General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.33, No.3, p.365–372, 2014

Epidemiologic and clinical studies have shown that progression of renal disease in male is faster than that in female. However, the exact mechanisms are not well recognized. Angiotensin (1-7) (Ang 1-7) receptor, called “mas”, is an element in the depressor arm of renin angiotensin system (RAS), and its expression is enhanced in females. We test the hypothesis that mas receptor (masR) blockade (A779) attenuates renal blood flow (RBF) in response to infusion of graded doses of Ang 1-7 in female rats. Male and female Wistar rats were anesthetized and catheterized. Then, the mean arterial pressure (MAP), RBF, and controlled renal perfusion pressure (RPP) responses to infusion of graded doses of Ang 1-7 (100–1000 ng/kg/min i.v.) with and without A779 were measured in the animals.Basal MAP, RPP, RBF, and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were not significantly different between the two groups. After Ang 1-7 administration, RPP was controlled at a constant level.

However, RBF increased in a dose-related manner in response to Ang 1-7 infusion in both male and female rats (Pdose < 0.0001), but masR blockade significantly attenuated this response only in female (Pgroup = 0.04) and not male (Pgroup = 0.23).

In addition, A779 increased the RBF response to Ang 1-7 to a greater extent. This is while the increasein male was not significant when compared with that in female (Pgender = 0.08).

RVR response to Ang 1-7 was insignificantly attenuated by A779 in both genders.  The masR differently regulated RBF response to Ang 1-7 in the two genders, and the effect was greater in female rats. The masR may be a target for improvement of kidney circulation in renal diseases.