Cardiolipin biosynthesis and remodeling enzymes are altered during development of heart failure

Cardiolipin (CL) is responsible for modulation of activities of various enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Although energy production decreases in heart failure (HF), regulation of cardiolipin during HF development is unknown. Enzymes involved in cardiac cardiolipin synthesis and remodeling were studied in spontaneously hypertensive HF (SHHF) rats, explanted hearts from human HF patients, and nonfailing Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The biosynthetic enzymes cytidinediphosphatediacylglycerol synthetase (CDS), phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase (PGPS) and cardiolipin synthase (CLS) were investigated. Mitochondrial CDS activity and CDS-1 mRNA increased in HF whereas CDS-2 mRNA in SHHF and humans, not in SD rats, decreased. PGPS activity, but not mRNA, increased in SHHF. CLS activity and mRNA decreased in SHHF, but mRNA was not significantly altered in humans. Cardiolipin remodeling enzymes, monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase (MLCL AT) and tafazzin, showed variable changes during HF. MLCL AT activity increased in SHHF. Tafazzin mRNA decreased in SHHF and human HF, but not in SD rats. The gene expression of acyl-CoA: lysocardiolipin acyltransferase-1, an endoplasmic reticulum MLCL AT, remained unaltered in SHHF rats. The results provide mechanisms whereby both cardiolipin biosynthesis and remodeling are altered during HF. Increases in CDS-1, PGPS, and MLCL AT suggest compensatory mechanisms during the development of HF. Human and SD data imply that similar trends may occur in human HF, but not during nonpathological aging, consistent with previous cardiolipin studies.     

Ischemic flow threshold for striatal dopamine release in rats

To determine the level of cerebral blood flow reduction which causes striatal dopamine release, extracellular dopamine and cerebral blood flow was simultaneously determined using in vivo brain dialysis and a hydrogen clearance method, respectively, in the striatum of spontaneously hypertensive rats, before and during experimental cerebral ischemia. The ischemic flow threshold for neurotransmitter dopamine release was found to be 20% of the resting value or 8–10 ml/100g/min of cerebral blood flow, being similar to those for energy and membrane failures.     

肾性高血压大鼠左室等容峰压一容积关系及其对异丙肾上腺素的反应

本研究观察了肾血管性高血压大鼠(RHR)肥大左室的等容峰压-容积关系(PIPVR)和左室压力最大上升速率-容积关系(PRPVR)的曲线特征,并用两曲线的升支斜率E_(max)和dE/dt_(max)及曲线的特征参数评价了RHR(8周)左室的收缩能力及其对异丙肾上腺素的反应性。结果显示,大鼠高血压8周后左室发生明显肥大;与同龄假手术对照大鼠(SOR)相似,RHR的PIPVR和PRPVR也呈指数曲线形式;与SOR比较,RHR左室的PIPVR和PRPVR左上移位,E_(max)、dE/dt_(max)显著增大(P均<0.01),分别增加78％和97％,曲线的特征参数K_1、K_2、B_1和B_2也明显高于SOR(P均<0.05),分别增加37％、32％、25％和57％;灌注异丙肾上腺素(0.94μg/min)后,上述指标的增加幅度均较SOR低(P均<0.05)。结果提示,压力超负荷心肌肥大并不影响PIPVR的非线性特征,基础状态下,RHR肥大左室的收缩能力增强,但对异丙肾上腺素的反应性降低。     

Guanine nucleotide regulatory protein alterations in young Milan hypertensive strain rats

Vascular smooth muscle cell membranes from prehypertensive rats of the Milan hypertensive strain (MHS) were used to examine adenylyl cyclase activity and its regulation by guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G-proteins). Basal adenylyl cyclase activity was similar in MHS and Milan normontensive strain (MNS) membranes. Forsokolin (10^?4 M) produced a significantly greater stimulatory response in MHS membranes, but this was not observed with NaF (10^?2 M). Isoporterenol (10^?4 M) caused a significantly decreased stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in MHS membranes, while prostaglandin E₁ (10^?5 M) produced similar responses in the two strains. G_i function and GTP responses, as observed by biphasic effects of GTP on isoproterenol-stimulated membranes, were similar in both strains. The levels of G_i2α and G_qα/G₁₁α were similar in the two strains, while the levels of G_sα (44 and 42 kDa forms) and the β-subunit were significantly reduced by ～20% in MHS membranes. The α-subunit of G_i3 was dramatically reduced by ～80% in MHS membranes. The affinities of β-adrenergic receptors for the antagonist, cyanophindolol, were similar in the two strains; however, the number of β-adrenoceptors was substantially reduced in MHS membranes. These findings may be of relevance to altered vascular reactivity and transmembrane ion distribution observed in the MHS.     

Multinuclear NMR studies of intracellular cations in the prehypertensive rat kidney

We previously reported a significant derangement of intracellular free calcium ion concentration in the isolated perfused kidney of adult spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) (J. Biol. Chem. 267, 3637–3643, 1992). In order to investigate whether an abnormality in intracellular free calcium or another ion precedes the development of elevated blood pressure in SHR, we have now compared intracellular free Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and pH, using ³¹P, ¹⁹F, and triple quantum-filtered (TQ) ²³Na NMR, in perfused kidneys from prehypertensive young SHR and normotensive young Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (5–6 weeks old) which showed no significant difference in blood pressure B.P.=120±5 mmHg and 115±3 mmHg, for SHR and WKY rats, respectively). Like the adult kidney, no significant differences in intracellular ATP concentration or intracellular pH were found between young prehypertensive SHR and normotensive WKY rat kidneys. The TQ ²³Na NMR signal was 47% higher in the SHR kidney, but, due to biological variability and measurement errors, this difference could not be shown to be statistically significant. However, a significant (40%; P<0.05) increase was found in O₂ consumption rate, a measure of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, of the young prehypertensive SHR kidney in comparison to the age-matched WKY rat kidney (7.25±0.75 for SHR vs. 5.17±0.18 μmola O₂/min g for WKY rat, n = 6). Furthermore, a highly significant (92%; P<0.02) increase in intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration was observed in kidneys from young SHR that had noy yet been developed high blood pressure in comparison to the kidneys from young normotensive WKY rats (648±76 nM vs. 339±39 nM, n = 4, despite the fact that there was no significant difference in blood pressure. Increased intracellular free Ca²⁺ thus appears to be part of a primary defect, in the prehypertesive young SHR kidney, which may, by way of increased release of arachidonic acid, and subsequent increased production of vasoconstricting arachidonic acid metabolites via the cytochrome P450 pathway, induce elevated blood pressure in the adult SHR.     

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor mRNA Levels in the Brains of Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract: The type 1 angiotensin II (All) receptor (AT₁-R) has been implicated in the physiological actions mediated by All in the brain. In view of the reported hyperactivity of the brain All system in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), we compared the expression of AT,-R mRNAs in the brains of normotensive [Wistar Kyoto (WKY)] and SHR animals. Northern blot analysis showed about three- and ∼20-fold increases in the levels of AT₁-R mRNAs from the hypothalamus and brainstem areas, respectively, of the SHR compared with the WKY rat brain. This was attributable to greater levels of both AT,_1A- and AT,_1B-R mRNA subtypes in these areas from the SHR. These observations suggest that increased All receptor levels in SHR brain may, in part, be a result of increased expression of the AT₁-R gene.     

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of calponin and SM22 in rat aorta smooth muscle cells

We cloned and sequenced cDNAs encoding calponin (Calp) and SM22 (smooth muscle-specific 22-kDa protein) from rat aorta (RaA) smooth muscle (Smu) cells. The 1504-bp calp cDNA contains a single open reading frame (ORF) which encodes 297 amino acids (aa) (M_r 33 342). The 1186-bp SM22 cDNA contains a single ORF which encodes 201 aa (M_r 22 601). There were 43% identical aa in a 181-aa overlap between RaA Calp and SM22. Especially for the C-terminal region of SM22 and for the first repeat motif of Calp, 70% identity was observed. Northern blot analysis revealed that the calp and SM22 mRNAs were expressed in RaA Smu, but not in rat cardiac and skeletal muscles. SM22 mRNA was much more abundant than calp mRNA in RaA (3- to 4-fold). The expression levels of the calp and SM22 mRNAs in RaA showed a significant increase for 5 to 15 week old rats (1.5- to 3-fold) with vascular development and blood pressure elevation. No significant differences were observed in the expression of the RaA calp and SM22 mRNAs between normotensive (Wistar Kyoto) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).     

红细胞抗高血压因子降压作用的进一步研究

我们曾报道原发性高血压患者(EHS)红细胞抗高血压因子(AHF)具有缓慢而持久的降压作用。本工作表明,AHF对卒中易感型自发性高血压大鼠(SHRsp)还具有快速短暂的降压作用,注射AHF后10—30s,SHRsp收缩压从原水平的26.8±1.7kPa降至20.1±1.5kPa(P<0.001)。正常人和大鼠红细胞AHF的降压作用明显强于EHS和高血压大鼠AHF。此外我们还发现EHS血浆中存在升压物质。以上结果提示,AHF缺乏和升压物质含量相对较高可能是原发性高血压发病的一个重要原因。     

5-羟色胺诱发的主动脉区化学感受性升血压反射中某些区域性血管反应的分析

在15只麻醉开胸犬中,用在体器官恒流灌注法研究了骨胳肌、皮肤、肾和心脏的血管在5-HT 诱发的主动脉区化学感受性升血压反射中的反应,同时还观察了5-HT 对这些器官血管的直接效应。左心房注入5-HT(200μg)后,在动脉血压急剧上升的同时,股薄肌、皮肤(后爪)和肾脏的灌流压明显增加,其增值分别为43±8.47±5和56±27mmHg(P<0.01),而冠脉灌流压无明显改变。用阿托品和/或心得安阻断骨胳肌、皮肤和心脏灌流区域的 m 和同β-受体后,上述效应无进一步变动。向灌流环路直接注入5-HT(10—50μg),可引起皮肤和肾脏的血管收缩,而股薄肌和心肌的血管则扩张;后一效应不被心得安阻断。以上结果提示:1.在5-HT 诱发的主动脉区化学感受性升血压反射中,骨胳肌、皮肤和肾脏呈现明显的交感性缩血管反应,而并不伴有交感性扩血管活动;2.在外周血管可能存在两种不同的5-HT 受体,一种主要分布在皮肤和肾脏,引起缩血管效应;另一种主要分布于骨胳肌和冠状血管,引起扩血管效应。     

Alterations in the phosphodiesterase type 5 pathway and oxidative stress correlate with erectile function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

To explore how alterations in the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) signalling pathway and oxidative stress correlate with changes in the expression of relaxation and contraction molecules and erectile dysfunction (ED) in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In this study, SHR and Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats were used. Erectile function was determined by apomorphine test and electrical stimulation (ES) of cavernous nerve. Masson''s trichrome staining and confocal microscopy were performed. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), PDE5, phosphorylated‐PDE5 and α1‐adrenergic receptor (α1AR) were determined by RT‐PCR and Western blotting while oxidative stress in CC was determined by colorimetric analysis. SHR exhibited obvious ED. CC of SHR showed less SM but more collagen fibres. The expression of NOS isoforms in SHR was significantly decreased while all α1AR isoforms were increased. In addition, PDE5 and phosphorylated‐PDE5 were down‐regulated and its activity attenuated in the hypertensive rats. Meanwhile, the SHR group suffered oxidative stress, which may be modulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress and NADPH oxidase up‐regulation. Dysregulation of NOS and α1AR, histological changes and oxidative stress in CC may be associated with the pathophysiology of hypertension‐induced ED. In addition, PDE5 down‐regulation may lead to the decreased efficacy of PDE5 inhibitors in some hypertensive ED patients and treatment of oxidative stress could be used as a new therapeutic target for this type of ED.