Angiotensin converting enzyme 2/Ang-(1-7)/mas axis protects brain from ischemic injury with a tendency of age-dependence.

Background: The angiotensin (Ang) converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor pathway is an important component of the renin-angiotensin system and has been suggested to exert beneficial effects in ischemic stroke.

Aims: This study explored whether the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas pathway has a protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury and whether this effect is affected by age.

Methods: We used three-month and eight-month transgenic mice with neural over-expression of ACE2 (SA) and their age-matched nontransgenic (NT) controls.