Wild rats (Rattus norvegicus) for mapping of disease-resistant genes

Wild rat representing a disease-resistant phenotype and genotype, was used in a crossing study with spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) to search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting blood pressure. Therefore, one male wild rat was crossed with SHR females and F1 hybrids were transferred in a pathogen free environment by wet-hysterectomy and backcrossed onto hypertensive SHR rats resulting in first backcross hybrids (BC1). Considering that the F1 hybrids are not uniform, as are the cross hybrids of inbred rat strains, we selected 72 BC1 progeny of one F1 female, which were characterised for systolic blood pressure, measured by tail cuff method and were genetically analysed using 200 microsatellites covering the whole genome. We found suggestive linkage of blood pressure to region on chromosome 2 flanked by D2Mit8 and Fgg loci (lod score 2.3). In addition, possible interaction between genes on chromosomes 7 and 3, X and 3, 14 and 3, 13 and 11 was described, indicating that blood pressure development in the SHR might be the result of interacting genes.     

Gallic acid attenuates calcium calmodulin‐dependent kinase II‐induced apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Hypertension causes cardiac hypertrophy and leads to heart failure. Apoptotic cells are common in hypertensive hearts. Ca²⁺/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is associated with apoptosis. We recently demonstrated that gallic acid reduces nitric oxide synthase inhibition‐induced hypertension. Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid and has been shown to have beneficial effects, such as anti‐cancer, anti‐calcification and anti‐oxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gallic acid regulates cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis in essential hypertension. Gallic acid significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and H&E staining revealed that gallic acid reduced cardiac enlargement in SHRs. Gallic acid treatment decreased cardiac hypertrophy marker genes, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), in SHRs. The four isoforms, α, β, δ and γ, of CaMKII were increased in SHRs and were significantly reduced by gallic acid administration. Gallic acid reduced cleaved caspase‐3 protein as well as bax, p53 and p300 mRNA levels in SHRs. CaMKII δ overexpression induced bax and p53 expression, which was attenuated by gallic acid treatment in H9c2 cells. Gallic acid treatment reduced DNA fragmentation and the TUNEL positive cells induced by angiotensin II. Taken together, gallic acid could be a novel therapeutic for the treatment of hypertension through suppression of CaMKII δ‐induced apoptosis.     

镁离子联合金雀异黄素对自发性高血压大鼠血压的影响

目的:探讨镁离子联合金雀异黄素对自发性高血压大鼠血压的影响。方法:选用雌性6周自发性高血压大鼠28只,饲养7d后测量大鼠初始收缩压(SBP)及心率(HR),应用双盲分组原则,将大鼠分成对照组、镁离子组、金雀异黄素组、及联合组,每组各7只。饲养7d后,取一次性注射器,消毒抽取药物,暴露尾部及血管,进行注射。每7d注射一次,连续注射4周。比较各组大鼠SBP、HR、hs-CRP、MCP-1、vWF、血管紧张素(AngⅡ)。结果:给药前四组大鼠SBP水平比较无差异(P0.05)。给药后对照组SBP水平高于其他三组(P0.05),镁离子组与金雀异黄素组比较无差异(P0.05),联合组大鼠在给药1周、2周、4周后SBP水平显著低于其他三组(P0.05)。给药前四组大鼠心率比较无差异(P0.05)。给药后对照组、镁离子组、金雀异黄素组与治疗前相比无差异(P0.05),联合组低于治疗前(P0.05)。给药第2、4周联合组HR水平低于其他三组(P0.05)。联合大鼠hs-CRP水平显著降低(P0.05),MCP-1、vWF水平显著升高(P0.05)。给药前各组大鼠AngⅡ水平比较无差异(P0.05),给药2周、4周联合组AngⅡ水平显著降低(P0.05)。结论:镁离子联合金雀异黄素能提高自发性高血压大鼠血管顺应性,减少炎症反应,预防动脉粥样硬化,降低血压。     

Coordination of changes in expression and phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and eEF2 kinase in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) kinase (eEF2K) is one of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. Activated eEF2K phosphorylates its specific substrate, eEF2, which results in inhibition of protein translation. We have recently shown that protein expression of eEF2K was specifically increased in hypertrophied left ventricles (LV) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, phosphorylation state of eEF2K and eEF2 in hypertrophied LV is not determined. In the present study, we examined expression and phosphorylation of eEF2K and eEF2 in LV from SHR as well as the pressure overload (transverse aortic constriction: TAC)- and isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac hypertrophy model. In LV from TAC mice, eEF2K expression was increased as determined by Western blotting. In LV from TAC mice and SHR, eEF2K phosphorylation at Ser366 (inactive site) was decreased. Consistently, eEF2 phosphorylation at Thr56 was increased. In LV from ISO rats, while eEF2K phosphorylation was decreased, eEF2K expression and eEF2 phosphorylation were not different as determined by Western blotting. In the results obtained from immunohistochemistry, however, total eEF2K and phosphorylated eEF2 (at Thr56) localized to cardiomyocytes were increased in LV cardiomyocytes from ISO rats. Accordingly, the increased expression and the decreased phosphorylation of eEF2K and the increased phosphorylation of eEF2 in hypertrophied LV were common to all models in this study. The present results thus suggest that cardiac hypertrophy may be regulated at least partly via eEF2K-eEF2 signaling pathway.     

Effects of acute and subacute cocaine administration on the CNS dopaminergic system in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats: III. Dopamine uptake

The characteristics of dopamine uptake after acute and subacute cocaine administration were determined in striata from WKY and SHR. In acutely-treated (40 mg/kg, s.c.) rats, significant increases in the V_max of dopamine uptake were observed 30 min after the cocaine injection in both strains, without changes in K_m values. The in vitro IC₅₀ for cocaine was significantly decreased at 30 min in WKY and at 2 h in SHR. However, the in vitro IC₅₀ for GBR-12909 was significantly increased at 30 min and at 2 h in both strains following cocaine administration. In both strains, the density (B_max) of the [³H]GBR-12935 binding site was significantly increased at 30 min and at 2 h with no charges in K_d. In subacutely-treated (20 mg/kg, twice daily for 3 or 7 days) rats, a significant increase in the K_m for dopamine uptake was observed in 7 day treated SHR. The in vitro IC₅₀ for GBR-12909 was significantly increased in 3 day treated WKY. The results suggest that cocaine administration alters dopamine uptake and characteristics of dopamine uptake sites in the rat brain.     

Effects of acute and subacute cocaine administration on the CNS dopaminergic system in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats: II. Dopamine receptors

The characteristics of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors after acute and subacute cocaine administration were determined in striata and nuclei accumbens from WKY and SHR. In striata from acutely treated rats, significant increases in D-2 receptor density were observed at 30 min, 2 or 24 h following cocaine injection in both strains without changes in affinities. The density of D-1 receptors was significantly decreased 30 min after the injection in WKY, but not in SHR. In striata from subacutely treated rats, the density of D-1 receptors was significantly increased in 3- and 7-day treated WKY, but not in SHR. The affinities of both binding sites remained unchanged. In nuclei accumbens, the changes in both D-1 and D-2 receptors after cocaine administration were similar to those observed in the striatum. The results suggest that cocaine administration alters dopamine receptor binding characteristics. Furthermore, D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors appear to be differently regulated.     

Effects of acute and subacute cocaine administration on the CNS dopaminergic system in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats: I. Levels of dopamine and metabolites

Effects of acute and subacute cocaine administration on dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in striata and nucleus accumbens of nine week-old Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats were studied. Levels of DA,3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined by HPLC-EC. There were no differences in DA levels in striata and nucleus accumbens between control WKY and SHR. Levels of DA in two brain regions were unaffected in groups treated acutely with cocaine. Both strains showed a significant increase in striatal HVA 2 hr after cocaine injection. Seven day treatment declined DA levels in striatum of WKY and in nucleus accumbens of SHR. However, only WKY treated subacutely with cocaine showed significantly increased HVA either with or without changes in DOPAC in nucleus accumbens and striatum, respectively. Increased DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios appeared only in striatum of WKY and in nucleus accumbens of SHR following subacute treatment. These results suggest that subacute cocaine administration affects DA levels in striata and nucleus accumbens differently between WKY and SHR.     

EMT促进自发性高血压大鼠主动脉纤维化

目的:探讨内皮间充质转化(endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT)是否促进自发性高血压大鼠主动脉纤维化及降压治疗对其干预作用。方法:将24只雄性自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rats,SHR)随机分为SHR组(S组,蒸馏水灌胃)、哌唑嗪组(P组,哌唑嗪5 mg/(Kg×d)灌胃)和氯沙坦组(L组,氯沙坦10 mg/(Kg×d)灌胃),8只雄性WKY大鼠(W组,蒸馏水灌胃)作为对照组,各组分别干预8周后,通过Masson染色检测各组大鼠主动脉纤维化程度,免疫荧光染色及Western Blot检测各组大鼠主动脉I型胶原、CD31及FSP1蛋白表达变化。结果:Western blot及Masson染色显示从L组、P组到S组大鼠主动脉I型胶原含量依次增多,且主动脉壁厚度均显著大于W组(P0.05),但P组与L组大鼠主动脉管壁厚度无统计学差异(P=0.818);免疫荧光染色表明,各组高血压大鼠主动脉均存在FSP1及CD31共表达(FSP+CD31+)细胞,且从L组、P组到S组FSP+CD31+细胞依次增多;Western Blot检测表明,从W组、L组、P组到S组,CD31蛋白表达量逐渐降少,FSP1蛋白表达量依次增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:EMT可能参与了自发性高血压大鼠的主动脉纤维化,氯沙坦和哌唑嗪可能通过抑制EMT减轻主动脉纤维化。     

不同周龄自发性高血压大鼠的动态血压变化与心脏的组织学改变

目的测量不同周龄自发性高血压(SHR)的收缩压、舒张压、平均压、心率、血流量及血流速,为SHR及有关高血压方面的实验研究提供基础数据参考。方法采用CODATM无创血压仪,测量34只8～15周龄SHR的收缩压、舒张压、平均压、心率、血流量及血流速。在最后一周测量完血压值后,采用45mg/kg的戊巴比妥钠,腹腔注射麻醉动物,进行处死。采取胸主动脉、肺、肾、心脏和大脑,经10%的福尔马林溶液固定常规脱水,包埋,切片,进行HE染色。结果8～15周龄SHR的收缩压和心率值在各周之间均无统计学差异(P0.05)。舒张压的比较中,第8周与第15周之间存在显著差异(P0.05)。平均压的比较中,第8周与第15周之间存在显著差异(P0.05)。在组织学观察中,40%的心肌细胞变性。结论SHR的舒张压、收缩压及平均压随周龄的增加均有上升的趋势。而心率、血流速及血流量均有下降的趋势,但是在各周存在一定的波动。