Androgen-induced hypertension in angiotensinogen deficient mice: Role of 20-HETE and EETS

20-HETE is a potent inducer of endothelial ACE in vitro and administration of lisinopril or losartan attenuates blood pressure in models of 20-HETE-dependent hypertension. The present study was undertaken to further define the relationship between 20-HETE and the renin-angiotensin system in hypertension using an angiotensinogen-deficient mouse (Agt+/-). Treatment of male AGT+/- with 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased systolic BP from 102 ± 2 to 125 ± 3 mmHg; in comparison, the same treatment raised BP in wild type (WT) from 110 ± 2 to 138 ± 2 mmHg. DHT increased vascular 20-HETE levels in AGT+/- and WT from 1.5 ± 0.7 and 2.1 ± 0.6 to 13.0 ± 2.0 and 15.8 ± 4.0 ng/mg, respectively. Concurrent treatment with the 20-HETE antagonist, 20-hydroxyeicosa-6(Z),15(Z)-dienoic acid (20-HEDE) prevented the increases in BP in both AGT+/- and WT mice. Administration of 20-HEDE at the peak of the DHT-induced BP increase (12 days) reduced BP to basal levels after 48 h. Interestingly, basal levels of renal microvascular EETs were higher in AGT+/- compared to WT (55.2 ± 9.7 vs 20.0 ± 4.1 ng/mg) and treatment of AGT+/- with DHT decreased the levels of EETs (28.4 ± 5.1 ng/mg). DHT-mediated changes in vascular EET level were not observed in WT mice. Vascular Cyp4a12 and ACE protein levels were increased in both AGT+/- and WT by 30-40% and decreased with concomitant administration of 20-HEDE. Lisinopril was as effective as 20-HEDE in preventing DHT-mediated increases in BP in both AGT+/- and WT mice. This study substantiates our previous findings that the RAS plays an important role in 20-HETE-mediated hypertension. It also proposes a novel interaction between 20-HETE and EETs.