Angiotensin AT(4) receptor

Although angiotensin IV (Ang IV) was thought initially to be an inactive product of angiotensin II (Ang II) degradation, the hexapeptide was subsequently shown to markedly enhance learning and memory in normal rodents and reverse memory deficits observed in animal models of amnesia. These central nervous system effects of Ang IV are mediated by binding to a specific site known as the AT4 receptor which is found in appreciable levels throughout the brain and concentrated particularly in regions involved in cognition. The AT4 receptor has a broad distribution and is found in a range of tissues including the adrenal gland, kidney, lung and heart. In addition to Ang IV, the peptide LVV-haemorphin-7 binds with high affinity to the AT4 receptor and has been demonstrated to mediate the same effects as Ang IV. In the kidney Ang IV has been demonstrated to mediate a number of effects including increasing …