Abstract
NADPH oxidase-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly implicated in the development of angiotensin II (AngII)-dependent hypertension mediated in part through the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This region contains vasopressin and non-vasopressin neurons that are responsive to cardiovascular dysregulation, but it is not known whether ROS is generated by one or both cell types in response to "slow-pressor" infusion of AngII. We addressed this question using ROS imaging and electron microscopic dual labeling for vasopressin and p47(phox), a cytoplasmic NADPH oxidase subunit requiring mobilization to membranes for the initiation of ROS production. C57BL/6 mice or vasopressin-enhanced green fluorescent protein (VP-eGFP) mice were infused systemically with saline or AngII (600 ng · kg(-1) · min(-1), s.c.) for 2 weeks, during which they slowly developed hypertension. Ultrastructural analysis of the PVN demonstrated p47(phox) immunolabeling in many glial and neuronal profiles, most of which were postsynaptic dendrites. Compared with saline, AngII recipient mice had a significant increase in p47(phox) immunolabeling on endomembranes just beneath the plasmalemmal surface (+42.1 ± 11.3%; p < 0.05) in non-vasopressin dendrites. In contrast, AngII infusion decreased p47(phox) immunolabeling on the plasma membrane (-35.5 ± 16.5%; p < 0.05) in vasopressin dendrites. Isolated non-VP-eGFP neurons from the PVN of AngII-infused mice also showed an increase in baseline ROS production not seen in VP-eGFP neurons. Our results suggest that chronic low-dose AngII may offset the homeostatic control of blood pressure by differentially affecting membrane assembly of NADPH oxidase and ROS production in vasopressin and non-vasopressin neurons located within the PVN.