The ameliorative effect of angiotensin 1-7 on experimentally induced-preeclampsia in rats: Targeting the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma expression & asymmetric dimethylarginine

Abstract This study was designed to explore the effect of angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1–7) on experimentally induced-preeclampsia in Wistar rats targeting the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma expression (PPARs-γ) & asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). 30 female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Normal pregnant (NP), preeclampsia (PE), and preeclampsia treated with Ang 1–7 (PE + Ang 1–7) groups. Reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) model was induced on GD14. On GD18, protein in urine, urine volume and urinary sodium excretion were determined. On GD19, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured, and the gene expression of PPARs-γ were determined. The serum samples were separated for determination of Ang 1–7, ADMA, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO) products, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total anti-oxidant capacity (T-AOC). Compared to NP group, SBP, urine protein, serum levels of ADMA, sFlt-1, IL-6 and MDA significantly increased, while expression of PPARs-γ, serum levels of Ang 1–7, VEGF, NO products, eNOS, IL-10 and T-AOC significantly decreased in PE group, while treatment of Ang 1–7 significantly ameliorated all these studied parameters as compared to PE group. We concluded that Ang 1–7 attenuated the symptoms of preeclampsia, which might be via increasing the expression of PPARs-γ and reduction of ADMA levels which could explain its anti-hypertensive, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.