MAPK3 and renal hypertension: Taken together, our findings suggested that RAS system mainly composed of angiotensinogen, Ang II, AT1R, was activated in the PVN of renal hypertensive rats; those changes would mediate neuronal apoptosis through the Ras/ERK1/2 pathways, regulating sympathetic activity and blood pressure, which played a crucial role in the pathogenesis of renal hypertension.