Abstract P048: Western Diet Consumption Exacerbates Hypertension In Hyperandrogenemic Female Rat, A Model Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by hyperandrogenemia, increased blood pressure ( BP ) and metabolic dysfunction. Consumption of western diet ( WD ) aggravates the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS. Yet, the effect of WD consumption on BP in PCOS women is not clear. Therefore, this study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that WD consumption in hyperandrogenemic female ( HAF ) rats (a model that mimics most of PCOS symptoms) increases BP along with increasing renal expression of the vasoconstrictor ( VC ) components of the renin-angiotensin system ( RAS ). Methods: At 4 wks of age, female Sprague Dawley rats were implanted (s.c.) with either 5α-dihydrotestosterone pellets (7.5 mg/90 d; HAF rats) or placebo pellets (controls; CON) , that were replaced throughout life. At 4 wks of age, HAF and CON rats were also started on WD (high fat and high sucrose content) or control diet ( CD ), thus forming 4 groups; CON-CD, CON-WD, HAF-CD and HAF-WD. At 20 wks of age, rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters in the abdominal aorta to measure mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) [n=4-5/group]. Another set of rats (n=3-6/group) were euthanized and kidneys collected for measurement of components of the RAS by western blot. Results: are shown in Table 1 . Conclusion: WD consumption in HAF results in further increases in BP, despite upregulation of components of the intrarenal vasodilator RAS (ACE2 and AT2R), which is likely a protective mechanism. Future studies will determine the role(s) of other major VC pathways (e.g. endothelin system) in hypertension in WD-fed HAFs.