Expression and functional implications of the renal apelinergic system in rodents.
Apelin binds to the G protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJ; gene name aplnr) to modulate diverse physiological systems including cardiovascular function, and hydromineral and metabolic balance.Recently a second endogenous ligand for APJ, named apela, has been discovered.We confirm that apela activates signal transduction pathways (ERK activation) i