Production of Angiotensinogen by Cultured Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

This study was conducted to further investigate angiotensinogen synthesis in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) grown in culture. Tissue cultures maintained in defined medium neither grew nor synthesized angiotensinogen. However, in the presence of 5% homologous serum both cell proliferation and angiotensinogen synthesis became apparent. Substitution of normal control serum with that of bilaterally nephrectomized rats or animals given dexamethasone (10mg/kg, ip) led to a further significant increase in angiotensinogen production. In contrast, serum from adrenalectomized rats suppressed angiotensinogen synthesis below the rate observed with normal serum. A positive linear correlation (r=0.96, p0.01) was evident between the serum angiotensinogen level and the rate of de novo synthesis of this protein. No correlations were found between cell proliferation and either angiotensinogen synthesis or serum angiotensinogen levels. Dexamethasone added to serum did not stimulate the rate of angiotensinogen synthesis and appeared to inhibit cell proliferation. Stimulation or suppression of angiotensinogen synthesis was not accompanied by a statistically significant change in angiotensinogen specific mRNA. The data indicate a complex regulation of angiotensinogen in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture.     

Influence of animal age on the beta-adrenergic system in cultured rat aortic and mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells.

It has previously been reported that aortic smooth muscle cells cultured from old rats have a marked decline in beta-adrenergic stimulated cAMP accumulation. We wished to confirm this observation and determine whether this decline was secondary to loss of beta-adrenergic receptors (BAR). Primary cultures of aortic and mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion from young and old male Fischer 344 rats. In aortic cells from old animals, there was a decline in beta-adrenergic receptor density and a rightward shift in the dose response curve to isoproterenol without a change in maximal cAMP accumulation. In mesenteric artery cells, there were no age changes in these parameters. Beta-adrenergic receptor subtype distribution was determined and was similar between all age groups and vessel types. These findings differ from whole tissue studies and suggest that cultured smooth muscle cells have limitations as a model for the aging adrenergic system.     

Lactate dehydrogenase subunit activities in hearts of aging rats

Diets with 40% of calories as fat with poly-unsaturated to saturated ratios of either 0.2 beef tallow (BT) diet or 1.0 mix (M) diet were fed to rats of both sexes. Groups were killed at 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 mo. of age. To estimate the effects of age, sex and dietary fat on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), activities of muscle type and heart type subunits were assayed biochemically in heart homogenates using differential substrate concentrations of 1.0 × 10⁻² M and 3 × 10⁻⁴ M pyruvate, respectively. For comparison of methods, LDH activity was also determined histochemically in frozen sections of hearts, using lactate as a substrate. Age significantly (p < 0.05) affected heart type activity, which was highest in males at 9 mo. and females at 12 mo., and lowest in 15 mo. old rats. Activities of heart type LDH were similar in hearts from rats at 9 and 21 mo. of age. Age also significantly (p < 0.05) affected muscle type activity, which generally increased to a maximum in 18 mo. old rats. Histochemical LDH activity was significantly (p <.001) greater in hearts of 9 and 12 mo. old rats than in those of 15 mo. old rats. Fluctuations in the activities of muscle type and heart type LDH subunits seemed to follow a pattern indicative of myocardial damage.     

Adipocytes of old rats produce a decreased amount of differentiation factor for preadipocytes derived from adipose tissue islets.

Adipose tissue of young rats (3.5 mo) contains cell formations ("islets") that, in culture, give rise to a variety of preadipocytes, or islet-derived cells (IDCs), that undergo rapid morphologic differentiation into adipocytes. Such adipose conversion depends on a differentiation-promoting factor produced by the mature adipocytes also present in the cultures. Here we report that cultured IDCs from epididymal fat of senescent rats (20 +/- 3 mo) show decreased adipose conversion compared to IDCs from 3.5 mo rats at 3 days of culture (14.2% vs 29.9%; p < .001). Both the number of co-cultured adipocytes and increased fragility with age were excluded as having a substantial role in explaining the decreased conversion. In order to determine whether the decrease differentiation of the IDCs of the old rats was intrinsic or due to reduced production of the differentiation factor by the old adipocytes, cross-over cultures of IDCs from young and old rats were grown in the presence of young or old adipocytes. When IDCs of old rats were cultured in the presence of young adipocytes, a significant twofold increase in differentiation was seen compared to old IDCs grown with old adipocytes (22.7% vs 10.3%; p < .001). This response was comparable to that of young IDCs grown with young adipocytes. Thus, old IDCs retain their ability to undergo extensive morphologic differentiation when appropriately stimulated. Reduced production of the differentiation-promoting factor by old adipocytes rather than the ability of IDCs to differentiate appears to be responsible for the decreased adipose conversion of IDCs seen in cultures of adipose tissue from senescent rats.     

Severe impairment of ventricular compliance accounts for advanced age-associated hemodynamic dysfunction in rats

Advanced aging is associated with hemodynamic dysfunction in rats as in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms of development of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the rat model of aging. In vivo hemodynamics and ex vivo LV papillary muscle mechanics, myofilaments sensitivity to calcium in skinned fibers and pressure/volume curves in isolated perfused hearts were performed in 3, 24 and 28 month old (mo) male Wistar rats. Hemodynamic dysfunction occurs in 28 mo rats and is characterized by both a systolic and diastolic dysfunction and a LV hypertrophy (+34.7% of LV weight). In papillary muscle, normalized active developed force and myofilament sensitivity to calcium were unchanged between 24 and 28 months of age. In contrast, both resting force/total force ratio in papillary muscle and the slope of the pressure/volume curves in isolated heart are increased between 3 and 24 mo but also between 24 and 28 mo, indicating a progression of the impairment of both papillary muscle stiffness and LV compliance in advanced aging. Hemodynamic dysfunction occurring at advanced age, i.e. 28 mo in rats mainly results from impairment of ventricular compliance resulting from fibrosis.     

Effect of thyroid hormones on angiotensinogen production in the rat in vivo and in vitro

The influence of thyroid hormones on angiotensinogen production was studied in vitro and in vivo. In the in-vitro system, angiotensinogen production rate (APR) of monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes in response to tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) was assayed. In the in-vivo system, plasma angiotensinogen concentration (PAC) and liver angiotensinogen content (LAC) were measured in hyper- and hypothyroid rats. In both thyroid dysfunctions, a significant decrease of PAC was found compared with that in control animals; however, LAC showed a significant increase in hyperthyroidism and a marked decrease in hypothyroidism. As PAC is dependent upon both angiotensinogen production by the liver and angiotensinogen degradation by renin, the decrease in PAC observed in hyperthyroidism could be due to an increase in plasma renin concentration, which would overcome the increased synthesis of liver angiotensinogen observed in these animals. In fact, addition of various concentrations of T4 or T3 to monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes significantly enhanced APR. This increase was greater and started earlier with T3 (1196.1 +/- 143.7 (S.D.) pg/mg protein per 6-h incubation; significant differences at the third hour of incubation) than with T4 (858.3 +/- 88.2 pg/mg protein per 6-h incubation; significant differences at the sixth hour of incubation). In addition, a close dose-response relationship was found in the cultures supplemented with T3. The different time-course in the response elicited by T3 and T4 on APR could be a consequence of the necessary transformation of T4 into T3 to acquire biological activity.     

Astrocyte cultures derived from human brain tissue express angiotensinogen mRNA.

We have identified human cultured cell lines that are useful for studying angiotensinogen gene expression and its regulation in the central nervous system. A model cell system of human central nervous system origin expressing angiotensinogen has not previously been available. Expression of angiotensinogen has not previously been available, Expression noninduced human astrocytes, since astrocytic cell lines derived from human glioblastomas or nonneoplastic human brain tissue invariably produced angiotensinogen mRNA. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that angiotensinogen mRNA production was not limited to a subpopulation of astrocytes because greater than 99% of cells in these cultures contained angiotensinogen mRNA. These cell lines will be useful in studies of the molecular mechanisms controlling angiotensin synthesis and the role of biologically active angiotensin in the human brain by allowing us to examine regulation of expression of the renin-angiotensin system in human astrocyte cultures.     

Paradoxical role of angiotensin II type 2 receptors in resistance arteries of old rats

The role of angiotensin II type 2 receptors (AT2Rs) remains a matter of controversy. Its vasodilatory and antitrophic properties are well accepted. Nevertheless, in hypertensive rats, AT2R stimulation induces a vasoconstriction counteracting flow-mediated dilation (FMD). This contraction is reversed by hydralazine. Because FMD is also decreased in aging, another risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, we hypothesized that AT2R function might be altered in old-rat resistance arteries. Mesenteric resistance arteries (250 mum in diameter) were isolated from old (24 months) and control (4 months) rats receiving hydralazine (16 mg/kg per day; 2 weeks) or water. FMD, NO-mediated dilation, and endothelial NO synthase expression were lower in old versus control rats. AT2R blockade improved FMD in old rats, suggesting that AT2R stimulation produced vasoconstriction. AT2R expression was higher in old rats and mainly located in the smooth muscle layer. In old rats, AT2R stimulation induced endothelium-independent contraction, which was suppressed by the antioxidant Tempol. Reactive oxygen species level was higher in old-rat arteries than in controls. Hydralazine improved FMD and NO-dependent dilation in old rats without change in AT2R expression and location. In old rats treated with hydralazine, reactive oxygen species level was reduced in endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and AT2R-dependent contraction was abolished. Thus, AT2R stimulation induced vasoconstriction through activation of reactive oxygen species production, contributing to decrease FMD in old-rat resistance arteries. Hydralazine suppressed AT2R-dependent reactive oxygen species production and AT2R-dependent contraction, improving FMD. Importantly, endothelial alterations in aging were reversible. These findings are important to consider in the choice of vasoactive drugs in aging.     

Aging and in vivo norepinephrine-uptake in mammalian brain.

In order to examine the cellular effect of aging in the central nervous system, the regional distribution and the dynamic aspects of catecholamine metabolism in the brain were investigated. Results indicated that the endogenous norepinephrine (NE) content is lower in hypothalamus and brain stem of older rats (25 mo. n = 6) than younger rats (12 mo. n = 6). We have also observed in these animals that the age pigments were apparently absent in the brain tissue of young rats but become a very distinct feature for the old rats and that the catecholamine strong vesicles appear to be less dense in the nerve terminals of old as compared with the young ones. 3H-NE was administered intracerebrally to mice of different age groups (4, 8, 12, 21 and 24 months) and the NE-uptake activity was examined by measuring the radioactive NE inside the isolated synaptosomes 5 min after 3H-NE injection. The result indicated that the young group (4 mo) has highest uptake activity. The uptake activity decrease with the older mice and reached the lowest in the age group of 21-24 mo. The decrease in NE-uptake activity may be related to the deterioration of synaptosomal membranes.     

Responsiveness of tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons to 5-hydroxytryptophan

Serotonin is known to stimulate prolactin secretion by decreasing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons. However, the effects of aging on the responsiveness of TIDA neurons to serotonin are not known. An effective way to increase serotonergic activity is to administer 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a serotonin precursor. The present study was done to investigate the effects of 5-HTP on TIDA neuronal activity in aging animals. Middle-aged (10–12 mo), old (18–20 mo), and very old (22–24 mo) female Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized. Ten days later, they were injected iv with 50 mg/kg body wt of 5-HTP or the vehicle for 5-HTP (PBS-HCl). Twenty minutes later, m-hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD), a DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor, was administered. Ten minutes later, the animals were killed, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was determined by measuring l-DOPA accumulation in the stalk median eminence by HPLC-EC. In all three groups, administration of 5-HTP increased serum prolactin levels significantly. In control middle-aged rats, TH activity (l-DOPA pg/μg protein) was 33.0 ± 5.6. Treatment with 5-HTP decreased TH activity by 60%. Similarly, 5-HTP treatment decreased TH activity by 52 and 56% in 18- to 20- and 22- to 24-mo-old rats, respectively, compared to the control rats. The magnitudes of the 5-HTP-induced decreases in TH activities in middle-aged, old, and very old rats were not different from each other. These results indicate that TIDA neuronal responsiveness to serotonin does not change with age and that 5-HTP is capable of stimulating PRL release even in very old rats.     

Decreased expression of heat shock protein 70 mRNA and protein after heat treatment in cells of aged rats.

The effect of aging on the induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70)-encoding gene expression by elevated temperatures was studied in cultures of lung- or skin-derived fibroblasts from young (5 mo) and old (24 mo) male Wistar rats. Although the kinetics of the heat shock response were found to be similar in the two age groups, we observed lower levels of induction of HSP70 mRNA and HSP70 protein in confluent primary lung and skin fibroblast cultures derived from aged animals. Additional experiments with freshly excised lung tissue showed a similar age-related decline in the heat-induced expression of HSP70.     

Prorenin is the endogenous agonist of the (pro)renin receptor. Binding kinetics of renin and prorenin in rat vascular smooth muscle cells overexpressing the human (pro)renin receptor

OBJECTIVE: Mannose 6-phosphate receptors (M6PR) bind both renin and prorenin, and such binding contributes to renin/prorenin clearance but not to angiotensin generation. Here, we evaluated the kinetics of renin/prorenin binding to the recently discovered human (pro)renin receptor (h(P)RR), and the idea that such binding underlies tissue angiotensin generation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vascular smooth muscle cells from control rats and transgenic rats with smooth muscle h(P)RR overexpression were incubated at 4 or 37 degrees C with human renin or prorenin. Incubation at 37 degrees C greatly increased binding, suggesting that (pro)renin-binding receptors cycle between the intracellular compartment and the cell surface. Blockade of the M6PR reduced binding by approximately 50%. During M6PR blockade, h(P)RR cells bound twice as much prorenin as control cells, while renin binding was unaltered. Incubation of h(P)RR (but not control) cells with prorenin + angiotensinogen yielded more angiotensin than expected on the basis of the activity of soluble prorenin, whereas angiotensin generation during incubation of both cell types with renin + angiotensinogen was entirely due to soluble renin. The renin + angiotensinogen-induced vasoconstriction of isolated iliac arteries from control and transgenic rats was also due to soluble renin only. The recently proposed (P)RR antagonist 'handle region peptide', which resembles part of the prosegment, blocked neither prorenin binding nor angiotensin generation. CONCLUSIONS: H(P)RRs preferentially bind prorenin, and such binding results in angiotensin generation, most likely because binding results in prorenin activation.     

Neuroendocrine regulation of plasma angiotensinogen.

In previous studies we found that plasma angiotensinogen levels were reduced by lesions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei. To determine if the decrease was caused by decreased secretion of hormones that normally stimulate angiotensinogen secretion by the liver, we correlated the changes in plasma angiotensinogen produced by paraventricular lesions with changes in plasma LH, ACTH, and thyroid hormones; compared the changes in plasma angiotensinogen and other hormones to those produced by hypophysectomy; and determined the effects of treatment with ACTH and T4 in animals with paraventricular lesions. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, bilateral lesions destroying more than 50% of the paraventricular nuclei decreased plasma angiotensinogen to 787 +/- 52 ng angiotensin-I/ml in 7 days compared to 1576 +/- 142 ng angiotensin-I/ml in sham-operated controls. Plasma T3 and T4 were also reduced, whereas there were no statistically significant changes in plasma ACTH or LH. Hypophysectomy produced a comparable decline in plasma angiotensinogen and thyroid hormone levels. Daily administration of a single dose of ACTH had no effect on plasma angiotensinogen in rats with paraventricular lesions, but T4 treatment restored plasma angiotensinogen to normal levels. The data indicate that the decline in circulating angiotensinogen produced by lesions of the paraventricular nuclei is caused by the decrease in the secretion of thyroid hormones produced by these lesions. They also demonstrate that in addition to regulating circulating renin via the sympathetic nervous system, the brain has an effect on circulating angiotensinogen via neuroendocrine control of thyroid function.     

Phenotypic modulation by fibronectin enhances the angiotensin II-generating system in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

We previously demonstrated that homogeneous cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from spontaneously hypertensive rats produce angiotensin II (Ang II) in response to increases in the levels of angiotensinogen, cathepsin D, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The change of VSMCs from the contractile to the synthetic phenotype increased the amount of synthetic organelles, resulting in the production of proteases and growth factors. To evaluate the contribution of the synthetic phenotype to the generation of Ang II, we examined the effect of fibronectin (FN), which reportedly induces the synthetic phenotype, on the Ang II-generating system in VSMCs. Cultured VSMCs from Wistar-Kyoto rats were incubated with an active fragment of FN, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, for 24, 48, or 72 hours after synchronization of the cell cycle with 0. 2% calf serum for 48 hours. Immunofluorescence and protein levels of alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin and expression of SM22alpha mRNA, apparent in the contractile phenotype, were suppressed by FN, whereas expression of matrix Gla mRNA and osteopontin mRNA and protein, apparent in the synthetic phenotype, was increased. FN (1 to 1000 microg/mL) dose-dependently increased DNA synthesis in the VSMCs, which was inhibited by the Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist CV-11974. Ang II-like immunoreactivity as determined by radioimmunoassay was significantly increased in conditioned medium from the VSMCs. In addition, mRNA for the Ang II-generating proteases cathepsin D and ACE was increased by FN. Expression of transforming growth factor-beta1, platelet-derived growth factor A-chain, and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNAs was also increased by FN. These results indicate that the changes accompanying the alteration to the synthetic phenotype in homogeneous cultures of VSMCs increase expression of proteases such as cathepsin D and ACE, which then produce Ang II, and that these changes increase expression of growth factors that then induce growth of VSMCs.     

Peritoneal exudate cells from long-lived rats exhibit increased IL-10/IL-1β expression ratio and preserved NO/urea ratio following LPS-stimulation in vitro

In humans, usual aging, differently from successful aging, is associated with deregulation of proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokine balance. The corresponding data from rat studies are limited. Therefore, we examined (i) cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) profile of fresh peritoneal cells from 6- (adult), 24- (old), and 31-month-old (long-lived) AO rats and (ii) proinflammatory (IL-1β and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine, NO, and urea production in their LPS-stimulated cultures. Comparing with adult rats, cells from old ones expressed lower amount of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNAs, but greater amount of IL-1β mRNA. On the other hand, cells from long-lived rats exhibited a dramatic increase in IL-10 mRNA expression followed by diminished TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression, and comparable expression of IL-1β mRNA relative to adult rats. Consequently, IL-10/IL-1β mRNA ratio was greater in cells from long-lived rats than in adult and old rats. In LPS-stimulated peritoneal cell cultures (contained ≥95 % macrophages) from old rats, concentration of common proinflammatory cytokines was higher than in those from adult rats. Comparing with adult and old rats, in LPS-stimulated macrophage cultures from long-lived rats, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were lower; IL-1β concentration was comparable or greater (in respect to adult rats), whereas that of IL-10 was strikingly higher. Consistently, in macrophage cultures from long-lived rats, NO (iNOS activity marker)/urea (arginase activity marker) ratio was less and not different from that in old and adult rats, respectively. The study suggests that macrophages from long-lived rats, differently from those of old ones, have substantial ability to limit proinflammatory mediator production, which may contribute to their longevity.     

Lifelong exercise and mild (8%) caloric restriction attenuate age-induced alterations in plantaris muscle morphology, oxidative stress and IGF-1 in the Fischer-344 rat

Muscle atrophy is a highly prevalent condition among older adults, and results from reduced muscle mass and fiber cross-sectional area. Resistive exercise training and moderate (30-40%) caloric restriction may reduce the rate of sarcopenia in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that lifelong, voluntary exercise combined with mild (8%) caloric restriction would attenuate the reduction of muscle fiber cross-sectional area in the rat plantaris. Fischer-344 rats were divided into: young adults (6 mo) fed ad libitum (YAL); 24 mo old fed ad libitum (OAL); 24 mo old on 8% caloric restriction (OCR); lifelong wheel running with 8% CR (OExCR). Plantaris fiber cross-sectional area was significantly lower in OAL than YAL (-27%), but protected in OCR and OExCR, while mass/body mass ratio was preserved in OExCR only. Furthermore, 8% CR and lifelong wheel running attenuated the age-induced increases in extramyocyte space and connective tissue. Citrate synthase activity decreased with age, but was not significantly protected in OCR and OExCR. Total hydroperoxides were higher in OAL than YAL, but were not elevated in OExCR, with out a change in MnSOD. IGF-1 levels were lower in OAL (-57%) than YAL, but partially protected in the OExCR group (+51%).     

Life long calorie restriction increases heat shock proteins and proteasome activity in soleus muscles of Fisher 344 rats

Heat shock proteins (HSP's) closely interact with 20S proteasome and have been shown to maintain catalytic activity, responsible for the prevention of protein aggregation. A decrease in both proteasome activity and heat shock proteins (HSP's) has been observed with age. We investigated whether life-long calorie restriction (CR), a natural intervention, which prolongs life span, could prevent the age-associated decline in HSP's and restore the proteolytic activity of the 20S proteasome in skeletal muscle. Hence, we investigated HSP's and proteasome activity in the soleus muscle from 12-mo-old (Adult) and 26-28 mo old ad libitum fed (Old), and 26-28 mo old CR (Old-CR; fed 40% of ad libitum for their lifespan) male Fisher 344 rats. Trypsin-like proteasome activity in Old rats was significantly less than both Adult and Old-CR rats. Furthermore, no significant changes where found in chymotrypsin-like proteasome activity due to age or diet. Levels of HSP 72 and 25 were significantly less in Old animals when compared to both Adult and Old-CR rats. In contrast, HSP 90 was elevated in Old rats by 220% compared to adult animals and life-long calorie restriction caused a significant induction (150%) compared to age-matched ad libitum fed animals. Protein carbonyls were significantly elevated in Old when compared to Adult rats, but showed no significant decline due to life long CR. This study shows that HSP's may be largely responsible for the restoration of the trypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome with age. The large increase in HSP 90 is intriguing and further studies are required to elucidate its role in maintaining 20S proteasome function.     

主动脉平滑肌钙激活钾通道的增龄变化

目的研究不同月龄大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道的活性,探讨老化过程中血管平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道的变化。方法取三组Wistar大鼠(分别为1月龄、6月龄、20月龄各20只)主动脉用酶消化法获得单个平滑肌细胞。以膜片钳技术检测细胞钙激活钾通道的活性,记录不同钳制电压下单通道电流的平均开放时间、平均关闭时间、平均开放概率、电流幅值,并绘制成电流—电压关系曲线。对比各月龄组Wistar大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道活性。结果(1)各月龄组大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞随着膜电位从+10 mV向+60 mV方向去极化,钙激活钾通道的电流强度逐渐加大,但加大幅度随月龄增加而降低。1月龄、6月龄和20月龄大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道的电导值分别为192±47 ps、177±56 ps和163±35 ps,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(2)在内面向外式膜片上,20月龄和1月龄大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道平均开放概率分别为0.009±0.001和0.015±0.004,两组比较具有显著性差异(P<0.01)。20月龄和1月龄大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道平均关闭时间分别为2 260±653和2 512±185*,两组比较具有显著性差异(P<0.01)。(3)在同样的对称性高钾浴液中,加入不同浓度钙后,发现钙对各月龄组大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道均有明显的激活作用,表现为平均开放概率逐渐加大,平均关闭时间逐渐缩短。但对各月龄相同钙浓度间比较发现,6月龄组平均开放概率比1月龄加大,而20月龄组平均开放概率和平均开放时间比6月龄和1月龄组均显著降低。结论大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活钾通道的活性随着年龄增大而下降。     

Chronic caffeine intake reverses age-induced insulin resistance in the rat: effect on skeletal muscle Glut4 transporters and AMPK activity

The role of caffeine consumption on insulin action is still under debate. The hypothesis that chronic caffeine intake reverses aging-induced insulin resistance in the rat was tested in this work. The mechanism by which caffeine restores insulin sensitivity was also investigated. Six groups of rats were used: 3 months old (3 M), 3 months old caffeine-treated (3MCaf), 12 months old (12 M), 12 months old caffeine-treated (12MCaf), 24 months old (24 M), and 24 months old caffeine-treated (24MCaf). Caffeine was administered in drinking water (1 g/l) during 15 days. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by means of the insulin tolerance test. Blood pressure, body weight, visceral and total fat, fasting glycemia and insulinemia, plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), cortisol, nitric oxide, and catecholamines were monitored. Skeletal muscle Glut4 and 5′-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression and activity were also assessed. Aged rats exhibited diminished insulin sensitivity accompanied by hyperinsulinemia and normoglycemia, increased visceral and total fat, decreased TAC and plasma catecholamines, and also decreased skeletal muscle Glut4 and AMPK protein expression. Chronic caffeine intake restored insulin sensitivity and regularized circulating insulin and NEFA in both aging models. Caffeine neither modified skeletal muscle AMPK expression nor activity in aged rats; however, it decreased visceral and total fat in 12 M rats and it restored skeletal muscle Glut4 expression to control values in 24 M rats. We concluded that chronic caffeine intake reverses aging-induced insulin resistance in rats by decreasing NEFA production and also by increasing Glut4 expression in skeletal muscle.