Participants: associate professor Pavel Rashev

The name of the visited institutions

• Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graifswald, Germany - Prof. Uwe Lendeckel
• Private Hospital for Gynecology, Magdeburg, Germany- Prof. Hans Donat 

Duration - 3.09.2010 – 24.09.2010 – Graifswald

                 - 24.09.2010 – 2.10.2010 – Magdeburg

The purpose of the visit – collaborative investigations on gene expression of individual components of local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mammary gland

The research program included:

• Experiments to follow-up the gene expression and some components of the local rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mammary gland; (ACE-generating angiotensin I from angiotensin II, ACE2- generating angiotensin 1-7 from angiotensin II and  Mas1R –receptor for angiotensin 1-7);
• Introduction to methods for isolation of total RN;
• Synthesis of cDNA and  RT-qPCRл;
• Introduction to working with RT-PCR and RT-qPCR machines.

Results achieved during the visit are as follow:

• Studied were samples of normal or tumour samples from 32 patients with a malignant disease at a different stage of development;
• Using real-time PCR it was shown that the studied components of the rennin-angiotensin  system are present locally in the mammary gland tissue both in normal and pathologic samples;  
• It was established that the levels of mRNA for Mas1R and ACE2 are lowered to 48% and 37% while the same components are found in 35% higher levels in comparison to normal tissue.

These results were discussed in details with the two partner’s institutions and served as a basis for plans for further experimental studies. It should be underlined that meeting new colleagues is of utmost importance for the future scientific contacts and participation in a network of European partner organizations.