Angiotensine-(1-7) activeert POMC-neuronen in de nucleus arcuatus

BACKGROUND:Angiotensin-(1–7) lowers blood pressure and improves metabolic outcomes in animal models of obesity and hypertension. Whether central mechanisms are involved in these protective cardiometabolic effects is poorly understood. In this study, we hypothesized that angiotensin-(1–7) engages central neurocircuits originating in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus under normal conditions and in diet-induced obesity.METHODS:Male mice were placed on a control diet or 60% high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, electrophysiology, and physiological approaches were employed to determine whether angiotensin-(1–7) activates arcuate neurocircuits, characterizes the molecular identity of activated arcuate cells, and assesses the functional importance of this neurocircuit in blood pressure regulation.RESULTS:Under control diet conditions, systemic angiotensin-(1–7) administration (2 mg/kg, SC) increased the number of c-fos positive cells in the arcuate nuc