Effects of calcium supplementation and deoxycorticosterone on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and electrolyte excretion in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effects of calcium and the mineralocorticoid deoxycorticosterone (DOC) on blood pressure were studied in four groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR): (1) control; (2) calcium; (3) deoxycorticosterone and; (4) deoxycorticosterone + calcium. Calcium was given as 1.5% calcium chloride in drinking fluid and deoxycorticosterone by weekly subcutaneous injections (25 mg kg^-1). During the nine weeks of treatment the increase in systolic blood pressure was enhanced in the deoxycorticosterone and attenuated in the calcium group, whereas the deoxycorticosterone + calcium group did not deviate from control. Total plasma calcium was elevated in the calcium group. Plasma concentrations of sodium and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were increased by deoxycorticosterone while neither of the calcium-treated groups differed from control in these respects. Urinary excretions of calcium and sodium were increased in both groups receiving calcium, and also the deoxycorticosterone group excreted more calcium into urine than the control. Adrenergic nerve density in a section of the mesenteric artery and the urinary excretion of noradrenaline and adrenaline were similar in all study groups. The results indicate that calcium supplementation can attenuate the development of hypertension and prevent the deoxycorticosterone-induced blood pressure rise in SHR, possibly by influencing sodium metabolism as seen in increased natriuresis, and by preventing the actions of deoxycorticosterone on sodium balance.     

Effect of nitrendipine, a calcium antagonist, on the distribution of calcium in aortic smooth muscle cells of deoxycorticosterone-hypertensive rats. A quantitative ultracytochemical study

Rats were made hypertensive by implantation of a pellet of deoxycorticosterone (DOC). A low dose (1 mg/kg twice daily) of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine protects against the increase in total and ionic levels of calcium in the aorta produced by the elevated blood pressure, dissociating at least in part the hypertension from the rise in aortic calcium. Ionic (free) calcium was demonstrated in aortic smooth muscle cells by the pyroantimonate ultra-cytochemical method and the electron opaque reaction product quantitated by stereological techniques. As compared to the control group, nitrendipine did not increase the number of vesicles/micron with precipitate located adjacent to the sarcolemma. DOC however increased the number of subsarcolemmal vesicles with electron opaque precipitate and sarcoplasmic calcium. Nitrendipine administration to DOC-treated rats decreased the number of vesicles to that found in the control or nitrendipine-treated group while ionic calcium in the nitrendipine + DOC group was intermediate between the control or nitrendipine group and the DOC group. The total content of calcium measured by atomic absorption correlates with the observations of ionic calcium levels demonstrated ultracytochemically. Aortic dry weights of the DOC and DOC + nitrendipine groups were comparable and significantly greater than those in the control or nitrendipine groups.     

Calcium appetite, blood pressure and electrolytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Appetite for solutions of 0.01 M-0.1 M calcium chloride or calcium lactate were assessed using the two-bottle choice technique in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats fed calcium replete diets. SHR exhibited a marginally increased preference for calcium chloride and a significantly increased preference for calcium lactate (p less than 0.02). In SHR, but not in WKY, 28 days of calcium exposure via the preference test solutions significantly affected systolic blood pressure (p less than 0.03). The group of SHR ingesting calcium chloride had a lower mean systolic blood pressure, and that ingesting calcium lactate had a higher mean systolic blood pressure than the control group receiving no exposure to calcium in preference tests. Blood pressures of individual rats, however, were not related to cumulative milliequivalents of Ca consumed, body weight, whole blood or serum ionized Ca, K or Na concentrations, or total serum calcium. Strain differences in chemosensory sensitivity might play a role in mediating the enhanced self-selection of calcium by SHR.     

短链酰基辅酶A脱氢酶在高血压血管重构中的作用

目的:研究短链酰基辅酶A脱氢酶(short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase,SCAD)在高血压血管重构中的变化,探讨SCAD与高血压血管重构之间的关系。方法:采用游泳耐力训练方式训练16周龄的自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rats,SHR)和健康Wistar大鼠8周,分别以24周龄的SHR和Wistar大鼠作为实验对照,定期测量鼠尾收缩压,测定各组大鼠胸主动脉血管腔内径和血管壁中层厚度、SCAD的mRNA和蛋白表达水平、SCAD酶活性的变化、ATP和ROS水平及血清和胸主动脉游离脂肪酸含量。结果:与Wistar组比较,SHR组大鼠血压升高,血管腔内径减小,血管壁中层厚度增大,血管壁中层厚度与血管腔内径比值增大;与SHR组相比,SHR游泳组血压下降,血管腔内径增大,血管壁中层厚度减小,血管壁中层厚度与血管腔内径比值减小(P0.05)。与Wistar组比较,SHR组大鼠主动脉SCAD的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下调,主动脉中SCAD酶活性下降,ATP含量降低,血清和主动脉游离脂肪酸含量明显增加,ROS含量增加;分别与Wistar组和SHR组比较,Wistar游泳组和SHR游泳组主动脉SCAD的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均明显上调,主动脉中SCAD的酶活性增高,ATP含量增加,血清和主动脉的游离脂肪酸含量明显减少,ROS含量减少。结论:主动脉SCAD的表达下调可能与高血压血管重构密切相关。游泳运动可能通过上调SCAD表达,从而逆转高血压血管重构。     

Chronic blockade of neuronal nitric oxide synthase does not affect long-term control of blood pressure in normal,saline-drinking or deoxycorticosterone-treated rats

It has been reported that long-term selective inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) produces elevated blood pressure (BP) in normal rats. The present study was designed to analyse the possible influences of the sodium-retaining hormone deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and of an increased sodium intake on BP effects induced by the chronic blockade of nNOS with 7-nitroindazole (7NI). Two experiments were performed using 7NI at a dose of either 10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) (experiment 1) or 30 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) (experiment 2). The following groups were used in both experiments: control rats, and rats that received either 1 % saline drinking water (Salt), deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), 7NI, 7NI plus 1 % saline (7NI + Salt) or 7NI plus DOCA (7NI + DOCA). The tail systolic BP (SBP) was measured in all rats once a week. At the end of the experimental period, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and metabolic, morphological and renal variables were measured. There were no significant differences in the tail SBP, final MAP or glomerular filtration rate between the experimental groups and the control group. In both experiments, the plasma renin activity (PRA) was significantly inhibited in the Salt groups and suppressed in the DOCA groups. The PRA significantly increased in the 7NI groups, whereas the 7NI + Salt and 7NI + DOCA groups showed a significant inhibition in PRA, especially compared to the 7NI groups in the two experiments. We conclude that chronic nNOS blockade is unable to increase BP in normal, saline-drinking or DOCA-treated rats. Furthermore, the nNOS blockade does not interfere with the counterbalance between renin and an increased sodium intake or retention.     

上调miR-133a表达水平对自发性高血压大鼠心肌纤维化的影响

目的:观察上调微小RNA-133a(miR-133a)的表达水平对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)心肌纤维化的影响。方法:以同源正常血压Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)大鼠为正常对照组,另将SHR随机分为SHR组、SHR+腺相关病毒(AAV)组和SHR+携带miR-133a的腺相关病毒(miR-133a-AAV)组。通过冠脉灌注法将miR-133a-AAV转染至SHR大鼠的心脏,监测大鼠的尾动脉压,Masson染色观察心肌胶原沉积情况,real-time PCR检测心肌组织中miR-133a的表达水平,免疫组化法和Western blot法检测心肌组织中转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)和结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)的蛋白表达水平。结果:与WKY大鼠相比,SHR的尾动脉压明显升高,心肌组织中miR133a表达水平降低,TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达水平升高,出现心肌纤维化;上调SHR心肌miR-133a的表达水平后,心肌纤维化程度明显减轻,TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达水平降低。结论:上调心肌组织中miR-133a的表达水平,对高血压导致的大鼠心肌纤维化有改善作用,其机制可能与抑制心肌组织中TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达有关。     

Early-onset increased calcium and decreased magnesium concentrations and an increased calcium/magnesium ratio in SHR versus WKY.

Alterations in the metabolism of calcium and magnesium have been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. Calcium influx across the external cellular membrane in smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes plays a crucial role in the control of cellular excitation contraction and impulse propagation. Intracellular calcium and magnesium concentrations are controlled by reversible binding to specific calcium binding proteins. The calcium and magnesium flux across the external membrane is regulated by a calcium pump (calcium-magnesium-ATPase), calcium channels and binding to the membrane. In cell membranes and in lymphocytes of essential hypertensives, our group showed increased calcium and decreased magnesium and an increased calcium/magnesium ratio in hypertensive cells. In this context, in aortic smooth muscle cells from 13 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Münster strain (systolic blood pressure 188.4+/-9.8 mmHg) and 13 normotensive rats (NT, systolic blood pressure 118.5+/-7.2 mmHg) aged 9 months, the intracellular calcium and magnesium contents were measured under nearly in vivo conditions by electron-probe microanalysis. Measurements were performed in aortic cryosections 3 microm thick. The calcium content was 124.7+/-4.5* mmol/kg dry weight in SHR versus 110.3+/-4.1 mmol/kg dry weight in NT (Means+/-SD, p < 0.01), the magnesium content was 35.5+/-3.9* in SHR versus 50.1+/-4.9 mmol/kg dry weight in NT /p < 0.01). The calcium/magnesium ratio was significantly increased in SHR versus NT (3.56+/-0.39* versus 2.23+/-0.27, p < 0.01). In hypertensive one month old animals the increase in the calcium/magnesium ratio was not as pronounced as in 9 month old animals. The calcium/magnesium ratio was measured 3.3+/-0.42 in SHR (n = 8) as compared to 2.51+/-0.39 in normotensive animals (n = 8, p < 0.01). Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR are characterized by markedly elevated intracellular calcium and decreased intracellular magnesium contents compared with normotensive cells. The increased calcium/magnesium ratio in hypertensive cells may be a pathogenetic factor for the development of arteriosclerosis and hypertension.     

氯沙坦逆转高血压大鼠心肌重塑的实验研究

目的探讨氯沙坦对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)心肌重塑的影响。方法16周龄雄性SHR20只,随机分为氯沙坦治疗组和SHR对照组。同龄雄性WKY鼠10只作为正常对照组。给予氯沙坦每天30mg/kg溶于饮水灌胃治疗17周。测定动脉收缩压、左心室壁的厚度、左心室重量与体重之比(LVW/BW)。透射电镜评估左心室肥厚(LVH)的程度。用真彩色图像分析系统计算左心室胶原容积分数。结果氯沙坦治疗组血压、LVW/BW、左室壁厚度与SHR对照组相比明显降低,但与WKY相比有所升高。透射电镜下氯沙坦治疗组心肌的超微结构与WKY相似,SHR的结构有异常改变。与SHR对照组相比,氯沙坦治疗组左心室胶原容积分数下降。结论氯沙坦能有效地降低SHR的血压、逆转高血压左室重塑。     

自发性高血压大鼠心肌组织microRNA-133a与TGF-β1蛋白表达的改变及意义

 目的：观察microRNA-133a（miR-133a）与转化生长因子-β1（transforming growth factor β1,TGF-β1）蛋白在自发性高血压大鼠（spontaneously hypertensive rats,SHR）心肌组织中的表达改变和关系。方法：取12只18周龄雄性自发性高血压大鼠为SHR组,12只18周龄雄性Wistar-Kyoto （WKY）大鼠为对照组,通过无创血压测量分析系统测大鼠尾动脉血压,Masson染色检测心肌胶原容积分数（collagen volume fraction,CVF）和血管周围胶原面积比率（perivascular collagen area ratio, PVCA）,实时荧光定量PCR检测miR-133a表达水平,免疫组化和Western blotting法检测心肌TGF-β1蛋白表达。结果：与对照组比较,SHR组的收缩压和舒张压明显升高（P<0.01）,心肌CVF和PVCA明显升高（P<0.01）,TGF-β1蛋白表达水平明显升高（P＜0.01）,miR-133a表达水平明显降低（P<0.01）,SHR组心肌miR-133a表达水平为对照组的（23.9±4.6）%;SHR组心肌组织miR-133a与TGF-β1蛋白表达水平呈负相关（r=-0.791, P<0.01）。结论：SHR心肌组织miR-133a表达下调,伴随TGF-β1蛋白表达升高和胶原合成增加。miR-133a与TGF-β1可能参与SHR大鼠的心肌纤维化。     

钙摄入量对SHR和WKY血压的影响

本文用高钙(2.81%或2.20%),中钙(0.5%)和低钙(0.12%)观察对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)和正常血压大鼠(WKY)血压的影响。结果表明:高钙摄入大鼠的24小时尿总钙和血清总钙均明显高于中钙和低钙摄入大鼠;高钙摄入显著降低SHR的血压(P<0.01),同时也明显减缓SHR体重的增长,尤其是雌性SHR体重影响更明显;而低钙摄入则明显升高SHR的血压(P<0.001)。提示高钙摄入的降血压作用可能是对机体的一种非生理性效应。     

SHR心肌细胞内钙离子浓度改变与左室肥厚和功能的关系

目的:探讨自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)心肌细胞内钙离子浓度的动态演变规律及其与左室肥厚和功能的相互关系。方法:应用Ca²⁺荧光指示剂Fura-2/AM分别测定了10周龄、22周龄、34周龄SHR心肌细胞内Ca²⁺浓度以及导管法测定了大鼠心功能,并以同龄京都-Wistar(WKY)大鼠作对照。结果:各周龄SHR收缩压(SBP)、心肌细胞内Ca²⁺浓度([Ca⁺]_i)、左室重量/体重(LVM/BW)均明显高于同龄正常血压WKY大鼠,22周龄SHR左室压力最大下降速率(-dp/dt_max)低于、左室松弛时间常数(τ)长于同龄WKY大鼠,34周龄SHR±dp／dt_max和左室收缩指数均显著低于同龄WKY大鼠,τ进一步延长;心肌细胞内[Ca⁺]_i与大鼠LVM/BW、SBP-dp／dt_max、τ呈显著正相关(r=0.47-0.83,P＜0.01),与dp／dt_max和收缩指数呈显著负相关(r=-0.46,P<0.05和-0.81,P<0.01)。结论:SHR心肌细胞内钙离子超负荷不仅介导了心肌肥厚的形成,还导致了心肌的收缩和舒张功能障碍。     

芝麻素改善自发性高血压大鼠肾损伤的作用及与PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路的关系

 目的: 观察芝麻素对自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rats,SHR)肾脏损伤的作用及与PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路之间的关系。方法: 雄性SHR随机分成模型组、芝麻素低剂量(80 mg/kg)、高剂量(160 mg/kg)组及卡托普利(30 mg/kg)组。同时选取同周龄WKY大鼠作为正常对照组。每日灌胃1次,模型组、正常对照组给予0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na),给药组给予CMC-Na溶解的上述剂量药物,给药前及给药后每隔2周测量1次血压。12周后,检测血尿素氮(BUN)、肌酐(SCr)及尿微量白蛋白(U-mAlb)含量;测定肾脏丙二醛(MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平;HE、Masson染色观察肾组织病理学变化;TUNEL法检测肾组织细胞凋亡率;Western blot法检测肾脏p-AKT、p-mTOR、4EBP1、S6K1、Bcl-2和Bax的蛋白水平。结果: 芝麻素能降低SHR舒张压,明显改善肾组织的病理学变化,降低肾脏BUN、SCr、U-mAlb、MDA含量及细胞凋亡率,提高SOD活性,显著减少p-AKT、p-mTOR、4EBP1、S6K1和Bax的蛋白水平,增加Bcl-2的蛋白表达。结论: 芝麻素减轻SHR大鼠肾脏损伤的作用机制可能与降低血压、对抗氧化应激、抑制细胞凋亡、阻滞过度活化的PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路有关。     

Renal and cardiovascular effects of atrial natriuretic peptide in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats during a chronic salt loading

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were maintained on tap water or 1.5% NaCl for 3 weeks. During the high sodium regime 24-h urinary sodium excretion increased 10-fold and the basal blood pressure increased in the SHR. After 3 weeks the rats received arterial (carotid artery), venous and bladder catheters (suprapubic). Saline was infused continuously and in conscious rats atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) was administered as bolus injections (8 and 16 nmol kg-1) and the blood pressure and heart rate and the urinary excretions of sodium, potassium (flame photometry), noradrenaline and dopamine (HPLC) were followed at 5-min intervals. The administration of ANP caused a short-lasting blood pressure reduction, tachycardia, diuresis and increased urinary excretions of sodium, potassium, noradrenaline and dopamine. The blood pressure responses to ANP did not differ between the rat strains, irrespective of the diet. The natriuresis and diuresis to ANP was reduced in animals on a high sodium diet, especially in the SHR. This may be interpreted as a down-regulation of target organ responsiveness to ANP during a high sodium diet and the inappropriately large decrease in the responsiveness that was observed in the SHR may be related to increase in blood pressure during the high sodium diet.     

螺内酯和缬沙坦对高血压大鼠肠系膜微动脉重塑的影响

目的:观察盐皮质激素受体拮抗剂螺内酯和血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)AT1受体拮抗剂缬沙坦对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)肠系膜微动脉形态、超微结构和Ⅰ型胶原mRNA表达的影响。方法:将18只雄性SHR随机分为三组,每组6只,其中两组分别用螺内酯20mg/kg/天、缬沙坦30mg/kg/天溶于饮水中灌胃,连续治疗13周,对照组不用药,正常饮水,并与WKY大鼠(6只)比较。鼠尾法测量大鼠动脉收缩压;应用计算机图像分析系统,计算大鼠肠系膜微动脉管壁与管腔横截面积比;用透射电镜观察大鼠肠系膜微动脉结构的变化;用RT-PCR方法检测肠系膜微动脉Ⅰ型胶原mRNA水平。结果:实验第13周末,SHR对照组血压明显高于WKY组(P<0.01);缬沙坦组和螺内酯组血压明显低于SHR对照组(P<0.01);缬沙坦组的血压与WKY组接近(P>0.05)。螺内酯组和缬沙坦组大鼠肠系膜微动脉的中膜厚度/管腔半径值及中膜面积/管腔面积值仍显著大于WKY组(P<0.05),但较SHR组明显降低(P<0.01)。透射电镜见SHR肠系膜动脉壁有大片纤维组织增生,螺内酯组和缬沙坦组肠系膜动脉壁内仅见少许纤维组织增生。螺内酯组和缬沙坦组Ⅰ型胶原mRNA水平明显低于SHR对照组(P<0.01)。结论:螺内酯和缬沙坦均能抑制SHR的Ⅰ型胶原合成,表明盐皮质激素受体和AngⅡ受体在高血压阻力血管的重塑中起着重要作用。     

The effects of varying sodium diets on haemodynamics and fluid balance in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were given either 'low' (LNa; 0.5 mmol Na 100 g-1 food), 'control' (CNa; 12 mmol) or 'very high' (vHNa; 120 mmol) sodium diets from 5 to 13-14 weeks of age, to explore how these 240-fold variations in Na intake affected body weight, cardiac, renal and adrenal weights, overall water-electrolyte equilibrium and haemodynamic balance during rest, mental stress and blood loss. Body growth was retarded both in vHNa and LNa SHR presumably reflecting disturbed appetite due to the greatly altered dietary Na contents. Compared with CNa SHR, both cardiac and renal weights 100 g-1 body wt were slightly increased in vHNa and decreased in LNa SHR, with opposite changes of adrenal weights. Total body water, haematocrit and plasma Na-K levels were largely equal in the three groups. Furthermore, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV) and central blood volume (CBV) did not differ significantly between groups; if anything, CO and SV were higher and CBV lower in vHNa and LNa SHR than in CNa SHR. However, while mean arterial pressure (MAP) was only marginally elevated in vHNa compared with CNa SHR, both MAP and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were lowered about 15% in LNa SHR with signs of increased sympathetic activity to the heart also during rest. Despite an apparently normal volume and cardiac output balance in LNa SHR, the latter changes suggest a disturbed neuro-hormonal cardiovascular control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

运动训练激活中枢ACE2-Ang(1-7)-MAS轴延缓高血压进展

目的:观察运动训练对高血压前期的血压进展、血压调节以及中枢血管紧张素转换酶2(ACE2)-血管紧张素(Ang)(1-7)-MAS轴的影响,探讨运动训练延缓高血压进展的中枢机制。方法:5周龄雄性自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)和正常血压WKY大鼠各20只,随机分成安静组和运动训练组,每组10只。运动组大鼠进行20周中低强度跑台运动。采用尾套法测定大鼠尾动脉收缩压,药物法检测动脉压力反射敏感性(BRS)。Real-time PCR和Western blot分别检测压力反射中枢ACE2和MAS的mRNA和蛋白表达。侧脑室注射MAS受体激动剂Ang(1-7)及拮抗剂A779,检测注药前后的BRS变化。结果:始于高血压前期的运动训练可推迟高血压发生、延缓高血压进展,明显降低SHR和WKY大鼠血压(P0.05),并改善SHR血压调节功能,提高其BRS(P0.01);此处,运动训练可上调SHR压力反射中枢(孤束核、延髓头端腹外侧区和室旁核中)ACE2和MAS的mRNA和蛋白表达(P0.05);中枢给予A779抵消了运动对SHR BRS的改善作用(P0.01),相反,注射Ang(1-7)则增强安静组和运动组SHR的BRS(P0.05)。结论:运动训练延缓高血压前期进展到高血压的进程及改善血压调节作用可能与运动增强中枢ACE2-Ang(1-7)-MAS轴功能有关。     

阿托伐他汀对自发性高血压大鼠细胞色素P450羟化酶基因表达的影响

目的： 评价阿托伐他汀对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）血压和细胞色素P450羟化酶(CYP)4A1的调节作用。方法： 18只SHR随机分为3组：SHR对照组、阿托伐他汀50 mg组(HATV组)和10 mg组(LATV组)；6只Wistar-Kyoto大鼠(WKY)作为正常对照组。给药共10周,分别于给药前和给药后每2周测量大鼠尾动脉收缩压(SBP)；RT-PCR、Western blotting法检测心、肝、肾及主动脉中CYP4A1 mRNA和蛋白质表达；并测定血脂含量。结果： 用药前SHR各组SBP均显著高于WKY组(P<0.01)；HATV组在给药后第6、8、10周和LATV组在给药后第10周SBP明显低于SHR对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。在CYP4A1 mRNA及其蛋白质表达中，SHR对照组4种组织均明显高于WKY组(P<0.01或P<0.05)；给药10周后，HATV组心、肾及主动脉和LATV组肾和主动脉的表达均明显低于SHR对照组(P<0.01或P<0.05)；同时，用药2组血脂水平亦明显低于SHR对照组(P<0.01或 P<0.05)。结论： 阿托伐他汀可下调CYP4A1基因的表达，这可能是其降低血压的作用机制之一。     

Genetically mediated resistance to naturally occurring aortic sclerosis in spontaneously hypertensive as against Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto breeder rats.

Male and female, normotensive, Sprague-Dawley (S-D), Wistar-Kyoto (WKy), and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were bred repeatedly until the females had given birth to and nursed 6 litters of pups. At the close of the 2nd, 4th and 6th breeding, breeder males and females, along with celibate males and females of equal age, were killed. S-D and WKy breeder rats manifested progressively increasing adiposity and high blood pressure with each successive breeding; breeder SHR showed mild exacerbation of their pre-existing high blood pressure. Adrenocortical hyperplasia and thymus-gland involution suggested increasing pituitary-adrenal activity in breeder rats. Circulating aldosterone levels decreased with repeated breeding in parallel with increased deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone secretion. The repeatedly bred normotensive rats manifested worsening aortic sclerosis as against little or no aortic sclerosis in the repeatedly bred SHR. Breeder SHR developed fibrinohyalin intimal lesions limited exclusively to the arterioles of the testis and ovary. Virgin rats did not develop any vascular disease. It is suggested that a diverse spectrum of adrenal steroids in breeder HSR combined with genetic direction control the morphogenesis of arterial disease in breeder SHR.     

葛根素对自发性高血压大鼠脑微循环的影响

目的:研究葛根素对于自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)脑微循环的影响及其与脑组织损伤的关系。方法:SHR随机分为葛根素治疗、溶剂对照(20%丙二醇)、阳性药物(尼莫地平)对照和空白对照等4组,连续观察14天,记录颈总动脉血压、软脑膜微循环和脑组织血流量变化,HE染色观察脑组织改变,Ⅷ因子染色测定微血管密度。结果:葛根素治疗14天后SHR血压降至正常范围内,软脑膜细动脉血管内径明显大于对照组,病理切片显示治疗组脑细动脉壁重塑,局部缺血明显减轻。结论:葛根素治疗可以扩张SHR脑细动脉、减轻高血压引起的微血管与脑组织损伤。     

Renal medullary effects of transient prehypertensive treatment in young spontaneously hypertensive rats

Aim: Transient angiotensin II receptor blockade (ARB) leads to prolonged blood pressure (BP) lowering, but the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Long‐term BP control is regulated by the medullary microcirculation with the pericyte as contractile cell. We hypothesize that the prolonged BP effect is caused by increased medullary blood flow (MBF) associated with structural alterations based on reduced medullary pericyte number. Methods: Four‐week‐old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated for 4 weeks with losartan (SHR‐Los: 20 mg kg^?1 day^?1), hydralazine (SHR‐Hyd: 15 mg kg^?1 day^?1), losartan and pan‐caspase inhibitor zVAD (SHR‐Los + 1 mg kg^?1 day^?1 zVAD), losartan and glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK) inhibitor valproate (SHR‐Los + 10 mg kg^?1 day^?1 Val) or placebo. BP, MBF and pericyte number were determined under and after treatment (8 and 12 weeks). Apoptotic pericytes were determined with α‐actin and TUNEL double staining. Sodium concentration was determined in renal medulla and urine. Results: Antihypertensive treatment equipotently reduced BP at 8 weeks of age. After drug withdrawal (12 weeks of age) BP reduction was restricted to SHR‐Los (SHR‐Los: 153 ± 5, SHR‐Hyd: 177 ± 2, SHR: 184 ± 3 mmHg). Simultaneously, MBF was increased and pericyte number reduced, while medullary and urinary sodium concentration increased. Transient ARB in combination with zVAD or valproate resulted in more medullary pericytes and higher BP (SHR‐Los/zVAD: 164 ± 7; SHR‐Los/Val: 168 ± 6 mmHg) compared with transient ARB alone. Conclusion: After drug withdrawal, transient ARB leads to increased MBF and is associated with a reduction in medullary pericytes. This may be associated with pericyte apoptosis as anti‐apoptosis during transient ARB increases pericyte number and BP.