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Vasoconstrictive, proliferative and oxidative effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) are mediated by Ang II type 1 (AT₁) receptors. The effects of Ang II via the Ang II type 2 (AT₂) receptor subtype (AT₂R) are less well defined. Growing evidence shows the existence of cross-talk between the Ang II receptor subtypes, which is revealed by AT₁R blockade. Hence, under certain conditions, AT₂R may act as an antagonistic system with respect to the AT₁R.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of long-term treatment with the AT₁R antagonist losartan on the AT₂R-mediated response to Ang II in thoracic aortas isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Untreated animals from both groups were used as controls. The mRNA expression of AT₁R and AT₂R was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain …