Increased spontaneous tone in renal arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. H1673-H1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric S. Michel ◽  
Ricky Y. K. Man ◽  
Paul M. Vanhoutte

The spontaneous tone of vascular smooth muscle is augmented in hypertension. The present study examined the role of nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase (COX), thromboxane A2/prostanoid (TP) and PGE2/prostanoid (EP-1) receptors, reactive oxygen species, and large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels in the regulation of spontaneous tone in renal arteries of young and mature Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rings of arteries, with and without endothelium, were suspended in a myograph for isometric force recording. Spontaneous tone (increase above initial tension) was observed only in arteries of mature SHR and was greater in arteries without endothelium. Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthases) induced larger contractions in arteries of SHR than WKY. Indomethacin (a COX inhibitor), SC-19220 (an EP-1 receptor antagonist), and terutroban (a TP receptor antagonist) reduced the l-NAME-evoked contractions. Tiron (a superoxide anion scavenger), catalase (an enzyme that degrades H2O2), and deferoxamine (a hydroxyl radical scavenger) augmented the l-NAME-induced contractions in arteries of mature SHR. Charybdotoxin (a BKCa channel blocker) caused contractions in arteries of mature SHR without endothelium and in arteries with endothelium incubated with l-NAME. A decreased protein level of endothelial NO synthase, an increased release of prostacyclin, and an increased expression of EP-1 receptors were observed in arteries of mature SHR. The present study suggests that spontaneous tone is precipitated by age and hypertension. The reduced production of NO, leading to decreased activation of BKCa channels, may leave the actions of endogenous vasoconstrictors unopposed. COX products that activate EP-1 and TP receptors are involved in the development of spontaneous tone.

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. R872-R879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donella B. Sampey ◽  
Louise M. Burrell ◽  
Robert E. Widdop

The aim of the present study was to determine the receptor subtype involved in arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced modulation of baroreflex function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats using novel nonpeptide AVP V1- and V2-receptor antagonists. Baroreceptor heart rate (HR) reflex was investigated in both SHR and WKY rats which were intravenously administered the selective V1- and V2-receptor antagonists OPC-21268 and OPC-31260, respectively. Baroreflex function was assessed by obtaining alternate pressor and depressor responses to phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively, to construct baroreflex curves. In both SHR and WKY rats baroreflex activity was tested before and after intravenous administration of vehicle (20% DMSO), OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg), and OPC-31260 (1 and 10 mg/kg). Vehicle did not significantly alter basal mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR values or baroreflex function in SHR or WKY rats. The V1-receptor antagonist had no significant effect on resting MAP or HR values or on baroreflex parameters in both groups of rats, although this dose was shown to significantly inhibit the pressor response to AVP (5 ng iv; ANOVA, P < 0.05). In SHR but not WKY rats the V2-receptor antagonist significantly attenuated the gain (or slope) of the baroreflex curve (to 73 ± 3 and 79 ± 7% of control for 1 and 10 mg/kg, respectively), although AVP-induced pressor responses were also attenuated with the higher dose of the V2-receptor antagonist. These findings suggest that AVP tonically enhances baroreflex function through a V2 receptor in the SHR.


1986 ◽  
Vol 250 (3) ◽  
pp. F488-F496 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Grone ◽  
R. S. Grippo ◽  
W. J. Arendshorst ◽  
M. J. Dunn

As platelet and renal thromboxane (TX)A2 synthesis are increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we tested the hypothesis that increased renal TXA2 synthesis may cause the reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), and the increase in arterial pressure in SHR of the Okamoto-Aoki strain. A selective inhibitor of TXA2 synthetase (UK 38485) was given acutely, with or without a TXA2 receptor antagonist (EP-092), to 6- to 8-wk-old SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and chronically for 5.5 wk to 3.5-wk-old SHR. Inhibition of TXA2, measured by the stable metabolite TXB2, in the acute experiments was greater than 95% in serum and greater than 80% in glomeruli; in the chronic studies, it was greater than 65% in glomeruli. There was no endoperoxide shunting to vasodilatory and natriuretic prostaglandins (PGE2, PGI2) in glomeruli after TXA2 inhibition. Before drug administration, GFR and RPF were reduced and renal vascular resistance (RVR) was increased in SHR. During acute blockade of renal TXA2 synthesis, with or without a TXA2 receptor antagonist, there was no significant change in GFR, RPF, or RVR in WKY and SHR. Inhibition of TXA2 did not affect urine flow or sodium excretion in anesthetized or conscious WKY or SHR. Mean arterial pressure did not fall in treated SHR and WKY. Chronic TXA2 synthesis inhibition did not improve GFR or RPF in SHR, and systolic arterial pressure was not altered. These findings show that enhanced serum and glomerular TXA2 synthesis do not significantly contribute to the reduction in renal function and are not essential for the development of hypertension in young SHR.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 878-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhou ◽  
Hiromichi Ando ◽  
Miroslava Macova ◽  
Jingtao Dou ◽  
Juan M Saavedra

Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation enhance vulnerability to hypertensive brain damage. To explore the participation of Angiotensin II (Ang II) in the mechanism of vulnerability to cerebral ischemia during hypertension, we examined the expression of inflammatory factors and the heat shock protein (HSP) response in cerebral microvessels from spontaneously hypertensive rats and their normotensive controls, Wistar Kyoto rats. We treated animals with vehicle or the Ang II AT1 receptor antagonist candesartan, 0.3 mg/kg/day, via subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps for 4 weeks. Spontaneously hypertensive rats expressed higher Angiotensin II AT1 receptor protein and mRNA than normotensive controls. Candesartan decreased the macrophage infiltration and reversed the enhanced tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β mRNA and nuclear factor-κB in microvessels in hypertensive rats. The transcription of many HSP family genes, including HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90, and heat shock factor-1 was higher in hypertensive rats and was downregulated by AT1 receptor blockade. Our results suggest a proinflammatory action of Ang II through AT1 receptor stimulation in cerebral microvessels during hypertension, and very potent antiinflammatory effects of the Ang II AT1 receptor antagonist. These compounds might be considered as potential therapeutic agents against ischemic and inflammatory diseases of the brain.


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