Effect of age on angiotensin II-mediated downregulation of adrenomedullary catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes

Expression of catecholamine biosynthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta hydroxylase (DβH) increase with age in the adrenal medulla, however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of peripheral angiotensin II (AngII) on the expression of TH and DβH, in the adrenal medulla of young (6 mo) and old (23 mo) Fischer-344 rats. Saline or AngII (230 ng/kg/min sc) was infused for 3 days using osmotic minipumps. Adrenomedullary TH and DβH mRNA levels increased significantly with age, and while AngII reduced the expression of these enzymes in young animals, it had no such effect in the old animals. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is co-released with catecholamines in the adrenal medulla and stimulates the synthesis of TH and DβH, was also upregulated with age and downregulated in response to AngII in young rats. However, in the old animals, the already elevated NPY expression remained unchanged following AngII treatment. This data indicate that the hypertensive effect of peripheral AngII is compensated by an inhibition of adrenomedullary catecholamine biosynthesis in young animals, but this mechanism is impaired in senescence, potentially contributing to the age-related increase in catecholamine biosynthesis.