Abstract
The Ren2 rat expresses the mouse renin gene in extra‐renal tissues leading to elevated tissue Ang II. In the male Ren2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the development of pulmonary and systemic hypertension, as well as lung & cardiac remodeling. We hypothesized that a diminished hypertension in females is due to lower ROS in the heart and lung. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) & mean arterial pressure (MAP) of anesthetized 9 week old male & female Ren‐2 and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, as well as indices of right & left ventricle hypertrophy (RVH & LVH) and ROS were analyzed and compared. RVSP & MAP were elevated in Ren2 males, but not in Ren2 females, compared to SD rats. Ren2 males exhibited moderate LVH, while Ren2 females exhibit mild LV hypertrophy. Neither Ren2 gender exhibited RVH when compared to SD. ROS was increased in the lung and LV of Ren2 males compared to SD. Interestingly, only ROS in LV of Ren2 females was elevated compared to SD females and this elevation was similar to that seen in Ren2 males. Ren2 females at this age do not exhibit the profound systemic and pulmonary hypertension found in age match Ren2 males. However, the increase of ROS and the appearance of mild LV hypertrophy in females suggests that Ren2 females have a protective, as yet unidentified, mechanism against an overactive RAS, which, without would lead to profound systemic and pulmonary hypertension. Support provided by NIH.
Published Version
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