Pilot and plant scaled production of ACE inhibitory hydrolysates from Acetes chinensis and its in vivo antihypertensive effect

The angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory oligopeptide-enriched hydrolysates from Acetes chinensis by treatment with the protease from Bacillus sp. SM98011 were produced at pilot scale (100 L) and plant scale (1000 L). The pilot and plant scaled hydrolysate products almost had the same properties as that at laboratory scale. Spray-drying had little effect on the peptide composition and bioactivity of the hydrolysates. The plant scaled hydrolysates were used to study its blood pressure-depressing effect in vivo. It caused reduce of 18.3–38.6 mmHg of the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats in dose-dependent manner in the range of 100–1200 mg/kg/day. Histopathologic study showed that the pathologic changes of heart and brain in SHRs got obvious alleviation after treatment of the hydrolysates.     

Antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitory oligopeptides from chicken egg yolks

Oligopeptides of 1 KDa or less were obtained by hydrolysis of chicken egg yolks with a crude enzyme, and by dialysis with a semipermeable membrane filter. Since the extracted peptides had an inhibitory action on the activity of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro, they were orally administered at 20, 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for 12 weeks to analyze the physiological role on cardiovascular functions. The administered oligopeptides suppressed the development of hypertension at all dosages. After 12 weeks at 500 mg/kg body weight, the values for systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure were approximately 10% less in SHRs administered than controls. Furthermore, serum ACE activity of the peptide-administered groups was significantly lower than that of the control group in a dose-related manner. Our results imply that oligopeptides extracted from hen's egg yolks could potentially suppress the development of hypertension in SHR, and this effect might be induced by the inhibition of ACE activity.     

Val-Glu-Pro对原发性高血压大鼠的体内降压作用

Val-Glu-Pro(VEP)是从钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis)中发现的一种血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)抑制肽.以原发性高血压大鼠(SHR)为模型,检测单次口服和一周间口服VEP的降压效果,并通过Real-timePCR和酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)探索其对肾素-血管紧张素系统(RAS)主要成分在SHR大鼠肾脏和血清中的表达调控作用.结果表明:口服VEP的最低有效降压剂量为5mg/kg,加大剂量后表现出剂量效应,最低加权收缩压(WSBP)出现在口服后6h,最低加权舒张压(WDBP)出现在口服后4 h.在一周间口服试验中,10 mg/kg VEP处理组的WSBP在第5日显著低于负对照组.此外,口服VEP显著下调了SHR大鼠肾脏中肾素(renin)、ACE、血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)类型1受体(AT1)的mRNA表达,并上调AngⅡ类型2受体(AT2)的mRNA表达,说明VEP的降压效果可能与对RAS系统的抑制作用相关,在高血压的预防和治疗中具有潜在的应用前景.     

Kidney adaptation in nitric oxide-deficient Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the renal structural and functional consequences of nitric oxide (NO) deficiency co-treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) in 20 adult male Wistar rats and 20 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were separated into eight groups (n = 5) and treated for 30 days: Control, L-NAME (NO deficient group), Enalapril, L-NAME + Enalapril. The elevated blood pressure in NO deficient rats was partially reduced by enalapril. Serum creatinine was elevated in L-NAME-SHRs and effectively treated with enalapril. The proteinuria was significantly higher only in L-NAME-SHRs, and this was reduced by treatment with ACEi. The glomerular volume density (Vv(gl)) in L-NAME rats, both Wistar and SHR, was greater than in matched control rats, and enalapril treatment effectively prevented this Vv(gl) increase. No significant differences were observed in tubular volume density, Vv(tub), or tubular surface density, Sv(tub), in all Wistar groups. The Vv(tub) was smaller in L-NAME-SHRs than in control SHRs, and this tubular alteration was not prevented by enalapril. The Sv(tub) was not different among the SHR groups. In Wistar rats no changes were seen in vascular surface density, but a greatly increased cortical vascular volume density was seen in the enalapril treated rats. The vascular length density was greatly diminished in NO deficient rats that was effectively prevented with enalapril treatment. The vascular cortical renal stereological indices are normally reduced in SHRs. Administration of enalapril, but not L-NAME, changed this tendency. However, enalapril was not totally effective in preventing vascular damage in SHR NO deficient animals.     

Combined administration of captopril with an antihypertensive Val-Tyr di-peptide to spontaneously hypertensive rats attenuates the blood pressure lowering effect

Some di-peptides have been proven to exert an antihypertensive effect in mild-hypertensive subjects. The aim of this study was to clarify whether combined administration of an ACE inhibitor, captopril, with an antihypertensive di-peptide Val-Tyr (VY) would alter their potent antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Single oral administration of captopril (2.5 mg/kg), VY (25 mg/kg), or captopril (2.5 mg/kg)+VY (25 mg/kg) to 18-week-old male SHRs was performed. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured up to 9 h, and plasma captopril concentrations were determined. A transport study of captopril and/or VY across living rat jejunum from SHRs was also performed to evaluate the kinetics of absorption. Combined administration of captopril with VY failed to lower the BP during the 9-h experiment. A transport study of captopril or VY revealed that VY inhibited captopril transport, and vice versa, in a competitive manner and exhibited an approximately 1/3-fold lower Ki value for captopril compared with that for VY; indicating that both compounds compete for the same membrane transport pathway. A 50% decrease in plasma captopril levels by combined administration with VY supported that the attenuation of the BP lowering effect was due to inhibition of captopril uptake by VY. Consequently, our findings suggest that subjects treated with ACE inhibitors for hypertension should avoid combined-intake with antihypertensive foods that are rich in small peptides due to the competitive inhibition of drug uptake by these peptides.     

In vitro and in vivo ACE inhibitory of pistachio hydrolysates and in silico mechanism of identified peptide binding with ACE

The ACE inhibitory activity of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) kernel's hydrolysates by gastrointestinal enzymes was studied. Results indicated that hydrolysate successively hydrolyzed by pepsin and trypsin, Pe–Tr–H, presented in vitro ACE inhibitory activity as IC₅₀ 0.87 ± 0.04 mg/ml. The Pe–Tr–H can in vivo decrease around 22 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 16 mmHg in the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 4 h after the oral administration, however the pistachio kernel powder can slightly lower SBP and DBP. The Pe–Tr–H with the highest activity was then separated by ultrafiltration membrane of 3 kDa, size exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-15 and G-10 columns and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) consecutively. A novel ACE inhibitory peptide, ACKEP, with the IC₅₀ value of 126 μM, was identified by MALDI–TOF/TOF system. ACKEP has the same C-terminal residue as Lisinopril and Enalapril, which plays a key role in binding with ACE. The binding mechanism was explored at a molecular basis by docking experiments, which revealed that seven residues from ACE active site (His383, His387, Glu384, Arg522, Asp358, Ala356 and Asn70) and two atoms of ACKEP (O5, H60) greatly contributed to the combinative stabilization.     

Antihypertensive effect and purification of an ACE inhibitory peptide from sea cucumber gelatin hydrolysate

Gelatin from the sea cucumber (Acaudina molpadioidea) was hydrolyzed sequentially with bromelain and alcalase. The hydrolysate was fractionated into three ranges of molecular weight (GH-I, <10 kDa; GH-II, <5 kDa; GH-III, <1 kDa) using an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system. The GH-III brought about a high angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ value of 0.35 mg/ml. An ACE inhibitory peptide was isolated from the GH-III, using the chromatographic methods including ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified ACE inhibitory peptide with a molecular weight of 840 Da consisted of five main amino acids (Glu, Asp, Pro, Gly and Ala), and its IC₅₀ value was 0.0142 mg/ml. This sea cucumber gelatin hydrolysate (GH-III) was used as drinks administered to renal hypertensive rats (RHR) for 1 month. The systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of the RHR were significantly reduced, which indicates an antihypertensive effect by oral administration.     

Differential protein expression in hypertrophic heart with and without hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Although cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension has been well recognized, the molecular mechanisms for the development of hypertrophy are still largely unknown. In this study, the protein expression profiles of left ventricular myocardia in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at different ages were analyzed using 2-DE in combination with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS. The results showed that 20 proteins were modulated in the hypertrophic myocardium. Out of these modulated proteins, 13 proteins presented significant changes in SHR at an early stage prior to the development of sustained hypertension, while the changes of the other 7 protein expressions occurred only at a late stage in SHR when the blood pressure was significantly elevated, and were largely reversible by treatment with rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors losartan or enalapril. These data demonstrate that the changes in energy metabolism in the hypertrophied heart favor an increase in glycolysis and a decrease in oxidation of fatty acid and glucose, which occur at an early stage in SHR without hypertension. Our results also provide evidence to support the hypothesis that oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy.     

Acute cerebral artery constriction in the spontaneously hypertensive rat following blood and plasma administration into the subarachnoid space

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate, using a vascular casting technique, acute vasoconstrictive changes in the cerebral vasculature 1 h following whole-blood or plasma infusion into the subarachnoid space of conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. Vascular casts from animals infused (over 20 min) with 0.45 ml of heparinized autologous arterial blood or plasma exhibited incomplete filling, while casts from saline-infused controls exhibited virtually no filling defects. Significant elevations in intracranial pressure were noted in blood, but not in plasma- or saline-infused rats. Two characteristic forms of constriction occurred, depending upon the vessel lumen diameter. Vessels with lumen diameters >100 µm were flattened longitudinally with deep endothelial nuclear imprints, while smaller vessels had focal circular constrictions resembling beads. Arterial cast filling terminated in vessels with lumen diameters from 70 to 20 µm with focal signs of constriction at or near the point of cast termination. The results indicate that the presence of both blood and plasma in the subarachnoid space produces acute small-artery constriction. This phenomenon is due to a noncellular blood component and does not correlate with increases in intracranial pressure.     

Evaluating timing in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats using the peak procedure

A core deficit in timing may underlie the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Timing deficits have been observed in ADHD-diagnosed children but have yet to be fully explored in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a purported model of ADHD. We asked whether SHRs demonstrate ADHD-like timing deficits using the peak procedure. Response rates across peak intervals were modeled using the sum of two Gaussian curves. Results showed that SHRs peaked earlier than Wistar-Kyotos based on 4 s intervals that contained the individuals’ maximum response rates but not based on model parameters. The strains showed approximately equal precision of timing based on Weber fractions derived from model parameters, a result that replicates previous findings and does not support the use of SHRs to model this aspect of ADHD.     

Reduced expression of GSTM2 and increased oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rat

Human essential hypertension is a complex polygenic trait with underlying genetic components that remain unknown. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is a well-characterized experimental model for essential hypertension. By comparative proteomics, we previously identified glutathione S-transferase, mu 2 (GSTM2), a protein involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species, which had a significant reduction in left ventricles of 16-week-old SHR compared with WKY rats. In parallel, Western blotting and RT-PCR showed a similar reduction of GSTM2 in left ventricles and aortas of 4-, 8-, and 16-week-old SHR, which is before the onset of hypertension. This suggests that differential expression is not attributable to long-term changes in blood pressure. Meanwhile, the activities of GSTM2 were significantly decreased in different ages old SHR. Conversely, there was an enhanced generation of superoxide anion and activation of NADPH oxidase in SHR, which was accompanied by an increase in the protein expression of p47phox, a subunit of NADPH oxidase. These data suggest that it maybe a reduction in antioxidant defenses, evident by a reduced expression and activity of GSTM2, in the left ventricles and aortas of SHR that leads to increased levels of superoxide anion and activation of NADPH oxidase.     

Novel Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides Found in a Thermolysin-Treated Elastin with Antihypertensive Activity

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was generated from elastin and collagen by hydrolyzing with thermolysin. The IC₅₀ value of 531.6 µg/mL for ACE inhibition by the elastin hydrolysate was five times less than 2885.1 µg/mL by the collagen hydrolysate. We confirmed the antihypertensive activity of the elastin hydrolysate in vivo by feeding spontaneously hypertensive rats (male) on a diet containing 1% of the elastin hydrolysate for 9 weeks. About 4 week later, the systolic blood pressure of the rats in the elastin hydrolysate group had become significantly lower than that of the control group. We identified novel ACE inhibitory peptides, VGHyp, VVPG and VYPGG, in the elastin hydrolysate by using a protein sequencer and quadrupole linear ion trap (QIT)-LC/MS/MS. VYPGG had the highest IC₅₀ value of 244 µM against ACE and may have potential use as a functional food.     

A proteomic analysis of aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rat: RhoGDI alpha upregulation by angiotensin II via AT(1) receptor

Arteries undergo remodeling as a consequence of increased wall stress during hypertension. However, the molecular mechanisms of the vascular remodeling are largely unknown. Proteomics is a powerful tool to screen for differentially expressed proteins, but little effort was made on vascular disease research, especially on hypertension. In the present study, the differentially expressed proteins in aortas from 18-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive counterpart, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), were examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). We found 50 proteins to be differentially expressed, among which 27 were highly or only expressed in SHR and 23 in WKY. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and online data search, nine proteins, including Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha (RhoGDIalpha), were identified with high confidence. Further, the upregulation of RhoGDIalpha was verified at both mRNA and protein level in SHR. In addition, when cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from aortas of SHR and WKY were treated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and antagonist of angiotensin II type I (AT(1)) receptor, L158809, respectively, RhoGDIalpha was upregulated by Ang II and downregulated by L158809 in VSMCs of SHR. These results demonstrate that vascular remodeling results in significant alterations in the protein expression profile of the aorta during hypertension and suggest that the upregulation of RhoGDIalpha in hypertension is induced by Ang II via AT(1) receptor.     

ACE activity during the hypotension produced by standardized aqueous extract of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth: A comparative study to captopril effects in rats

To evaluate the effect of the standardized aqueous extract (AE) of Cecropia glaziovii Sneth on the plasma angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE-EC 3.4.15.1) activity, rats were treated with a single dose of AE (1 g/kg, p.o.) or repeatedly (0.5 g/kg/bid, p.o.) for 60 days. Captopril (50 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as positive control on the same animals. The effects on the blood pressure were recorded directly from the femoral artery (single dose), or indirectly by the tail cuff method (repeated doses) in conscious rats. The plasma ACE activity was determined spectrofluorimetrically using Hypuril-Hystidine-Leucine as substrate. The arterial blood pressure, heart rate and plasma ACE activity were not significantly modified within 24 h after a single dose administration of AE. Comparatively, blood pressure in captopril treated rats was reduced by 7-16% and heart rate was increased by 10-20% from 30 min to 24 h after drug administration. ACE activity after captopril presented a dual response: an immediate inhibition peaking at 30 min and a slow reversal to 32% up-regulation after 24 h. To correlate the drug effects upon repeated administration of either compound, normotensive rats were separated in three groups: animals with high ACE (48.8+/-2.6 nmol/min/ml), intermediate ACE (39.4+/-1.4 nmol/min/ml) and low ACE (23.5+/-0.6 nmol/min/ml) activity, significantly different among them. Repeated treatment with AE reduced the mean systolic blood pressure (121.7+/-0.5 mm Hg) by 20 mm Hg after 14 days. The hypotension was reversed upon washout 60 days afterwards. Likely, repeated captopril administration decreased blood pressure by 20 mm Hg throughout treatment in all groups. After 30 days treatment with AE (0.5 g/kg/bid, p.o.) the plasma ACE activity was unchanged in any experimental group. After captopril (50 mg/kg/bid, p.o.) administration the plasma ACE activity was inhibited by 50% within 1 h treatment but it was up-regulated by 120% after 12 h in all groups. It is concluded that the hypotension produced by prolonged treatment with AE of C. glaziovii is unrelated to ACE inhibition.     

Endothelial permeability in vitro and in vivo: Protective actions of ANP and omapatrilat in experimental atherosclerosis

Increased arterial endothelial cell permeability (ECP) is considered an initial step in atherosclerosis. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) which is rapidly degraded by neprilysin (NEP) may reduce injury-induced endothelial cell leakiness. Omapatrilat represents a first in class of pharmacological agents which inhibits both NEP and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). We hypothesized that ANP prevents thrombin-induced increases of ECP in human aortic ECs (HAECs) and that omapatrilat would reduce aortic leakiness and atherogenesis and enhance ANP mediated vasorelaxation of isolated aortas. Thrombin induced ECP determined by I¹²⁵ albumin flux was assessed in HAECs with and without ANP pretreatment. Next we examined the effects of chronic oral administration of omapatrilat (12 mg/kg/day, n = 13) or placebo (n = 13) for 8 weeks on aortic leakiness, atherogenesis and ANP-mediated vasorelaxation in isolated aortas in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis produced by high cholesterol diet. In HAECs, thrombin-induced increases in ECP were prevented by ANP. Omapatrilat reduced the area of increased aortic leakiness determined by Evans-blue dye and area of atheroma formation assessed by Oil-Red staining compared to placebo. In isolated arterial rings, omapatrilat enhanced vasorelaxation to ANP compared to placebo with and without the endothelium. ANP prevents thrombin-induced increases in ECP in HAECs. Chronic oral administration of omapatrilat reduces aortic leakiness and atheroma formation with enhanced endothelial independent vasorelaxation to ANP. These studies support the therapeutic potential of dual inhibition of NEP and ACE in the prevention of increased arterial ECP and atherogenesis which may be linked to the ANP/cGMP system.     

Adentylate cyclase activity in myocardium of spontaneously hypertensive rat: effect of endogenous factors and solubilization

The isoproterenol- and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in the myocardial membranes of hypertensive rat were consistantly lower as compared with normal controls. Addition of cytosolic fraction (100,000 x$\text{g}$ supernatant) to the particulate preparation had an additive effect for glucagon and Gpp(NH)p stimulated enzyme activity and a synergistic effect for isoproterenol stimulation. Cytosolic fraction of normal control animals did not bring the adenylate cyclase activity in SHR equivalent to the control values. The basal and F^?-stimulated enzyme activity of solubilized adenylate cyclase was reduced by about 30% in SHR as compared with WKY, which could be due to a decrease in the actual amount of adenylate cyclase in the myocardium of SHR.     

Novel whey-derived peptides with inhibitory effect against angiotensin-converting enzyme: in vitro effect and stability to gastrointestinal enzymes

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by proteases from the flowers of Cynara cardunculus, and the resulting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory effect was monitored. The whole WPC hydrolysate exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 52.9 ± 2.9 μg/mL, whereas the associated peptide fraction with molecular weight below 3 kDa scored 23.6 ± 1.1 μg/mL. The latter fraction was submitted to RP-HPLC, and 6 fractions were resolved that exhibited ACE-inhibitory effects. Among the various peptides found, a total of 14 were identified via sequencing with an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Eleven of these peptides were synthesized de novo - to validate their ACE-inhibitory effect, and also to ascertain their stability when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Among them, three novel, highly potent peptides were found, corresponding to α-lactalbumin f(16-26) - with the sequence KGYGGVSLPEW, α-lactalbumin f(97-104) with DKVGINYW, and β-lactoglobulin f(33-42) with DAQSAPLRVY; their IC₅₀ values were as low as 0.80 ± 0.1, 25.2 ± 1.0 and 13.0 ± 1.0 μg/mL, respectively. None of them remained stable in the presence of gastrointestinal enzymes: they were partially, or even totally hydrolyzed to smaller peptides - yet the observed ACE-inhibitory effects were not severely affected for two of those peptides.     

Novel peptides with orally active and long-lasting antihypertensive activity

A series of N-(P-substituted phosphinoyl)peptides were synthesized and their antihypertensive activities were tested in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Among them, N-(dibenzyloxyphosphinoyl)-L-Ala-L-Pro-L-Pro-OH showed the most potent and long-lasting antihypertensive activity in SHR when administered orally. Although the inhibitory activity of this peptide against the angiotensin-converting enzyme was about one-hundredth of that of Captopril, the antihypertensive activity in SHR was significantly higher and longer-lasting than that of Enalapril which has been reported to be the most potent agent among similar converting enzyme inhibitors.     

Angiotensin II receptor binding in the locus ceruleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats: A quantitative autoradiographic study with references to hypertension and cardiac/testicular hypertrophy

The locus ceruleus (LC) contains a high density of angiotensin II (All) receptors. The role of All receptors at the LC in genetic hypertension and organ function is unclear. Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were studied, and blood pressure of animals was measured using the tail-cuff method. Animals were decapitated and the heart weight (HW) and testicular weight (TW) of animals measured. All receptor binding was carried out by incubating the LC tissue sections with 200 pM [¹²⁵I]-All receptor ligand, and measured using quantitative autoradiography. Results showed that the HW/BW ratio was significantly higher in SHR rats than WKY rats. However, the TW/BW ratio was higher in SHR rats than WKY rats only at two hypertensive stages, whereas All receptor binding capacity in the LC was also statistically higher in SHR rats than WKY rats. Results indicated that cardiac and testicular hypertrophies were related to higher All receptor binding in the LC of SHR rats, when compared with WKY rats. Interestingly, the literature shows that there is an LC-testes axis. In conclusion, this study indicated that All receptors in the LC are associated with genetic hypertension, and testicular weight could be a reasonable index for essential hypertension.     

Lipid composition and fluidity in the jejunal brush-border membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Effects on activities of membrane-bound proteins

The lipid composition and fluidity of jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) have been studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The activities of both Na⁺-dependent D-glucose cotransport and Na⁺-H⁺ antiport have also been determined. A significant increase in the level of free cholesterol was observed in jejunal BBMV from SHR compared to WKY rats. Since phospholipid values did not change in either group of animals, a significant enhancement in the free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was observed in SHR. A decrease in the levels of phosphatidylethanolamine together with an increase in the values of phosphatidylserine was observed in hypertensive rats. Although the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) was not singificantly altered in SHR, the ratio PC/SM significantly increased in these animals when compared to WKY rats. The major fatty acids present in bursh-border membranes prepared from SHR and WKY rats were palmitic (160), stearic (180), oleic (181, n-9) and linoleic (182, n-6), and the fatty acid composition was not modified by the hypertension. A decreased fluorescence polarization, i.e., increased membrane fluidity, was observed in SHR, which was not correlated to the increased ratio of cholesterol/phospholipid found in the brush-border membrane isolated from these animals. These structural changes found in SHR were associated to an enhancement in both Na⁺-dependent D-glucose transport and Na⁺-H⁺ antiport activity in the jejunal BBMV of SHR.Abbreviations BBMV brush-border membrane vesicles - DPH 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene - FC free cholesterol - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - SM sphingomyelin - SHR spontaneously hypertensive rat - p steady-state fluoroscence polarization - r_s steady-state fluorescence anisotropy - WKY Wistar Kyoto