The Renin Angiotensin System

The RAS is a hormone system that regulates blood vessel tone throughout the body, including in the arterioles regulating renal function. Within the RAS are known sex differences, including peptide levels, plasma renin activity (PRA), and receptor expression. In males, the "classical" axis is upregulated, including Ang I, Ang II, and AT1R; however, in females the "nonclassical" axis is upregulated, which includes Ang (1-7), and AT2R. These differences lead to variations in the efficacy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB).

We use computational models of the RAS in male and female rats to identify sex differences that lead to these variations in efficacy to better understand which therapies should be advised for each sex and identify other possible targets for anti-hypertensive therapy.

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