Vasoconstrictor and Pressor Effects of Des-Aspartate-Angiotensin I in Rat Wangensteen, Rosemary Gómez Guzmán, Manuel Banegas, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Gómez, Isabel Jiménez, Rosario Duarte, Juan García-Estañ, Joaquín Vargas, Félix renin-angiotensin system des-aspartate-angiotensin I vascular reactivity This study investigated the vasoactive effects of des-aspartate-angiotensin-I (DAA-I) in male Wistar rats on whole body vascular bed, isolated perfused kidneys, and aortic rings. Dose– response curves to DAA-I were compared with those to angiotensin II (Ang II). The Ang II-type-1 (AT1) receptor blocker, losartan, was used to evaluate the role of AT1 receptors in the responses to DAA-I. Studies were also conducted of the responsiveness in aortic rings after endothelium removal, nitric oxide synthase inhibition, or AT2 receptor blockade. DAA-I induced a dose-related systemic pressor response that was shifted to the right compared with Ang II. Losartan markedly attenuated the responsiveness to DAA-I. DAA-I showed a similar pattern in renal vasculature and aortic rings. In aortic rings, removal of endothelium and nitric oxide inhibition increased the sensitivity and maximal response to DAA-I and Ang II. AT2 receptor blockade did not significantly affect the responsiveness to DAA-I. According to these findings, DAA-I increases the systemic blood pressure and vascular tone in conductance and resistance vessels via AT1 receptor activation. This vasoconstrictor effect of DAA-I participates in the homeostatic control of arterial pressure, which can also contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. DAA-I may therefore be a potential therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. 2024-09-16T08:52:17Z 2024-09-16T08:52:17Z 2022-05-25 journal article Wangensteen, R. et. al. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 1230. [https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10061230] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/94466 10.3390/biomedicines10061230 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional MDPI