Our data showed, in the kidney cortex, an upregulation of the mRNA of AT1R receptor in DOCA-treated rats, as previously described by Oishi et al.,28 and other kinds of perinatally programmed hypertension (such as a low protein diet)40,41, presumably reflecting the upregulated state of the receptors in the model, in which renin and ANG II are suppressed. This evidence concerns the gene REN and hypertensive disorder.