Vascular ACE and eNOS Expression in Syrian Cardiomyopathic Hamsters

Abstract

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) and endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure. We evaluated the time‐course expression of ACE and eNOS in aortic tissue from 1‐ to 4‐month‐old Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) to correlate these variables with vascular status. The expression of both genes in 2‐month‐old SCH after one month of treatment with the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC, 1g/kg/d) and the β‐blocker‐antioxidant carvedilol (1mg/kg/d) was also evaluated. Age‐matched golden hamsters were used as controls (CT). Total RNA was extracted and gene expression was quantified by Real‐Time RT‐PCR. Our results showed up‐regulation in ACE (1.5 fold) and eNOS (4‐fold) expression in 2‐month‐old SCH when compared to 1‐, 3‐ and 4‐month‐old SCH and to CT. In 2‐month‐old SCH, carvedilol down‐regulated eNOS and ACE gene expressions, whereas NAC down‐regulated eNOS expression without modifying ACE expression. These results suggest that the improvements in CV function observed previously in SCH after early administration of NAC or carvedilol may involve modifications in the expression of ACE and eNOS genes. Supported by NIH‐SCORE S06‐RR 08224.