Angiotensin II (ANG II) elicits an ANG II type 2 (AT2) receptor-mediated increase in outward K+ current (IK; delayed rectifier K+ current) in neurons cocultured from rat hypothalamus and brain stem. Here we have shown that the AT2-receptor-mediated stimulation of neuronal IK by ANG II (100 nM) was abolished by pretreatment of cultures with pertussis toxin (PTX; 200 ng/ml) and by intracellular application of an antibody against the inhibitory guanine nucleotide (GTP) binding protein (anti-Gi alpha, 1:200). Antibodies against other GTP binding proteins (anti-Go alpha, 1:50 and 1:200; anti-Gq/11 alpha, 1:200) did not alter the AT2-receptor-mediated stimulation of neuronal IK by ANG II (100 nM). Furthermore, this effect of ANG II (100 nM) was inhibited by the serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (1-10 nM) and by anti-type 2A protein phosphatase (PP2A) antibodies but not by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (1 mM). Thus we have identified key components (Gi and PP2A) of the signal transduction pathway that is responsible for the AT2-receptor-mediated stimulation of neuronal K+ currents.

Angiotensin II (ANG II) elicits an ANG II type 1 (AT1) receptor-mediated decrease in voltage-dependent K+ current (Ik) and an increase in voltage-dependent Ca2+ current (ICa) in neurons cocultured from newborn rat hypothalamus and brain stem. Modulation of these currents by ANG II involves intracellular messengers that result from an AT1 receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. For example, the effects of ANG II on IK and ICa were abolished by phospholipase C antagonists. The reduction in IK produced by ANG II was attenuated by either protein kinase C (PKC) antagonists or by chelation of intracellular Ca2+. By contrast, PKC antagonism abolished the stimulatory effect of ANG II on ICa. Superfusion of the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate produced effects on IK and ICa similar to those observed after ANG II. Furthermore, intracellular application of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) elicited a significant reduction in IK. This suggests that the AT1 receptor-mediated changes in neuronal K+ and Ca2+ currents involve PKC (both IK and ICa) and IP3 and/or intracellular Ca2+ (IK).

Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as stroke, seizures, dementia, and cognitive impairment. The cellular mechanisms responsible for the increased risk of these disorders are incompletely understood. Astrocytes are proving critical for normal CNS function, and alterations in their activity could contribute to diabetes-related disturbances in the brain. We examined the effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats on the level of the astrocyte intermediate filament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), number of astrocytes, and levels of the astrocyte glutamate transporters, glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST), in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum by Western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IH). Studies were carried out at 4 and 8 weeks of diabetes duration. Diabetes resulted in a significant decrease in GFAP protein levels (WB) in the hippocampus and cerebellum at 4 weeks and in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum by 8 weeks. Attenuated GFAP immunoreactivity (IH) was evident in the hippocampus, cerebellum and white matter regions such as the corpus callosum and external capsule at both 4 and 8 weeks of diabetes. Astrocyte cell counts of adjacent sections immunoreactive for S-100B were not different between control and diabetic animals. No significant differences were noted in astrocyte glutamate transporter levels in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, or cerebellum at either time period (WB, IH). With the expanding list of astrocyte functions in the CNS, the role of astrocytes in diabetes-induced CNS disorders clearly warrants further investigation.

We have previously shown that angiotensin II (ANG II) stimulates an increase in net outward ionic current (Ino) in neurons cocultured from neonate rat hypothalamus and brain stem, an effect mediated by ANG II type 2 (AT2) receptors. Ino consists mainly of K+ and Ca2+ currents, and in the present study we used whole cell voltage clamp procedures to define which of these currents are modulated by AT2 receptors. We determined that ANG II (50-100 nM) stimulated both transient K+ current (IA) and delayed-rectifier K+ current (IK) in cultured neurons. The effects were mediated by AT2 receptors (blocked by 1 microM PD-123177 but not by 1 microM losartan). For both IA and IK, ANG II elicited an increase in maximal conductance. By contrast, ANG II altered neither Ca(2+)-activated K+ current nor Ca2+ current. Our data demonstrate discrete AT2 receptor-mediated effects of ANG II on IA and IK in cultured neonate neurons. Importantly, these data provide an electrophysiological basis for behavioral or physiological effects (as yet undefined) mediated by this ANG II receptor subtype in the brain.