Gender influences cerebral vascular responses to angiotensin II through Nox2-derived reactive oxygen species

Background and Purpose?We tested whether gender influences cerebrovascular responses to angiotensin II (AngII) and the role(s) of Nox2. Methods and Results?AngII-stimulated superoxide (O2-) production by cerebral arteries from male and female wild-type (WT) and Nox2-/- mice was measured using lucigenin- or L-012?enhanced chemiluminescence. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was measured using Amplex Red fluorescence. Western Blotting was used to measure expression of Nox2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), angiotensin receptors (AT1 and AT2), and superoxide dismutases (SOD1?3). Immunofluorescence was used to localize Nox2 in middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Vascular responses to AngII were assessed in a perfusion myograph. AngII-stimulated O2- and H2O2 production by cerebral arteries from female WT mice was 75 to 85 lower than in males (P