Angiotensin-(1-7) treatment attenuates depressive behavior and restores aerobic physical performance in mice with elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema

TYPE: Late Breaking Abstract TOPIC: Obstructive Lung Diseases PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of Ang-(1-7) treatment on physical performance, depressive and locomotor behavior of mice with elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema (PE). METHODS: Twenty-one C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups: CTRL (n=7), PE (n=14) and PE+Ang-(1-7). PE group received three intratracheal instillations of pancreatic porcine elastase at 1-week intervals. The CTRL group was treated wih vehicle. Twenty-four hours after the last instillation, PE+Ang-(1-7) group was treated daily for 4 weeks orally with Ang-(1-7). The CTRL and PE groups were treated with vehicle. After three weeks of treatment with Ang-(1-7), all groups were submitted to assessment of locomotor activity and depressive behavior through open field and tail suspension tests, respectively. After 4 weeks of Ang-(1-7) treatment, the maximal aerobic exercise test (MAET) on the treadmill was performed. RESULTS: PE group showed reduced locomotor activity (725.0± 92.14 cm) and increased depressive behavior (106±7 sec, immobility time) in relation to the CTRL group (1280±176 cm and 62±9 sec). These behavioral changes were not different between the PE+Ang-(1-7) and CTRL groups (960±50 cm and 82±13 sec vs. 1280±176 cm and 62±9 sec). The time of the MAET in the PE group (33±2 min) was shorter in relation to the CTRL and PE+Ang-(1-7) groups (45±1 min and 42±2 min, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ang-(1-7) treatment prevented the reduction of locomotor activity and depressive behavior and incread the time of the MAET in the PE+Ang-(1-7) group. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These results strengthen the hypothesis that the Ang-(1-7)/Mas pathway may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of PE and their extrapulmonary repercussions. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships. Keywords: COPD;, COPD; Extrapulmonary repercussions; Maximal aerobic exercise; angiotensin system.