Roles of angiotensin II type 2 receptor in mice with fetal growth restriction

Our previous report indicated that vascular injury enhances vascular remodeling in fetal growth restriction (FGR) mice. The angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT(2)R) is relatively highly expressed in fetal mice. Therefore, we investigated the roles of AT(2)R in FGR-induced cardiovascular disease using AT(2)R knockout (AT(2)KO) mice. Dams (wild-type and AT(2)KO mice) were fed an isocaloric diet containing 20% protein (NP) or 8% protein (LP) until delivery. Arterial blood pressure, body weight, and histological changes in organs were investigated in offspring. The birth weight of offspring from dams fed an LP diet (LPO) was significantly lower than that of offspring from dams fed an NP diet. The heart/body and kidney/body weight ratios in AT(2)KO-LPO at 12 weeks of age were significantly higher than those in the other groups. Greater thickness of the left ventricular wall, larger cardiomyocyte size and enhancement of perivascular fibrosis were observed in AT(2)KO-LPO. Interestingly, mRNA expression of collagen I and inflammatory cytokines was markedly higher in the AT(2)KO-LPO heart at 6 weeks of age but not at 12 weeks of age. AT(2)R signaling may be involved in cardiovascular disorders of adult offspring with FGR. Regulation of AT(2)R could contribute to preventing future cardiovascular disease in FGR offspring.