Abstract
The mRen2.Lewis congenic strain is an estrogen-sensitive model of hypertension whereby estrogen depletion produces a significant and sustained increase in blood pressure. The recent identification of G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) as a third estrogen receptor isotype prompted us to test the hypothesis that this novel receptor exhibits beneficial cardiovascular actions in the hypertensive female mRen2.Lewis rat. Intact female, ovariectomized female (OVX), and male mRen2.Lewis rats were treated with the selective GPR30 agonist G-1 or vehicle via osmotic minipump for 2 wk. G-1 significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in OVX (178 +/- 7 to 142 +/- 10 mm Hg, P < 0.001, n = 8) but not intact female (144 +/- 3 to 143 +/- 5 mm Hg, P > 0.05, n = 5) or male mRen2.Lewis rats (207 +/- 7 to 192 +/- 5 mm Hg, P > 0.05, n = 7). G-1 did not alter uterine or body weight in OVX, suggesting activation of a receptor distinct from estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta. In isolated aortic rings from OVX, G-1 reduced constriction in response to angiotensin II. Vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin type 1 receptor mRNA were also lower, whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 mRNA was increased. G-1 treatment in OVX was not associated with alterations in either endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression or acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Immunohistochemical staining for GPR30 was evident in both the intima and media of the aorta. We conclude that the novel estrogen receptor GPR30 may contribute to the beneficial cardiovascular actions of estrogen in female mRen2.Lewis rats through regulation of vascular components of the renin-angiotensin system.