócito, porcentagem de fibrose intersticial, expressão gênica e proteica dos componentes do sistema renina-angiotensina foram avaliados. O C21 preveniu o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia e fibrose cardíaca em ratos alimentados com dieta hipersódica. O C21 preveniu o incremento da pressão arterial dos ratos alimentados com dieta hipersódica / High salt intake is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary salt overload was found to increase cardiac angiotensin II content. Many studies have evaluated the role of angiotensin II on the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Angiotensin II acts through two main receptors: angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors. Though there are many studies pointing to the effects of the AT1 and high salt diet, the role of AT2 and its effects in dietary salt overload model is still not elucidated. Aiming to better understand the role of AT2 receptor in models of salt overload on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, male Wistar rats were fed normal or high salt diet from weaning up to 18 weeks of age. Both groups were divided into two subgroups. Starting at 7 weeks of age they were treated or not with compound 21 (3mg/kg per day, n=16), an AT2 receptor agonist. Body weight, blood pressure, food intake, water intake, urine volume, plasma and urinary sodium and potassium, cardiomyocyte transverse diameter, percentage of cardiac fibrosis, gene and protein expression of renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme, AT1 and AT2 were measured. Compound 21 prevented the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats that received high salt diet. Compound 21 also reduced the increased blood pressure, prevented the lower weight gain in animals fed with high salt diet

Many peptide receptors are of pharmaceutical interest and there is thus a need for new ligands for such receptors. Unfortunately, peptides are not suitable as orally administrated drugs since they are associated with poor absorption, rapid metabolism and low sub-receptor selectivity. One approach that should allow identification of more drug-like ligands is to use the structural information of the endogenous ligand to develop peptidomimetic compounds. The main objective of the work described in this thesis was to convert angiotensin II (Ang II, Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) to small drug-like compounds with retained bioactivity at the AT2 receptor. The study was performed step-wise via incorporation of well-defined secondary structure mimetics and repeated truncation of the peptide. Five scaffolds, comprising a benzene ring as a central element, suitable as a γ-turn or dipeptide mimetics were designed and synthesized. In order to decorate the scaffolds, a method of microwave-assisted alkoxycarbonylation was developed. After incorporation of the scaffolds into Ang II-related peptides or peptide fragments, the affinities for both the AT1 and the AT2 receptor were determined. In the first series of ligands, two tyrosine-related scaffolds were introduced as γ-turn mimetics in Ang II. All five pseudopeptides exhibited good affinities for the AT2 receptor. One compound was chosen for functional studies and was shown to act as an AT2 receptor agonist. After truncation of Ang II it was shown that C-terminal pentapeptide analogs were AT2 receptor selective agonists. A series of pseudopeptides comprising tyrosine-related scaffolds, derived from the pentapeptides, displayed high AT2 receptor affinities. Two compounds had agonistic effect at the AT2 receptor. This study revealed that the N-terminal part was of less importance while a C-terminal Ile residue was a key element for enhanced AT2 receptor affinity. In the final set of compounds, the peptide was truncated to tripeptide C-terminal fragments. After replacing His-Pro by a histidine-related scaffold small drug-like peptidomimetic compounds with nanomolar affinity for the AT2 receptor were identified.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this study was to verify the type of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor involved in nuclear maturation of bovine oocytes and the possible participation of bradykinin (BK) as a mediator of AngII in this process. The first experiment was conducted to analyze the type of AngII receptor, for this cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 7 or 12h in the presence of follicular hemisections and AngII (10-11M), with or without the antagonists losartan (10-6M; selective for AT1 receptor), PD123319 (10-6M; selective for AT2 receptor) or saralasin (10-7M; AT1 and AT2 antagonist). Additionally, two control groups were used where the oocytes were cultivated in the absence or presence of follicular hemisections (positive and negative control, respectively). Oocytes cultured for 7h in the presence AngII reached 70,4% germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). When losartan was added to the maturation medium with AngII, the GVBD oocytes did not have any difference (73,2%), however when COCs were cultured in the presence of AngII + PD123319, the nuclear maturation was lower (52,1%; P<0,05). The cultivation of the oocytes for a larger period (12h) did not cause a significant difference in relation to those 7h treatments (P<0,05). These data indicate that the AT2 receptor mediate the actions of AngII during the nuclear maturation in bovine. In a second experiment, the effect of different concentrations of PD123319 was verified in the oocytes nuclear maturation in the presence of AngII (10-11M) and follicular hemisections. The culture was accomplished by 7h in a similar experimental design as previous experiment and it was verified that the inhibition induced by the antagonist happened in a dose-dependent way and there is lineal relation between concentration of PD and rates of obtained RVG (P=0,0306). To verify the participation of BK in the action mechanism of AT2 receptors, the oocytes were cultured in the presence of AngII (10-11M) and follicular hemisections with or without Hoe-140 (antagonist of B2 receptors of BK) in different concentrations (10-6, 10-7, 10-8 and 10-9M) for 7h. In this experiment, there was not any difference in the rates of GVBD oocytes among the groups treated with the antagonist and the AngII group (P>0,05). These data allow to infer that AngII acts in the nuclear maturation of the bovines oocytes activating the AT2 receptors and that the BK/receptor B2 pathway is not involved in that process. / O objetivo deste estudo foi de verificar o tipo de receptor da angiotensina II (AngII) envolvido na maturação nuclear de oócitos bovinos e a possível participação da bradicinina (BK) como mediadora da AngII nesse processo. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido para analisar o tipo de receptor, para isso os complexos cumulus-oócitos (CCOs) foram cultivados por 7 ou 12h na presença de hemiseções foliculares e AngII (10-11M), com ou sem os antagonistas losartan (10-6M; seletivo para receptores AT1), PD123319 (10-6M; seletivo para receptores AT2) ou saralasina (10-7M; antagonista AT1 e AT2). Adicionalmente, foram utilizados dois grupos controle, onde os oócitos foram cultivados na ausência ou na presença de hemiseções foliculares (controle positivo e negativo, respectivamente). Oócitos cultivados por 7h em presença de AngII atingiram 70,4% de rompimento da vesícula germinativa (RVG). Quando o losartan foi adicionado ao meio de cultivo com AngII, não houve diferença na percentagem de oócitos em RVG (73,2%), porém, quando os CCOs foram incubados na presença de AngII + PD123319, houve queda significativa na maturação nuclear (52,1%; P<0,05). O cultivo dos oócitos por um período maior (12h) não causou diferença significativa em relação a esses tratamentos quando foram realizados às 7h (P<0,05). Esses dados indicam que os receptores AT2 mediam as ações da AngII na maturação nuclear em bovinos. Em um segundo experimento, foi verificado o efeito de diferentes concentrações de PD123319 na maturação nuclear dos oócitos na presença de AngII (10-11M) e hemiseções foliculares. O cultivo foi realizado por 7h em um delineamento similar ao do experimento anterior e verificou-se que a inibição induzida pelo antagonista ocorreu de maneira dosedependente e há relação linear entre concentração de PD e índices de RVG obtidos (P=0,0306). Para verificar a participação da BK no mecanismo de ação dos receptores AT2, os oócitos foram cultivados na presença de AngII (10-11M) e hemiseções foliculares com ou sem Hoe-140 (antagonista de receptores B2 da BK) em diferentes concentrações (10-6, 10-7, 10-8 e 10-9M) por 7h. Nesse experimento, não houve diferença nos índices de oócitos que atingiram RVG entre os grupos tratados com o antagonista e o grupo AngII (P>0,05). Esses dados permitem inferir que a AngII atua na maturação nuclear dos oócitos bovinos ativando os receptores AT2 e que a via BK/receptor B2 não está envolvida nesse processo.

O alto consumo de sódio é o principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardíacas. A sobrecarga de sal na dieta aumenta o conteúdo de angiotensina II no coração. Muitos estudos tem avaliado o papel da angiotensina II no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia e fibrose cardíaca. A angiotensina II age através de dois receptores: o receptor de angiotensina II tipo 1 (AT1) e o receptor de angiotensina tipo 2 (AT2). Embora muitos estudos têm elucidado o papel do receptor AT1 e sobrecarga de sal na dieta no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia, os estudos envolvendo o receptor AT2 ainda são controversos. Com o objetivo de entender melhor o papel do AT2 em modelos de sobrecarga de sal na dieta no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia cardíaca, ratos Wistars machos foram alimentados com uma dieta normal ou hipersódica desde o desmame até a décima oitava semana de idade. Ambos os grupos foram subdivididos em dois subgrupos. A partir da sétima semana de idade cada um dos subgrupos recebeu o tratamento com composto 21 (3mg/kg por dia, n=16), um agonista do AT2. Peso corporal, pressão arterial caudal, consumo de ração, ingestão hídrica, volume urinário, hematócrito, massas ventriculares, diâmetro transverso do cardiomiócito, porcentagem de fibrose intersticial, expressão gênica e proteica dos componentes do sistema renina-angiotensina foram avaliados. O C21 preveniu o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia e fibrose cardíaca em ratos alimentados com dieta hipersódica. O C21 preveniu o incremento da pressão arterial dos ratos alimentados com dieta hipersódica / High salt intake is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary salt overload was found to increase cardiac angiotensin II content. Many studies have evaluated the role of angiotensin II on the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Angiotensin II acts through two main receptors: angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors. Though there are many studies pointing to the effects of the AT1 and high salt diet, the role of AT2 and its effects in dietary salt overload model is still not elucidated. Aiming to better understand the role of AT2 receptor in models of salt overload on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, male Wistar rats were fed normal or high salt diet from weaning up to 18 weeks of age. Both groups were divided into two subgroups. Starting at 7 weeks of age they were treated or not with compound 21 (3mg/kg per day, n=16), an AT2 receptor agonist. Body weight, blood pressure, food intake, water intake, urine volume, plasma and urinary sodium and potassium, cardiomyocyte transverse diameter, percentage of cardiac fibrosis, gene and protein expression of renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme, AT1 and AT2 were measured. Compound 21 prevented the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats that received high salt diet. Compound 21 also reduced the increased blood pressure, prevented the lower weight gain in animals fed with high salt diet

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-06-22T18:06:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 alansantospimentel.pdf: 908522 bytes, checksum: 481a497653c77923c89d08522bba1820 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-08-07T19:24:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 alansantospimentel.pdf: 908522 bytes, checksum: 481a497653c77923c89d08522bba1820 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T19:24:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 alansantospimentel.pdf: 908522 bytes, checksum: 481a497653c77923c89d08522bba1820 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-07 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do bloqueio central do receptor AT2 para angiotensina II nas respostas termorregulatórias em ratos durante o exercício físico. Material e métodos: foram utilizados ratos Wistar, não treinados, pesando entre 240-350 g. Os animais portavam cânula no ventrículo cerebral lateral direito para administração de 2 μL de PD (10 μg, n = 7) ou de 0,15 M NaCl (SAL, n = 7). A temperatura corporal interna (Tc), determinada por telemetria através de sensor de temperatura implantado na cavidade intraperitoneal do rato, e a temperatura da cauda (Tcauda) foram medidas durante o repouso e enquanto os animais realizavam exercício submáximo a uma velocidade de 18 m/min, 5 % de inclinação, até a fadiga. A partir dos dados obtidos foram determinados: a taxa de aquecimento corporal (BHR), a taxa de calor acumulado (HSR), o limiar térmico de vasodilatação da cauda (TTcV), o tempo total de exercício (TTE) e o trabalho (W). Resultados: Durante o repouso, a Tc dos animais de ambos os grupos permaneceu estável e diferenças não foram encontradas entre os tratamentos. Observou-se que a administração icv de PD promoveu aumento de 17 % no TTE (18 ± 1,8 min, PD vs. 15 ± 2,1 min, SAL, p < 0,01) e de 20 % no W quando comparado com os controles (4,62 ± 0,34 kgm, PD vs. 3,74 ± 0,4 kgm, SAL, p < 0,01). Apesar dos ratos injetados com PD apresentarem aumento semelhante da Tc durante o exercício físico, no ponto de fadiga verificou-se maior variação da Tc (2,37 ± 0,24 °C, PD; 1,73 ± 0,21 °C, SAL, p< 0,05). Entretanto, durante o exercício físico, diferenças não foram encontradas entre a BHR (0,14 ± 0,01 °C.min-1, PD vs. 0,13 ± 0,02 °C.min-1, SAL), a HSR (33,75 ± 1,37 cal. min-1, PD vs. 30,9 ± 2,82 cal. min-1, SAL) e o TTcV (37,75 ± 0,12 °C, PD vs. 37,61 ± 0,15 °C, SAL) entre os grupos. Adicionalmente, a partir do 13° minuto até a fadiga, a variação da Tcauda foi maior nos animais PD (4,87± 0,44 °C, PD; 3,10 ± 0,57 °C, SAL, p<0,05), que se mostrou intimamente relacionado com o TTE aumentado (r= 0,871, p <0,01). Conclusões: Os dados mostram que o bloqueio do receptor AT2 melhora o balanço térmico durante o exercício físico devido a maior habilidade de dissipar calor, consequentemente contribuindo para aprimoramento do desempenho físico. / Aim: The aim of the study was to verify the effect of central angiotensin ll AT2 receptor blockade in thermoregulatory responses during exercise in rats. Material and methods: Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 350g. Were implanted with a guide cannula in the right lateral cerebral ventricle for administration of 2µL PD (10 μg, n = 7) or 0,15 M NaCl (SAL, n = 7). The internal body temperature (Tb) was determined by telemetry via a temperature sensor implanted in the animal's intraperitoneal cavity. The tail temperature (Ttail) was measured using a temperature sensor attached to the animal's tail. Both temperatures were measured continuously, during resting and while the animals performed submaximal exercise at a speed of 18m/min and 5% inclination, until failure. From the data obtained, body heating rate (BHR), heat storage rate (HSR), body temperature threshold for tail vasodilation (TTbV), time to fatigue (TTF) and workload (W) were determined. Results: Tb remained stable in both group, and no difference was seen between treatments during a resting period. It was observed that icv administration of PD promoted an increase of 17% in the TTF (18 ± 1,8 min, PD vs. 15 ± 2,1 min, SAL, p < 0,01), and of 20% in the W, when compared with controls (4,62 ± 0,34 kgm, PD vs. 3,74 ± 0,4 kgm, SAL, p < 0,01). Despite that the rats injected with PD exhibited similar increase in Tb during exercise, at fatigue point it was found greater variation of Tb (2,37 ± 0,24 °C, PD; 1,73 ± 0,21 °C, SAL, p< 0,05). However, no difference was seen between BHR (0,14 ± 0,01 °C.min-1, PD vs. 0,13 ± 0,02 °C.min-1, SAL), HSR (33,75 ± 1,37 cal. min-1, PD vs. 30,9 ± 2,82 cal. min-1, SAL) and TTbV (37,75 ± 0,12 °C, PD vs. 37,61 ± 0,15 °C, SAL) in both group. Additionally, from the 13° minute of exercise until fatigue, Ttail variation was higher in PD animals (4,87 ± 0,44 °C, PD; 3,10 ± 0,57 °C, SAL, p<0,05), and closely related with the increased TTF (r= 0,871, p <0,01). Conclusion: The data shows that AT2 receptor blockade improves heat balance during exercise due to better ability to dissipate heat, which contributed to superior exercise performance.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this work was to investigate the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the mechanism of ovulation in the bovine, using an in vivo model, through the injection of the Ang II receptor antagonists in mature follicles. The animals were pre-synchronized and when the follicles reached a minimum diameter of 12mm, they received the treatments and were challenged with an IM application of GnRH-analogous. The intrafolicular application of 100 μM of saralasin blocked the ovulation only before estrous; therefore, before the LH surge (14.3% e 83.3% cows ovulated in the saralasin and control group, respectively; P<0.05). Based in these results, a second experiment was carried out to determine the moment in which Ang II plays critical role in the ovulation. Saralasin blocked ovulation only when applied at 0 and 6 hours (16.7 e 42.9% in the 0 and 6 hours groups, respectively) but not at 12 hours (100%) after GnRh-analogous treatment (P<0.001). To determine which Ang II receptor is involved in the LH-induced ovulation, an intrafolicular application of losartan (AT1-Ang II receptor-antagonist), PD123,319 (AT2 antagonist), losartan+PD123,319 or saline was performed at the moment in which the cows were challenged with GnRH-analogous. The ovulation was inhibited by PD123,319 and losartan+PD123,319 application (50.0 e 33.3% on ovulation rate, respectively), but not by the application of losartan or saline solution (100% in both the groups). The results demonstrated that Ang II plays a basic role in the early mechanism of bovine ovulation via AT2 receptor subtype. / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo averiguar o papel da angiotensina II (Ang II) no mecanismo de ovulação em bovinos, utilizando um modelo in vivo através da injeção de inibidores da AngII em folículos pré-ovulatórios. Os animais foram pré-sincronizados e quando os folículos atingiram um diâmetro mínimo de 12mm, receberam os tratamentos e foram desafiados com uma aplicação IM de análogo de GnRH. A aplicação intrafolicular de 100μM de saralasina bloqueou a ovulação somente quando realizada antes do início do cio, ou seja, antes do pico de LH (14,3% e 83,3% das vacas ovularam nos grupos saralasina e controle, respectivamente; P<0,05). Baseado nesses resultados, foi delineado um segundo experimento para determinar o momento em que a Ang II desempenha papel crítico na ovulação. Quando a saralasina foi aplicada 0 e 6 horas após a aplicação do análogo do GnRH, houve um bloqueio da ovulação (16,7% e 42,9%, para os grupos 0 e 6 horas, respectivamente), mas não quando esta foi aplicada 12 horas após a aplicação de GnRH (100%; P<0,001). Para determinar qual receptor está envolvido no mecanismo de ovulação induzido por Ang II, foi realizada uma aplicação intrafolicular de losartan (inibidor dos receptores AT1 de Ang II), PD123,319 (inibidor AT2), losartan+PD123,319 ou solução fisiológica em folículos pré-ovulatórios desafiados com GnRH. A ovulação foi inibida pela aplicação de PD123,319 e losartan+PD123,319 (50% e 33,3%, respectivamente), mas não pela aplicação de losartan ou solução fisiológica (100% em ambos os grupos). Os resultados apresentados demonstram que a Ang II desempenha um papel fundamental na regulação da ovulação em bovinos via receptores AT2.