Effect of valsartan on ultrastructure in the brain tissue and expression of Klotho gene in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

To observe the effect of valsartan on brian ultrastructure, Klotho gene and micro-inflammatory factor [intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-1)] expression in spontaneously hypertensive rat models. Ten male spontaneously hypertensive rats of 22 weeks age were selected and randomly divided into a hypertension group and a valsartan intervention group, while another 5 Wistar-kyoto rats were set as a normal contrast group. The brain ultrastructure of the 2 groups was observed by electron microscope. The expression of micro-inflammatory factor (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1)and Klotho gene was detected with RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot, respectively. The cerebral neuron damage of spontaneously hypertensive rats whose ultrastructure showed cell-pyknosis, chromatin margination and typical apoptotic body formation were alleviated after the intervention of valsartan. RT-PCR showed that the gene expression of Klotho increased while ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased after valsartan intervention. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot also showed that the protein expression of Klotho increased, while ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased after valsartan intervention. Valsartan can improve the brain ultrastructure of spontaneously hypertensive rats by increasing the expression of Klotho.