To investigate the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) in the cochlea of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), and to assess the function of VIP and SP in the cochlea following the damage of hypertension, hearing thresholds of ABR were observed and the fixative (4% paraformaldehyde) was pumped through the circulatory system. Adult Wistar rats (3 months, n=20) served as the control group and SHRs (3 months, n=20) as the hypertension group. Bullas were taken out and cochleas were irrigated in vitro with the same fixative. The number of base turn's spiral ganglions in the sections was counted. The expression of VIP and SP were detected by SABC method and the images of the sections were analyzed. The number of base turn's spiral ganglsons in the hypertension group was significantly less than in the normal group (P<0.01). VIP and SP were expressed in the spiral ganglion cytoplasma and stria vascularis of the two groups. There were no significant difference in the expression of VIP and SP in spiral ganglion cytoplasma (P>0.05) between the two groups. However, in stria vascularis the expression of VIP in the hypertension group was higher than in the normal group (P<0.05), and no significant difference in SP was found between the two groups. It was suggested that VIP not only contributed to the regulation of the cochlea microcirculation, but also made the neurotransmitter in the pathway of the auditory system. However, SP made only the neurotransmitter in the pathway of the auditory system.
Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

In this study, we observed the levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) in myocardium and aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) in comparison with Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats. Contents of ADM and PAMP were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in plasma, myocardium and aorta. The amount of Pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and aorta was determined by competitive quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In SHRs the amounts of Pro-ADM mRNA of myocardium and aorta were 66.7% (P<0.01) and 73% (P<0.01) higher than those in WKY rat, respectively. In SHRs, the levels of ADM in plasma, myocardium and aorta were 29%, 76.7% and 79% (all P<0.01) higher than those in WKY rats, respectively. The level of PAMP in SHRs was increased by 42.5% in plasma (P<0.01), 47.2% in myocardium (P<0.0.1) and 27.3% in aorta (P<0.05) compared to WKY rats, respectively. In addition, the ratio of ADM content to PAMP content in SHRs group was increased compared with that in WKY group (2.0+/-0.25 vs 1.64+/-0.3 and 2.2+/-0.18 vs 1.56+/-0.28, in myocardium and aorta, respectively, P<0.01). These results suggest that ProADM gene expression is up-regulated and the increase in ADM and PAMP is different in SHRs. The significance of inconsistency of increase in ADM and PAMP in SHRs needs to be further investigated.
Adrenomedullin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Up-Regulation

The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy has not been fully explained. The earliest histological lesion is the loss of intramural pericytes and thickening of the basement membrane. Increased activity of the polyol pathway is a probable mechanism for these two abnormalities. Investigations have suffered from the lack of an exact animal model simulating the human condition. Examination of the retina in the spontaneously diabetic SHR/N:Mcc-cp rat demonstrated degeneration and loss of intramural pericytes, a progressive increase in basement membrane thickness, and microinfarctions with an area of non-perfusion. Therefore, this model may be used to clarify the biochemical mechanisms linking the metabolic abnormalities of diabetes and retinopathy.
Animal ; Diabetic Retinopathy/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hybridization ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR/genetics ; Rats, Inbred Strains/genetics ; Retina/pathology* ; Retinal Degeneration/pathology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on cardiac function of ventriculus sinister in rats with spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and to explore the mediation effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). METHODS: Six 12-week-old male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were taken as the normal group. Eighteen 12-week-old SHR were randomly divided into a model group, an EA group and a sham EA group, 6 rats in each group. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA (disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/15 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in current intensity) at "Neiguan" (PC 6), 30 min each time, once a day for 8 weeks. The rats in the sham EA group were treated with superficial needling at "Neiguan" (PC 6) with no electrical stimulation applied. After treatment, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were tested by echocardiographic analysis. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), heart rate (HR), the maximum rate of increase/decrease of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt_max) were detected. The serum content of ET-1 was detected by ELISA. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of ETAR, eNOS in myocardial tissue of left ventricular. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, LVEF, LVFS, +dp/dt_max/LVSP and -dp/dt_max/LVSP were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while LVSP, LVEDP, +dp/dt_max and -dp/dt_max were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, LVEF, LVFS, +dp/dt_max/LVSP and -dp/dt_max/LVSP were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and LVSP and LVEDP were decreased (P<0.01) in the EA group. Compared with the normal group, the serum content of ET-1 and the expression of ETAR in myocardial tissue were increased (P<0.01), whereas expression of eNOS was decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the serum content of ET-1 and the expression of ETAR in myocardial tissue were decreased (P<0.05), whereas expression of eNOS was increased (P<0.05) in the EA group. CONCLUSION EA intervention may alleviate hypertensive cardiac function damage by up-regulating the expression of eNOS protein in myocardial tissue, down-regulating the serum content of ET-1 and the expression of ETAR protein in myocardial tissue.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Endothelin-1/genetics* ; Heart Diseases ; Hypertension/therapy* ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

The aim of the studies was to investigate klotho gene effect on the endothelial dysfunction of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In this study, ten SHR and ten normal Wistar rats, all 22 week old, were prepared. After given intraperitoneal anesthesia, the rats' brains, lungs, hearts, kidneys and aortas were removed. The identification was made by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Compared with the normal group, the klotho mRNA and protein in SHR were less than those in the control group with normal corresponding values, while Endothelin-1 (ET-1)'s mRNA and protein were more than those of normal group. The analysis of the correlation of mRNA and protein in heart and aorta revealed that klotho gene was negatively correlated to ET-1. The results showed that klotho significantly decreased in SHR, which might be influenced by hypertension-induced damage on the endothelial function.
Aging ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Glucuronidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in myocardial hypertrophy of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with different ages.

METHODSSHRs and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were divided into 4 groups (5-, 8-,14-, 24-week old) respectively. The ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW) was measured as the indicator of myocardial hypertrophy. The basal ERK expression (b-ERK) and phosphorylated-ERK (p-ERK) in myocardial tissue were examined by Western blot.

RESULTThe blood pressure of SHR was significantly higher than that of age-matched WKY rats from 8-week-old (P<0.001). The ratio of LVW/BW in SHR was increased significantly from 14-week-old (P<0.01). There was no significant difference of b-ERK expression between SHR and age-matched WKY rats. The p-ERK level of 5-week-old SHR was similar to that of 5-week-old WKY rats. The p-ERK level of SHR was significantly higher than that of age-matched WKY rats from 8-week-old to 24-week-old (P<0.01). The ratio of LVW/BW was positively related to p-ERK level but not related to b-ERK.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of ERK may play an important role in the development of myocardial hypertrophy caused by hypertension.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

The present study aimed to investigate the difference in the voltage dependent potassium channel (Kv) expression in lymphocytes between the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar rats. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected from 10 male SHRs and 10 normotensive Wistar rats aged 16 weeks. First, by using the patch-clamp technique, Kv channel current was recorded in freshly isolated lymphocytes from SHRs and normotensive Wistar rats. Total RNAs were extracted from lymphocytes by using TRIzol reagent. Real-time PCR was used to determine the expression of Kv1.3 mRNA and Western blot technique was used to measure the expression of Kv1.3 protein in lymphocytes from SHRs and normotensive Wistar rats. The results showed that: (1) The current density of Kv channel in the step voltage of +60 mV was higher in lymphocytes from SHRs than that from the normotensive Wistar rats [(119+/-10) pA/pF vs (56+/-9) pA/pF, P<0.05]; (2) The level of Kv1.3 mRNA expression in lymphocytes from SHRs was significantly increased compared with that of the normotensive Wistar rats (0.0313+/-0.017 vs 0.0023+/-0.005, P<0.05); (3) The expression of Kv1.3 protein was significantly elevated in lymphocytes (1.02+/-0.04 vs 0.41+/-0.03, P<0.05) from SHRs compared with that of the normotensive Wistar rats. The results obtained demonstrate that the lymphocytes Kv channels are increased in SHR, and the Kv channel may be involved in activation of lymphocytes from SHR.
Animals ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Kv1.3 Potassium Channel ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology*

Animals ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore mechanism of acupuncture for renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) in hypertension rats.

METHODSTwenty-four 24-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into a model group, a perindopril group and an acupuncture group, eight cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, with rats tied up, electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral "Quchi" (LI 11) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) under mild vibration of needle handle for 20 min, once a day. In the perindopril group, perindopril (0.4 mg/kg) suspension liquid was applied for intragastric administration, once a day. In the model group, rats were tied up for 20 min a day without any treatment. Eight same-age same-race Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats with normal blood pressure were taken as a control group, which was given with free diet but no treatment. The treatment was reuqired for six weeks. The systolic blood pressure of caudal artery was tested. Kidney morphological structure was observed by HE coloration. Deposition optical density of type I and III collagen in kidney was tested by immunohistochemistry. Expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the blood pressure was significantly decreased in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01), the damage of kidney morphology was minor, positive depositional area of type I and III collagen was obviously decreased (both P < 0.05), and the expression of semi-quantitative analysis of TGF-beta1 mRNA was decreased (P < 0.05), which had similar effect as western medication perindopril.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Quchi" (LI 11) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) probably intervenes the process of RIF by reducing synthesis of kidney type I , III collagen and restraining expression of TGF-beta1.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Kidney ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism