Angiotensin-(1-7) Activates Proopiomelanocortin Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2026

Abstract

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, to characterize the molecular identity of activated arcuate cells, and to assess 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 nucleus. Angiotensin-(1-7)

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that angiotensin-(1-7) activates arcuate proopiomelanocortin neurons and engages arcuate-paraventricular inhibitory neurocircuits to lower blood pressure under normal conditions. In obesity, this circuit appears disrupted, which could contribute to the elevated blood pressure in this model.

Volume

83

Issue

6

First Page

26262

Last Page

26262

ISSN

1524-4563

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

41705339

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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