Downregulation of cardiac AT1-receptor expression and angiotensin II concentrations after long-term blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiomyopathic hamsters.

We monitored cardiac angiotensin II concentration and AT1-receptor density after long-term blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in inbred control hamsters treated with placebo or losartan (100 mg/kg/day) and cardiomyopathic hamsters treated with placebo, low-(30 mg/kg/day), or high-dose (100 mg/kg/day) losartan or quinapril (100 mg/kg/day). All treatments were started at age 50 days. Angiotensin II-receptor density and affinity were measured by radioligand-binding assays, and ventricular angiotensin II concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. After 125 and 275 days of treatment, both doses of losartan significantly reduced AT1-receptor density, whereas quinapril had no effect. The administration of both drugs resulted in significant reductions in ventricular angiotensin II concentration. The prolonged administration of losartan was associated with an increase in cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that angiotensin II signaling is not directly involved or at least does not play a major role in the remodeling process observed in cardiomyopathic hamsters.