Hypertension in insulin-resistant Zucker obese rats is independent of sympathetic neural support

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. E368-E371 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Zemel ◽  
J. D. Peuler ◽  
J. R. Sowers ◽  
L. Simpson

We have previously reported that insulin-resistant Zucker obese rats exhibit hypertension associated with impaired vascular smooth muscle (VSM) Ca2+ transport and proposed that this results from failure of insulin to regulate VSM Ca2+ transport in insulin resistance. However, hypertension in insulin-resistant states is generally attributed to hyperinsulinemia, with a consequent stimulation of sympathetic neural activity. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to determine whether the hypertension observed in Zucker obese rats compared with their lean controls was dependent on either increased sympathetic neural activity or exaggerated vascular reactivity. Intra-arterial blood pressure responses to ganglionic blockade with Ecolid (chlorisondamine chloride) and to graded intravenous injections of angiotensin II and norepinephrine were compared in 6- to 8-wk-old male Zucker rats and their lean controls (n = 10/group). The obese rats exhibited significant hypertension before ganglionic blockade (P less than 0.001), and this difference was largely sustained during ganglionic blockade (P less than 0.005). Furthermore, the obese rats exhibited greater pressor sensitivity to both angiotensin II and to norepinephrine during ganglionic blockade (P less than 0.01). Thus enhanced pressor sensitivity, independent of sympathetic neural activity, appears to support hypertension in Zucker obese rats.

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. H2537-H2542 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Stepp ◽  
Erika I. Boesen ◽  
Jennifer C. Sullivan ◽  
James D. Mintz ◽  
Clark D. Hair ◽  
...  

Obesity is an emerging risk factor for renal dysfunction, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Obese patients show heightened renal vasodilation to blockade of the renin-angiotensin system, suggesting deficits in vascular responses to angiotensin II (ANG II). This study tested the hypothesis that obesity augments renal vasoconstriction to ANG II. Lean (LZR), prediabetic obese (OZR), and nonobese fructose-fed Zucker rats (FF-LZR) were studied to determine the effects of obesity and insulin resistance on reactivity of blood pressure and renal blood flow to vasoconstrictors. OZR showed enlargement of the kidneys, elevated urine output, increased sodium intake, and decreased plasma renin activity (PRA) vs. LZR, and renal vasoconstriction to ANG II was augmented in OZR. Renal reactivity to norepinephrine and mesenteric vascular reactivity to ANG II were similar between LZR and OZR. Insulin-resistant FF-LZR had normal reactivity to ANG II, indicating the insulin resistance was an unlikely explanation for the changes observed in OZR. Four weeks on a low-sodium diet (0.08%) to raise PRA reduced reactivity to ANG II in OZR back to normal levels without effect on LZR. From these data, we conclude that in the prediabetic stages of obesity, a decrease in PRA is observed in Zucker rats that may lead to increased renal vascular reactivity to ANG II. This increased reactivity to ANG II may explain the elevated renal vasodilator effects observed in obese humans and provide insight into early changes in renal function that predispose to nephropathy in later stages of the disease.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 2035-2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther M. Brooks-Asplund ◽  
Artin A. Shoukas ◽  
Soon-Yul Kim ◽  
Sean A. Burke ◽  
Dan E. Berkowitz

We hypothesized that estradiol treatment would improve vascular dysfunction commonly associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. A sham operation or 17β-estradiol pellet implantation was performed in male lean and obese Zucker rats. Maximal vasoconstriction (VC) to phenylephrine (PE) and potassium chloride was exaggerated in control obese rats compared with lean rats, but estradiol significantly attenuated VC in the obese rats. Estradiol reduced the PE EC50 in all groups. This effect was cyclooxygenase independent, because preincubation with indomethacin reduced VC response to PE similarly in a subset of control and estrogen-treated lean rats. Endothelium-independent vasodilation (VD) to sodium nitroprusside was similar among groups, but endothelium-dependent VD to ACh was significantly impaired in obese compared with lean rats. Estradiol improved VD in lean and obese rats by decreasing EC50 but impaired function by decreasing maximal VD. The shift in EC50 corresponded to an upregulation in nitric oxide synthase III protein expression in the aorta of the estrogen-treated obese rats. In summary, estrogen treatment improves vascular function in male insulin-resistant, obese rats, partially via an upregulation of nitric oxide synthase III protein expression. These effects are counteracted by adverse factors, such as hyperlipidemia and, potentially, a release of an endothelium-derived contractile agent.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi He ◽  
Kathleen M MacLeod

The genetically obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) is an insulin-resistant animal model with early-onset severe hyperinsulinemia that eventually develops mild hypertension. Thus, it represents a model in which the effect of hyperinsulinemia – insulin resistance associated with hypertension on vascular reactivity can be examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins to reactivity to noradrenaline (NA) in the presence and absence of insulin in mesenteric arterial beds (MAB) from 25-week-old obese Zucker rats and their lean, gender-matched littermates. In the absence of insulin, bolus injection of NA (0.9–90 nmol) produced a dose-dependent increase in perfusion pressure in MAB from both lean and obese rats. Although there was no significant difference in NA pD2 (–log ED50) values, the maximum response of MAB from obese rats to NA was slightly but significantly reduced compared with that of MAB from lean rats. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 300 µM) enhanced and indomethacin (20 µM) inhibited pressor responses to NA in MAB from both obese and lean rats. Perfusion with insulin (200 mU/L, a level similar to that in obese rats in vivo) potentiated only the responses of the obese MAB to the two lowest doses of NA tested (0.9 and 3 nmol). In the presence of L-NMMA, insulin further potentiated the NA response in MAB from obese rats. Indomethacin, the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ 29548 (0.3 µM), and the nonselective endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonist bosentan (3 µM) all abolished insulin potentiation of the NA response in obese MAB. These data suggest that concurrent release of NO and vasoconstrictor cyclooxygenase product(s) in MAB from both obese and lean Zucker rats normally regulates NA-induced vasoconstrictor responses. Furthermore, insulin increases the release of contracting cyclooxygenase product(s) and enhances reactivity to low doses of NA in MAB from obese rats. The effects of insulin may be partially mediated by ET-1 via ET receptors and are buffered to some extent by concomitant NO release. This altered action of insulin may play a role in hypertension in this hyperinsulinemic – insulin-resistant model.Key words: hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertensive Zucker obese rat, mesenteric arterial bed, noradrenaline.


2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (3) ◽  
pp. F597-F605 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Riazi ◽  
Osman Khan ◽  
Xinqun Hu ◽  
Carolyn A. Ecelbarger

Insulin-resistant, obese Zucker rats have blunted pressure natriuresis and are mildly hypertensive. This may involve inappropriate regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. To evaluate mechanisms underlying this defect, we employed the model of aldosterone escape. Male lean (L) and obese (O) Zucker rats were infused with aldosterone (2.8 μg/g body wt3/4) via osmotic minipump while being fed a 0.02% NaCl diet (LS). After 4 days, six rats of each type were switched to a high-NaCl (HS) diet (4%) for 4 additional days. Mean arterial blood pressure measured by radiotelemetry was significantly increased by the HS diet only in obese rats (final mean mmHg): 104 (LLS), 99 (LHS), 103 (OLS), and 115 (OHS). Obese rats had relatively increased renal cortical abundance of the bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) and whole kidney α- and β-ENaC (epithelial sodium channel) relative to lean rats. However, band density for the thiazide-sensitive (Na-Cl) cotransporter (NCC) was similarly reduced by HS in lean and obese rats (∼50%). Obese rats had relatively reduced creatinine clearances and plasma renin activities, effects exacerbated by HS. Furthermore, HS resulted in a 129% increase in urinary nitrates plus nitrites excretion in lean rats and led to, in contrast, a 46% reduction in obese rats. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were increased by HS in obese but not lean rats. Thus we demonstrate an impaired response to aldosterone infusion in obese relative to lean Zucker rats. This impairment may involve increased sodium reabsorption via NKCC2 or ENaC, decreased glomerular filtration rate, and/or nitric oxide bioavailability.


Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra L Irsik ◽  
Ashley R Washington ◽  
Rabei Alaisami ◽  
Michael W Brands

Obesity and insulin resistance contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, a growing epidemic in our country. The obese Zucker rat is an experimental model of this disease. Previously, using Sprague Dawley rats, we have shown that the normal postprandial rise in insulin acts physiologically to prevent renal salt and water wasting after meals. This study tested whether the effects of postprandial insulin would be attenuated in insulin resistant rats and result in excess salt and water loss. Chronic artery and vein catheters were implanted in male lean and obese Zucker rats for infusion and blood sampling. Rats were housed in metabolic cages and their catheters were connected to dual-channel Instech swivels for access. Over a 24-hr period of ad libitum eating, blood glucose was not different between obese and lean rats (127±7 vs. 120±3 mg/dl) but obese rats were hyperinsulinemic (14.86 vs. 0.98 ng/ml). Obese rats had significantly greater urine volume than lean controls (22.5±1.2 vs. 14.7±0.9 ml) despite similar water intakes. Obese rats tended to excrete more Na+ than lean controls (3.46±0.15 vs. 2.97±0.35 mEq) with equal amounts of Na+ intake. To evaluate the response to a single meal while controlling for blood glucose, fasted rats were administered a glucose bolus (as 50% dextrose) that yielded peak levels of blood glucose that were not different in the two groups (589±11 vs. 596 ±3 mg/dl at t=5 min.). Plasma insulin increased from fasting in both groups to 26.35 and 9.34 ng/ml in obese and lean controls, respectively. Over the 4-hour period following the glucose administration, obese rats had significantly greater urine volume (8.6±1.3 vs. 2.2 ±0.6 ml) and Na+ excretion (0.53±0.11 vs. 0.25±0.09 mEq) than lean controls. This suggests that insulin resistance of obesity may impair the ability of postprandial insulin to participate in maintenance of Na+ and water homeostasis, but the potential role of insulin resistance specifically within the kidney requires further study.


1995 ◽  
Vol 311 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Uphues ◽  
T Kolter ◽  
B Goud ◽  
J Eckel

Cardiac ventricular tissue of lean and genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats was used to study the expression, subcellular distribution and insulin-induced recruitment of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and to elucidate possible molecular alterations of the translocation process. Hearts were removed from basal and insulin-treated (20 min) lean and obese Zucker rats, and processed for subcellular fractionation and Western blotting of proteins. In obese rats, the total GLUT4 content in a crude membrane fraction was reduced to 75 +/- 8% (P = 0.019) of lean controls. In contrast, GLUT4 abundance in plasma membranes was not significantly different between lean and obese rats with a concomitant decrease (47 +/- 3%) in the microsomal fraction of obese animals. In plasma membranes of lean animals insulin was found to increase the GLUT4 abundance to 294 +/- 43% of control with a significantly (P = 0.009) reduced effect in the obese group (139 +/- 10% of control). In these animals insulin failed to recruit GLUT4 from the microsomal fraction, whereas the hormone induced a significant decrease (41 +/- 4%) of microsomal GLUT4 in lean controls. In GLUT4-enriched membrane vesicles, obtained from cardiac microsomes of lean rats, a 24 kDa GTP-binding protein could be detected, whereas no significant labelling of this species was observed in GLUT4 vesicles prepared from obese animals. In addition to the translocation of GLUT4, insulin was found to promote the movement of the small GTP-binding protein rab4A from the cytosol (decrease to 61 +/- 13% of control) to the plasma membrane (increase to 177 +/- 19% of control) in lean rats with no effect of the hormone on rab4A redistribution in the obese group. In conclusion, cardiac glucose uptake of insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats is subject to multiple cellular abnormalities involving a reduced expression, altered redistribution and defective recruitment of GLUT4. We show here an association of the latter defect with alterations at the level of small GTP-binding proteins possibly leading to an impaired trafficking of GLUT4 in the insulin-resistant state.


1980 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Leuenberger ◽  
S. A. Stalcup ◽  
L. M. Greenbaum ◽  
R. B. Mellins ◽  
G. M. Turino

To determine if angiotension converting enzyme activity is altered by acute pathophysiological insults, we assessed angiotensin I conversion using a blood pressure response technique in anesthetized dogs studied during acute 100% O2 breathing and acute acid-base derangements. Also, we determined systemic vascular reactivity to angiotensin II by measuring the magnitude and duration of the arterial blood pressure response to intra-arterial injections of angiotensin II under these same conditions. Angiotensin I conversion found in normoxia [91 +/- 7 (SD)%] was unchanged by acute acidosis, alkalosis, and hyperoxia. During acute hyperoxia the mean half time of the hypertensive response increased from 68 +/- 25 (SD) s at a PaO2 of 112 +/- 18 (SD) Torr to 100 +/- 34 (SD) s at a PaO2 of 491 +/- 47 (SD) Torr (P less than 0.01). No other pathophysiological condition studied had any effect on reactivity of systemic vasculature to angiotensin II. We conclude that, except during acute hypoxia as previously shown, converting enzyme activity is resistant to other pathophysiological insults and that vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II is enhanced by hyperoxia.


1997 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Walker ◽  
J. Dores ◽  
R. E. Buckingham ◽  
M. W. Savage ◽  
G. Williams

1. Insulin resistance is associated with hypertension but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that insulin-induced vasodilatation is impaired in insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats. We studied mesenteric artery (≈ 220 μm diameter) function before the development of hypertension in 3-month old obese Zucker rats and age-matched lean rats. 2. In vessels from lean rats, insulin at concentrations of 50, 500 and 5000 m-units/l attenuated the constriction in response to noradrenaline (50 m-units/l: 8 ± 3%, P < 0.05; 500 m-units/l: 13 ± 3%, P < 0.02; 5000 m-units/l: 13 ± 2%, P < 0.02). 3. Vessels from obese rats failed to show any such response to insulin (2 ± 6% increase in maximal tension with 5000 m-units/l; not significant), both in the presence and absence of l-arginine (3 mmol/l). 4. Vessels from obese rats showed slight but significant impairment in the vasodilator response to acetylcholine (5 × 10−8−10−4 mol/l) (obese: 64.1 ± 3.7% relaxation; lean: 77.3 ± 3.7% relaxation; P < 0.05); however, relaxation in response to A23187 was not significantly different between the phenotypes (obese: 81.3 ± 10.6% relaxation; lean: 79.1 ± 9.7% relaxation; not significant). 5. Systolic blood pressure was not significantly different in lean (126 ± 8 mmHg) and obese (127 ± 7 mmHg) rats at the time of study (not significant). 6. We conclude that insulin-induced attenuation of noradrenaline-mediated vasoconstriction is impaired in the obese Zucker rat and that this defect precedes and therefore could contribute to the development of hypertension in this insulin-resistant model. The defect in insulin action could reside in the endothelial generation of nitric oxide, as endothelial function is also abnormal.


2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. E1228-E1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Zanchi ◽  
Christine Perregaux ◽  
Marc Maillard ◽  
Daniel Cefai ◽  
Juerg Nussberger ◽  
...  

Glitazones are efficient insulin sensitizers that blunt the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) in the rat. Sodium chloride is another important modulator of the systemic and renal effects of ANG II. Whether glitazones interfere with the interaction between sodium and the response to ANG II is not known. Therefore, we investigated the effects of pioglitazone on the relationship between sodium and the systemic and renal effects of ANG II in rats. Pioglitazone, or vehicle, was administered for 4 wk to 8-wk-old obese Zucker rats. Animals were fed a normal-sodium (NS) or a high-sodium (HS) diet. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests, systemic and renal hemodynamic responses to ANG II, and the renal ANG II binding and expression of ANG II type 1 (AT1) receptors were measured. The results of our study were that food intake and body weight increased, whereas blood pressure, heart rate, filtration fraction, and insulin levels decreased significantly with pioglitazone in obese rats on both diets. Pioglitazone blunted the systemic response to ANG II and abolished the increased responsiveness to ANG II induced by a HS diet. Pioglitazone modified the renal hemodynamic response to changes in salt intake while maintaining a lower filtration fraction with ANG II perfusion. These effects were associated with a decrease in the number and expression of the AT1 receptor in the kidney. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist pioglitazone modifies the physiological relationship between sodium chloride and the response to ANG II in insulin-resistant rats.


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