Effects of atorvastatin on renal angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in hypertensive rats

AIM: To observe the effects of atorvastatin on the expressions of renal angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) in two kidney and one-clip(2K1C) hypertensive rats and to explore new possible mechanism of atorvastatin in decreasing systolic blood pressure(SBP).METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups(8 in each group):sham operation group,2K1C hypertension group,2K1C +valsartan group(20 mg·kg-1·d-1),low dose atorvastatin group(10 mg·kg-1·d-1)and high dose atorvastatin group(30 mg·kg-1·d-1).SBP was measured by tail-cuff method before and one week after operation as well as 4 weeks and 8 weeks after drug intervention.After 8 weeks the renal ACE2 protein expression,myocardial Ang Ⅱ level and kidney ACE2 mRNA expression were determined by immunohistochemistry,radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR,respectively.RESULTS: The SBP and angiotensinⅡconcentration of rat myocardial tissue in high dose atorvastatin group were significantly decreased compared with those of the hypertension group(P0.01).RT-PCR results showed that the levels of renal ACE2 mRNA expression in hypertension group was decreased to a certain extent compared with those of the Valsartan group,low and high doses of atorvastatin groups(P0.05).CONCLUSION: Kidney ACE2 protein and ACE2 mRNA expression are deceased in 2K1C hypertensive rats.The SBP and the concentration of angiotensinⅡin rat cardiac tissue are decreased and the expressions of ACE2 and ACE2 mRNA in renal tissue are increased in atorvastatin groups.