Background:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenemia and elevated blood pressure (BP). Male offspring of hyperandrogenemic female (HAF) rats, PCOS model, have low birth weight, with normal BP, but exaggerated pressor response to Angiotensin (Ang) II as adults. The present study tested the hypothesis that with aging, male HAF offspring are at increased risk of developing hypertension (HT).
Methods:
Hyperandrogenemia was induced in female SD rats (5α-dihydrotestosterone pellets 7.5 mg/90 d, s.c. at 4 wks of age and throughout life). HAF and controls (10-12 wks of age) were mated, allowed to deliver and lactate. HAF and control male offspring (F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
) were left untreated until 16-20 mos of age. Body composition (echoMRI) and proteinuria were measured in aging offspring. BP was measured (baseline; 9 d, enalapril (25 mg/kg/d); 7d) by telemetry. Rats were then given Ang II (50 ng/kg/min, s.c. minipumps) or saline (No Ang II) for 13 d. High salt (4%) diet (HSD) was started for both Ang II and No Ang II groups on day 8 of Ang II.
Results:
Aging male F1
HAF
had similar fat mass, but lower lean mass (433.7 ± 6 vs 453.6 ± 7 g, p< 0.05) and body weight (552.3 ± 11 vs 590.4 ± 11 g, n = 8-16, p<0.05) than F1
Contr.
. Despite higher proteinuria in F1
HAF
(412 ± 42 mg/24h vs 292 ± 47 mg/24h, n = 11-13, p<0.05), baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) was similar between F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
(130 ± 1 mmHg vs 126 ± 4 mmHg, respectively, n = 8, p=NS). Enalapril decreased MAP similarly in both F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
(110 ± 2 mmHg vs 107 ± 3 mmHg, respectively). On low salt, Ang II increased MAP to higher levels in F1
HAF
than F1
contr.,
saline-treated>F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
(140 ± 11 mmHg vs 119 ± 10 mmHg, 105 ± 3 mmHg and 103 ± 4 mmHg, respectively, n = 4, p<0.05 F
1
HAF vs other grps). With 6 days of HSD, MAP was similar between F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
not treated with Ang II (142 ± 6 mmHg and 132 ± 9 mmHg, respectively). MAP was also similar between F1
HAF
and F1
Contr.
with Ang II (169 ± 1 mmHg and 159 ± 9 mmHg, respectively). However, both Ang II-treated groups had significantly higher MAP compared to their respective No Ang II control groups.
Conclusion:
Aging male HAF offspring do not develop hypertension, but are at increased risk of renal injury and cardiovascular disease due to enhanced pressor sensitivity to Ang II.