剪切应力下内皮细胞内皮素及其mRNA的表达

应用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹方法研究高血压（ＳＨＲ）和正常（ＷＫＹ）大鼠脑微血管培养内皮细胞,在剪切应力０、０．５、１、２Ｐａ作用下２４ｈ后检测内皮素及其基因ｍＲＮＡ表达上的区别。结果表明,在剪切应力０、０．５、１Ｐａ下,ＷＫＹ大鼠的内皮细胞随着剪切应力加大,其内皮素水平及其基因的ｍＲＮＡ的表达均比ＷＫＹ相应组的为高。在剪切应力２Ｐａ时,ＷＫＹ和ＳＨＲ大鼠的内皮细胞内皮素及其基因的ｍＲＮＡ表达水平不同     

钙离子对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）肠系膜血管床活动的影响

本文以ＳＨＲ为实验组,ＷＫＹ为对照组,以灌流压为血管舒缩的指标,对其离体肠系膜血管床,初步研究了钙离子的稳定作用,实验结果如下：（１）ＳＨＲ与ＷＫＹ相比,对血管活性物质去甲肾上腺素（ＮＡ）和氯化钾（ＫＣＩ）均表现出较高反应性。（２）在ＮＡ（１．７×１０Ｍ）使血管床收缩的基础上,Ｃａ￣（＋＋）（２０ｍＭ）使之明显舒张,ＳＨＲ的舒张程度小干ＷＫＹ约１８．１７％（Ｐ＜０．０５,ｎ＝６）．（３）在ＫＣＩ（８０ｍＭ）使血管床收缩的基础上,Ｃａ＋＋（４０ｍＭ）使之明显舒张,ＳＨＲ的舒张程度小于ＷＫＹ约１５．０７％（Ｆ＜０．０５,ｎ＝６）。     

L－NNA和还原型Hb对SHRsp肠系膜动脉内皮依赖性舒张的影响

我们以往的工作证实成年自发高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ与ＳＨＲｓｐ）肠系膜动脉由乙酰胆碱引起的内皮依赖性舒张（ＥＤＲ）减弱。为进一步探讨ＥＤＲ减弱的机制，本文观察了一氧化氮（ＮＯ）合成酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸（Ｌ－ＮＮＡ）及ＥＤＲＦ灭活剂还原型血红蛋白（ＲＨｂ）对卒中易感型自发高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲｓｐ）与常压对照（ＷＫＹ）大鼠肠系膜动脉ＡＣｈ内皮依赖性舒张（ＥＤＲ）的影响。发现Ｌ－ＮＮＡ（１０（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可使ＳＨＲｓｐ弱于ＷＫＹ的ＡＣｈＥＤＲ（１０（－８）－１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的差异消失，ＲＨｂ（１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）则仅在１０（－７）－１０（－８）ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＣｈ时使ＳＨＲ（ｓｐ）肠系膜动脉ＥＤＲ弱于ＷＫＹ的差异消失。将ＷＫＹ在加入Ｌ－ＮＮＡ后的与加入ＲＨｂ后的ＡＣｈ（１０（－８）－１０（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）ＥＤＲ进行比较，无显著差异。而将ＳＨＲｓｐ在Ｌ－ＮＮＡ后的与ＲＨｂ后的ＡＣｈ（１０（－８）－１０（－６）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）ＥＤＲ进行比较，则有显著差异。并且，ＳＨＲｓｐ的有内皮肠系膜动脉条对ＲＨｂ的敏感性与ＷＫＹ接近，对Ｌ－ＮＮＡ的敏感性则低于ＷＫＹ。表明高血压时肠系膜动脉内皮依赖性舒张减弱中，ＥＤＲＦ机制与     

高血压大鼠不同血管平滑肌肌球蛋白磷酸化和脱磷酸化酶的变化

本文比较了正常和高血压大鼠不同动脉血管肌球蛋白轻链激酶（ＭＬＣＫ）和依赖Ｃａ＾２＋的钙调素磷酸酶（Ｃａ＾２＋／ＣａＭ－ＰＰ）活性的变化。结果表明：在自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）不同血管ＭＬＣＫ的活性不同,依次为主动脉（Ａ）〉尾动脉（ＣＡ）〉肠系膜动脉（ＭＡ）;而在ＷＫＹ大鼠,该酶在不同血管的活性依次为Ａ〈〈ＣＡ〈〈ＡＭ。在ＷＫＹ大鼠,ＭＡ Ｃａ＾２＋／ＣａＭ－ＰＰ活性明显高于ＳＨＲ。在肾性高血压大鼠     

自发性高血压大鼠原癌基因表达和限制性内切酶片段长度多态性分析

观察自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣｓ）的生长曲线、ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因表达和ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因酶切图谱的情况,与对照组京都维斯特大鼠（ＷＫＹ）进行对比。结果显示,在小牛血清作用下ＳＨＲ的ＶＳＭＣｓ生长速率和ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因表达明显大于ＷＫＹ;ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因限制性内切酶片段长度多态性（ＲＦＬＰ）分析表明,经ＢａｍＨ Ｉ或ＥｃｏＲ Ｉ酶切后的ＳＨＲ－ＷＫＹ的酶切图谱一致,同时也未发     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子增加大鼠血管一氧化氮及内皮素的生成

研究碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂａｓｉｃ ｆｉｂｒｏｂｌａｓｔ ｇｒｏｗｔｈ ｆａｃｔｏｒ,ｂＦＧＦ）对自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）和ＷＫＹ大鼠血管一氧化氮（ＮＯ）及内皮素生成的影响。取ＳＨＲ和ＷＫＹ大鼠主动脉制成血管薄片,以１０、１００ｎｇ／ｍｌ ｂＦＧＦ（终浓度）分别孵育６ｈ,测定血管组织中一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）活性及孵育液中亚哨酸盐（ＮＯ２）和内皮素含量。结果显示：ＳＨＲ主动脉组织ＮＯＳ活性较Ｗ     

自发性高血压大鼠原癌基因表达和限制性内切酶片段长度多态性分析

观察自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣｓ）的生长曲线、ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因表达和ｃ－ｆｏｓ基因酶切图谱的情况,与对照组京都维斯特大鼠（ＷＫＹ）进行对比．结果显示,在小牛血清作用下ＳＨＲ的ＶＳＭＣｓ生长速率和ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因表达明显大于ＷＫＹ;ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因限制性内切酶片段长度多态性（ＲＦＬＰ）分析表明,经ＢａｍＨⅠ或ＥｃｏＲⅠ酶切后的ＳＨＲ和ＷＫＹ的酶切图谱一致,同时也未发现ＳＨＲ的ｆｏｓ基因扩增现象．提示,ＶＳＭＣｓ的异常增殖和ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因的表达异常与高血压的形成有关,而ｃ－ｆｏｓ原癌基因的过度表达可能是由于某些与基因转录调控有关的因素异常所致．     

764－3对血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

为寻找新型有效的ＡⅡ拮抗剂,本实验应用细胞计数、￣３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入、逆转录─聚合酶链反应及放射免疫实验方法,研究了中药单体７６４－３对卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲｓｐ）及其对照（ＷＫＹ大鼠）主动脉平滑肌细胞（ＡｓＭＣ）增殖的影响及其作用机制。结果表明：７６４－３可显著抑制ＡＳＭＣ增殖,并有剂量依赖性。２０ｍｇ／Ｌ的７６４－３可极显著地抑制ＡＳＭＣ上ＡⅡ受体（ＡＴ＿１）的ｍＫＮＡ表达（ＳＨＲｓｐ下降７６．３％,ＷＫＹ大鼠下降６１．６％）,并可降低ＳＨＲｓｐＡＳＭＣ内ＡⅡ含量（下降２０％）。推测７６４－３对ＡＳＭＣ增殖的抑制作用可能部分地是由于降低了ＡＴ＿１受体的基固表达引起。比较其对两种大鼠ＡＳＭＣ的抑制效率,发现它对ＳＨＲｓｐ的ＡＳＭＣ的作用更强。     

大鼠运动性肥大心脏心肌血管内皮生长因子及其基因表达的研究

目的和方法：血管内皮生长因子（ｖａｓｃｕｌａｒｅｎｄｏｔｈｅｌｉａｌｇｒｏｗｔｈｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＶＥＧＦ）是新近确定的一种特异作用于血管内皮细胞的活性肽。最近发现正常心肌细胞可表达ＶＥＧＦ,高血压肥大心脏心肌ＶＥＧＦ及基因表达增强,但对运动性心肌肥大时的变化尚不清楚。本实验采用免疫组化和分子杂交方法,对游泳运动１０周大鼠稳定期肥大心脏心肌ＶＥＧＦ及其基因表达进行研究。结果：ＷｉｓｔａｒＫｙｏｔｏ（ＷＫＹ）大鼠、自发性高血压大鼠（ｓｐｏｎｔａｎｅｏｕｓｌｙｈｙｐｅｒｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｒａｔｓ,ＳＨＲ）和运动大鼠心肌细胞浆内均有特异性ＶＥＧＦ染色颗粒,但运动大鼠心肌细胞胞浆内染色颗粒增加最明显。Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ分子杂交结果表明三组大鼠心肌均有ＶＥＧＦｍＲＮＡ表达,其中ＳＨＲ表达最强,运动大鼠比ＷＫＹ大鼠增强,但低于ＳＨＲ。结论：目前对这一结果的生理意义还不清楚,推测可能与心肌肥大时细胞间质血管增生有关。     

IL-1β对正常和自发性高血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞iNOS基因转录调控因子的影响

用ＩＬ－１β处理体外培养的ＳＨＲ和ＷＫＹ大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）,比较两种大鼠ｉＮＯＳ基因表达活性的变化,Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ结果表明,ＶＳＭＣ受ＩＬ－１β刺激后,两种细胞的ｉＮＯＳ基因均表现出极高的转录活性,并且ＳＨＲ的ｉＮＯＳｍＲＮＡ水平高于ＷＫＹ大鼠．以大鼠ｉＮＯＳ基因转录调控区上游６００ｂｐ（－１０３７～－４３８）和下游５００ｂｐ（－４３７～４６）ＤＮＡ片段为探针,与ＶＳＭＣ核蛋白孵育后,进行凝胶电泳迁移率改变分析（ＥＭＳＡ）,结果显示,两种大鼠的ＶＳＭＣ被ＩＬ－１β处理后,其核蛋白可分别与转录调控区上游或下游序列结合形成一条电泳滞后带．但是,转录调控区上游序列和下游序列与核蛋白形成的复合物具有明显不同的电泳迁移率．与ＷＫＹ大鼠相比,ＳＨＲ的ＶＳＭＣ核蛋白与ＤＮＡ结合活性较高．提示ＳＨＲ的ＶＳＭＣｉＮＯＳ基因及其转录调控因子对ＩＬ－１β的反应与ＷＫＹ大鼠明显不同．     

A comparison of the cutaneous microvascular properties of the Spontaneously Hypertensive rat and the Wistar-Kyoto rat

The Spontaneously Hypertensive rat (SHR) and its non-hypertensive companion strain, the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat, provide an excellent comparative model to permit study of the differential properties of cutaneous microvascular beds. We explored the possibility that chronically elevated vascular pressures in the SHR rat might affect the microvascular constitution of the skin. We measured skin blood flow at the back and at the paw of a group of 20-week-old WKY rats and a contrast group of SHR rats. We then performed skin biopsies at these two locations and used the NIH Image program to count and measure the size of capillaries, arterioles, and venules. We also determined microvascular density as percentage of total tissue area. At basal temperature, skin blood flow was similar in the two rat strains at both the back and paw. Heat induced vasodilatation resulted in a 50% increase in blood flow at the back, reaching the same level in the two rat groups. However, at the paw site, thermal stimulation resulted in significantly greater flow (39.3 +/- 3.1 ml/100 gm tissue per min) in the SHR rats than the WKY rats (28.6 +/- 1.9 ml/100 gm tissue per min, P < 0.05). The ratio of systemic arterial pressure to skin blood flow was computed as an index of vascular resistance to flow. At basal temperature, this index was 50% greater for the SHR rats at both skin sites. At 44 degrees C, the resistance index decreased at both sites in both rat groups but was still approximately 50% higher at the back of the SHR than the WKY rats. In contrast, the resistance index at 44 degrees C at the paw site fell to the same level in both the SHR and WKY rats. There were twice as many capillaries at the back of the WKY rats than at the back of the SHR rats (9.2 +/- 2.0 per mm2 vs. 4.7 +/- 1.2 per mm2, P < 0.05). Expressed as a percentage of total tissue area, the capillary density at the back in the WKY rats was 0.064 +/- 0.010% as compared to 0.034 +/- 0.008% in the SHR rats (P < 0.05). There were five times more arterioles at the paw compared to the back in both rat groups with no significant difference between the groups. We measured the diameter of the lumen and the thickness of the wall of each arteriole and computed their ratio as an index of possible media hypertrophy. There were minimal differences seen in these parameters between the two rat groups at the back and paw sites. The venular density was significantly higher at the paw than at the back in both rat groups with no significant difference between them. Reduced capillary density at the back of the SHR rats may be a developmental adaptation to high blood pressure. Such a reduction in the pathways of blood flow may help account for increased flow resistance at that site, independent of arteriolar vasoconstriction.     

Control of oxidative stress in microcirculation of spontaneously hypertensive rats

One mechanism for organ damage in individuals with arterial hypertension may be due to oxygen free radical production. This study was designed to localize free radicals in a microvascular network of mature spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Because glucocorticoids play a role in pressure elevation of SHRs, we investigated their role in microvascular free radical formation. Oxygen radical production in mesentery was detected by tetranitroblue tetrazolium reduction to formazan aided by digital light-absorption measurements. Formazan deposits were observed in the endothelial cells and lumens of all microvessels and in lymphatic endothelia but were fewer in tissue parenchyma. The formazan distribution in younger (14-16 wk old) WKY rats and SHRs was heterogeneous with low values in capillaries and small arterioles/venules (<30 microm) but enhanced deposits in larger venules. Adrenalectomy served to reduce the formazan density in SHRs to the level of WKY rats, whereas dexamethasone supplementation of the adrenalectomized rats caused elevation in the larger venules of SHRs. In older (40 wk old) SHRs, formazan levels were elevated in all hierarchies of microvessels. After pressure reduction was employed with chronic hydralazine treatment, the formazan deposits were reduced in all locations of the microcirculation in both WKY rats and SHRs. Elevated formazan deposits were also found in lymphatic endothelium. These results suggest that oxygen free radical production is elevated in both high- and low-pressure regions of SHR microcirculation via a process that is controlled by glucocorticoids. Older SHRs have higher formazan levels than younger SHRs in all microvessels. Chronic hydralazine treatment, which serves to reduce arterial blood pressure, attenuates tetranitroblue tetrazolium reduction in WKY rats and SHRs even in venules of the microcirculation, which has no micropressure elevation. Free radical production may be a more global condition in SHRs and may not be limited to arteries and arterioles.     

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activity Is Reduced in Brain Microvessels of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in brain microvessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) controls was measured. Cerebral microvessels, prepared from the cerebral cortices by the albumin flotation and glass bead filtration technique, were free of neuronal and glial elements. ACE activity in brain microvessels of SHR was lower than that of WKY. A Woolf-Augustinsson-Hofstee plot showed that the reduction of the enzyme activity in SHR was due to a 30% decrease in V_max without any change in K_m for substrate. The decrease of ACE activity in brain micro-vessels of SHR may indicate an impairment of the central renin-angiotensin system and may be related to cerebral microvascular dysfunctions occurring in hypertension.     

NAD(P)H oxidase-derived peroxide mediates elevated basal and impaired flow-induced NO production in SHR mesenteric arteries in vivo

Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have fundamentally important roles in the regulation of vascular tone and remodeling. Although arterial disease and endothelial dysfunction alter NO and ROS levels to impact vasodilation and vascular structure, direct measurements of these reactive species under in vivo conditions with flow alterations are unavailable. In this study, in vivo measurements of NO and H2O2 were made on mesenteric arteries to determine whether antioxidant therapies could restore normal NO production in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Flow was altered from approximately 50-200% of control in anesthetized Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR by selective placement of microvascular clamps on adjacent arteries while NO and H2O2 were directly measured with microelectrodes. Relative to WKY, SHR had significantly increased baseline NO and H2O2 concentrations (2,572 +/- 241 vs. 1,059 +/- 160 nM, P < 0.01; and 26 +/- 7 vs. 7 +/- 1 microM, P < 0.05, respectively). With flow elevation, H2O2 but not NO increased in SHR; NO but not H2O2 was elevated in WKY. Apocynin and polyethylene-glycolated catalase decreased baseline SHR NO and H2O2 to WKY levels and restored flow-mediated NO production. Suppression of NAD(P)H oxidase with gp91ds-tat decreased SHR H2O2 to WKY levels. Addition of topical H2O2 to increase peroxide to the basal concentration measured in SHR elevated WKY NO to levels observed in SHR. The results support the hypothesis that increased vascular peroxide in SHR is primarily derived from NAD(P)H oxidase and increases NO concentration to levels that cannot be further elevated with increased flow. Short-term and even acute administration of antioxidants are able to restore normal flow-mediated NO signaling in young SHR.     

Role of sodium and water excretion in the antihypertensive effect of vasopressin in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Mean arterial pressure (mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa)), sodium excretion rate (mumol.kg-1.min-1), and urine flow (microL.kg-1.min-1) were measured in conscious unrestrained spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) before, during, and after a 3-h intravenous infusion of arginine vasopressin (20 ng.kg-1.min-1), an equipressor dose of phenylephrine, or an infusion of the vehicle. Cessation of the phenylephrine infusion was associated with a return of arterial pressure to preinfusion control values in both SHR and WKY. Cessation of the vasopressin infusion was also associated with a return of arterial pressure to preinfusion values in WKY. In contrast, in the SHR, arterial pressure fell from a preinfusion control level of 164 +/- 6.2 to 137 +/- 4 mmHg within 1 h of stopping the vasopressin infusion. Five hours after stopping the infusion, pressure was 134 +/- 3 mmHg (29 +/- 5 mmHg below preinfusion levels). Similar to the WKY, cessation of a vasopressin infusion was associated with a return of arterial pressure to preinfusion values in Sprague-Dawley rats. Thus, the failure to observe a hypotensive response in normotensive rats was not a peculiarity of the WKY strain. Sodium excretion rates increased during the infusions of vasopressin to a greater extent in SHR than in WKY. However, the natriuresis induced by phenylephrine was not significantly different from that generated by vasopressin in SHR, and in WKY, the natriuresis was greater for phenylephrine than for vasopressin. Urine output increased to a greater extent during the infusions of phenylephrine in both SHR and WKY than during vasopressin infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sodium homeostasis in transplanted rats with a spontaneously hypertensive rat kidney

Recipients of a kidney from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) but not from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) develop posttransplantation hypertension. To investigate whether renal sodium retention precedes the development of posttransplantation hypertension in recipients of an SHR kidney on a standard sodium diet (0.6% NaCl), we transplanted SHR and WKY kidneys to SHR x WKY F1 hybrids, measured daily sodium balances during the first 12 days after removal of both native kidneys, and recorded mean arterial pressure (MAP) after 8 wk. Recipients of an SHR kidney (n = 12) retained more sodium than recipients of a WKY kidney (n = 12) (7.3 +/- 10 vs. 4.0 +/- 0.7 mmol, P < 0.05). MAP was 144 +/- 6 mmHg in recipients of an SHR kidney and 106 +/- 5 mmHg in recipients of a WKY kidney (P < 0.01). Modest sodium restriction (0.2% NaCl) in a further group of recipients of an SHR kidney (n = 10) did not prevent posttransplantation hypertension (MAP, 142 +/- 4 mmHg). Urinary endothelin and urodilatin excretion rates were similar in recipients of an SHR and a WKY kidney. Transient excess sodium retention after renal transplantation may contribute to posttransplantation hypertension in recipients of an SHR kidney.     

Decreased content in left atrium and increased plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SHR stroke-prone

The atrial contents and concentrations, and the plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SHR stroke-prone (SHRSP) were measured and compared with those of age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) using a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for alpha-rat ANP (alpha-rANP). The contents of alpha-rANP-LI in the atria of SHR (19.0 +/- 0.9 micrograms, mean +/- SEM) and SHRSP (19.3 +/- 0.6 micrograms) were significantly lower than that of WKY (22.8 +/- 1.4 micrograms) (p less than 0.05). The atrial concentration of alpha-rANP-LI was also significantly lower in SHR (248.2 +/- 11.3 ng/mg, p less than 0.05) and tended to be lower in SHRSP (272.2 +/- 12.4 ng/mg) than that of WKY (300.0 +/- 14.2 ng/mg). Furthermore, the concentrations in the left auricles of SHR and SHRSP were significantly lower than that of WKY (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the alpha-rANP-LI concentrations in the right auricles of WKY, SHR and SHRSP. Gel filtration studies coupled with RIA showed that gel filtration profiles of the extracts from the right and left auricles of WKY, SHR and SHRSP were essentially identical. The plasma alpha-rANP-LI levels in SHR (260 +/- 34 pg/ml) and SHRSP (319 +/- 19 pg/ml) were significantly higher than that in WKY (170 +/- 17 pg/ml) (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the secretion of ANP from the heart is increased in SHR and SHRSP compared with WKY.     

Norepinephrine concentration in kidneys of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Renal norepinephrine (NE) concentration was measured in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at 7, 9, 11, and 13 weeks of age. Although the weight of kidneys was similar in the two strains of rats, renal NE concentration was significantly lower in SHR at all ages (147 +/- 9 to 175 +/- 13 ng/g for SHR, and 216 +/- 8 to 262 +/- 17 ng/g for WKY rats). The difference in renal NE concentration during this time of rapidly increasing arterial pressure in the SHR suggests that renal NE may in some way be related to the development of hypertension.     

Central cardiovascular effects of baclofen in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of centrally administered baclofen on blood pressure and heart rate in conscious spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Administration of baclofen (1.0 microgram/kg) into the lateral cerebral ventricle (icv) produced an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in both SHR and WKY rats. The increase in MAP was significantly lower in SHR (13 +/- 3 mmHg) when compared with WKY (27 +/- 5 mmHg). The changes in heart rate (HR) were variable, from no change to a very small increase and did not differ significantly between SHR and WKY rats. The ability of baclofen to interfere with baroreceptor reflexes was also tested in separate experiments. In SHR, icv injection of baclofen (1.0 microgram/kg) significantly suppressed the pressor response and bradycardia evoked by phenylephrine 3.0 micrograms/kg iv, whereas in WKY, the pressor and HR responses to similar injections of phenylephrine were not affected by icv baclofen. Similarly, baclofen treatment modified hypotensive response and reflex tachycardia induced by nitroprusside (10.0 micrograms/kg) iv in SHR but not in WKY rats. Administration of sympathetic ganglionic blocker hexamethonium (HEX; 25 mg/kg) iv produced an equivalent decrease in MAP between SHR and WKY following icv injection of baclofen (1.0 microgram/kg). These results suggest that the effects of baclofen on the baroreceptor reflexes in SHR may not be mediated by a change in peripheral sympathetic tone.     

Effects of a fructose-enriched diet on plasma insulin and triglyceride concentration in SHR and WKY rats

Significant increases (P less than 0.001) in plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations and in blood pressure were seen when SHR and WKY rats ate a fructose-enriched diet for 14 days. However, all of the changes were significantly accentuated (P less than 0.02-0.001) in SHR rats. Specifically the increment in plasma insulin concentration following the fructose-enriched diet was 42 +/- 4 microU/ml in SHR as compared to 25 +/- 4 microU/ml in WKY rats (P less than 0.001). Plasma triglyceride concentrations also increased to a greater degree in response to fructose in SHR rats (260 +/- 24 vs. 136 +/- 20 mg/dl, P less than 0.001). Finally, the fructose-induced increase in blood pressure of 29 +/- 4 mm of Hg in SHR rats was greater (P less than 0.02) than that seen in WKY rats (19 +/- 2 mm of Hg). There was no change in plasma glucose concentration in response to the fructose diet. WKY rats gained more weight than did the SHR rats. Thus, although plasma triglyceride and insulin concentration and blood pressure increased when either WKY or SHR rats consumed a fructose enriched diet, the magnitude of these changes was greater in SHR rats.