Chronotropic action of angiotensin II in neurons via protein kinase C and CaMKII.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in the central control of blood pressure and baroreflexes. These effects are initiated by stimulation of Ang II type 1 (AT(1)) receptors on neurons within the hypothalamus and brain stem, and involve increasing the activity of noradrenergic, substance P, and glutamatergic pathways. The goal of this study is to investigate the intracellular signaling molecules, which are involved in mediating the Ang II-induced increases in neuronal activity. Using neurons in primary culture from newborn rat hypothalamus and brain stem, we have previously determined that Ang II elicits an AT(1) receptor-mediated inhibition of delayed rectifier K(+) current, a stimulation of Ca(2+) current, and a consequent increase in firing rate. In the present study we have demonstrated that this chronotropic action of Ang II in neuronal cultures involves activation of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling molecules. The Ang II-induced increase in firing rate was abolished by inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 (10 micromol/L), and was attenuated by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C (10 micromol/L) or by the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 (10 micromol/L). A combination of calphostin C and KN-93 completely inhibited this Ang II action. These results indicate that the AT(1) receptor-mediated increase in neuronal firing rate involves activation of both PKC and CaMKII, and suggest that these enzymes are potential targets for manipulating the central actions of Ang II.