TOPIC 26 – Hormones , renin-angiotensin system April 13 th , Friday 2012 0375 Role of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor in ow ( shear stress )-dependent remodelling of resistance arteries

Resistance arteries (RA) control local blood ow. Chronic increases in blood ow induce diameter enlargement (outward hypertrophic remodeling) of RA in response to growth, pregnancy, exercising as well as to compensate ischemia. Flowmediated outward remodeling of RA declines with age in male rats, not in female rats. The angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) is involved in owmediated dilation. It is also overexpressed in females and opposes high blood pressure. Thus, we hypothesized that AT2R and/or estrogens might play a role in remodeling.