Renin-dependent Model Of Hypertension Research Articles

Connexin40 regulates renin production and blood pressure

Renin secretion is regulated by coordinated signaling between the various cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. The renin-secreting cells (RSC), which play a major role in the control of blood pressure, are coupled to each other and to endothelial cells by Connexin40 (Cx40)-containing channels. In this study, we show that Cx40 knockout (Cx40-/-) mice, but not their heterozygous littermates, are hypertensive due to the increase in the number of RSC, renin biosynthesis, and plasma renin. Treatment with the angiotensin II receptor AT1 antagonist candesartan or the angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril reduced the blood pressure of the Cx40-/- mice to the same levels seen in wild-type (WT) mice. The elevated blood pressure of the knockout mice was not affected by clipping one renal artery (2K1C, renin-dependent model of hypertension) or after a high salt diet. Under these conditions, however, Cx40-/- mice showed an altered production and release of renin. The renin mRNA ratio between the clipped and the non-clipped kidney was lower in the knockout than in the WT 2K1C mice. This indicates that the response to a change in blood pressure was altered. The RSC of the Cx40-/- mice did not have a compensatory increase in the levels of either Cx43 or Cx37. Our data show that renin secretion is dependent on Cx40 and suggest the Cx40-/- mice may be a genetic model of renin-dependent hypertension.

Hypertension essentielle humaine et hypertension génétique chez le rat : la place du modèle lyonnais

Human essential hypertension is due to interacting genetic and environmental factors. Spontaneously hypertensive rats have been genetically selected as models in this setting. The genetically hypertensive rat model that we have selected is the only one to associate mild hypertension with a "metabolic syndrome" (increased body weight, proteinuria and hyperlipidemia and elevated insulin/glucose ratio). This is a renin-dependent model of hypertension, in which low-dose (non antihypertensive) angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor therapy affords significant and durable nephroprotection.

Connexins 40 and 43 are differentially regulated within the kidneys of rats with renovascular hypertension

Connexin 40 (Cx40) is a gap junction protein expressed in endothelial cells of vessels, endocardium, and conducting cells of the His-Purkinje system of heart. Its distribution in the kidney remains to be fully investigated. To address this distribution, we generated rabbit antibodies directed to a polypeptide comprising amino acids 231 to 330 of the carboxy-terminal domain of rodent Cx40, which specifically recognizes this protein at gap junctions. Immunolabeling and in situ hybridization of kidney sections showed that Cx40 and its transcript were coexpressed by most endothelial cells of vessels and glomeruli, as well as by renin-secreting cells. This distribution contrasted with that of Cx43, which was expressed in some tubules of medulla and sparse endothelial cells. Cx40 and Cx43 expression were investigated further in a renin-dependent model of hypertension, in which rats showed an increase in arterial mean blood pressure four weeks after clipping one renal artery [two kidney, one-clip (2K1C) model]. Northern blot analysis of polyA+ RNA demonstrated that, compared with sham-operated animals, the hypertensive 2K1C animals featured an increase in Cx40 mRNA expression in both left (clipped) and right (unclipped) kidneys. In contrast, Cx43 mRNA expression was only increased in the latter organ. Antibodies confirmed that the levels of Cx40 were actually increased in the kidneys of hypertensive animals (Western blots) and this was caused, at least in part, by enhanced expression of this protein in the renin-secreting cells of the afferent arteriole (immunofluorescence). Cell-to-cell communication mediated by Cx40 may be implicated in the function of renin-secreting cells, hence participating in the control of blood pressure.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Mediates Angiotensin Ii-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Renovascular Hypertension

29 In renovascular hypertension, angiotensin II leads to an elevation of blood pressure and to cardiac hypertrophy. The fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) has been implicated in cardiomyocyte growth. Therefore, we investigated whether FGF-2 could control the development of angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Mice deficient for the expression of FGF-2 were created, and the role of FGF-2 was investigated in the two kidney-one clip (2K1C) model of renin-dependent hypertension. The activation of the MAPK pathways were shown to be crucial in the intracellular signaling leading to cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we followed also the cardiac activation of JNK, ERK and the p38 kinase in these animals. Both wild-type and FGF-2 deficient (FGF-2 -/-) mice showed similar elevation of blood pressure in the 2K1C model. Interestingly, 2K1C FGF-2 -/- mice developed markedly reduced hypertrophy as compared to wild-types. Moreover, in 2K1C wild-types, cardiac hypertrophy developed in association with a concomitant stimulation of JNK, ERK and p38. In contrast, JNK activation was strongly decreased in hypertensive mice deficient for FGF-2, while p38 and ERK were less affected. These data suggest that FGF-2 is important in mediating angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy in renovascular hypertension via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms.

Comparison Between Chronic Converting Enzyme Inhibition and AT1 Blockade in mRen2 Transgenic Rats

We compared the consequences of chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition with quinapril and of specific AT1 blockade with losartan in a renin-dependent model of hypertension, the (mRen2)27 transgenic rats (TG). Animals were orally treated with 10 mg/kg/24 h of either quinapril (TGQ, n = 13) or losartan (TGL, n = 12) from age 4 to age 9 weeks. Indirect systolic blood pressure (SBP), and sodium and water balances were measured for 3 consecutive weeks. Nine-week-old rats were instrumented to record aortic BP in the conscious state. In addition, they received an infusion of glucose and saline to increase their diuresis and thus allow accurate assessment of their renal excretion during short time periods. These rats were studied for three one-h periods: (a) baseline, (b) after the administration of a bradykinin (BK) antagonist, and (c) after a cross-treatment; i.e., TGQ rats receiving losartan (10 mg/kg intravenously, i.v.) and TGL rats receiving quinapril (10 mg/kg i.v.). TGL rats differed from TGQ rats by an unconsistently lower indirect SBP associated with significantly lower urinary volume and sodium excretion, whereas the sodium balance did not differ between the two groups. In conditions of fixed sodium intake the aortic BP of TGQ rats was still nonsignificantly different from that of TGL rats, and TGQ rats also exhibited two-fold higher natriuresis. The BK antagonist had no effect in either group, whereas losartan decreased the BP of TGQ rats. We conclude that in TG rats ACE inhibition is associated with an increased natriuresis as compared with specific AT1 blockade, an effect that is independent of the sodium intake. Because a BK antagonist had no effect, such a difference might be due to an antinatriuretic effect of AT2 receptors in chronic conditions.

In vivo pharmacology of an angiotensin AT 1 receptor antagonist with balanced affinity for angiotensin AT 2 receptors

L-163,017 (6-[benzoylamino]-7-methyl-2-propyl-3-[(2′-( N-(3-methyl-1-butoxy)carbonylaminosulfonyl)[1,1′]-biphenyl-4-yl]-methyl]-3 H-imidazo-[4,5- b] is a potent, orally active, nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Conscious rats and dogs were dosed p.o. and i.v.; in both species the plasma bioequivalents are similar at the angiotensin AT 1 and AT 2 receptor sites indicating balanced activity is maintained in vivo. L-163,017 prevents the pressor response to intravenous (i.v.) angiotensin II in the conscious rat, dog, and rhesus monkey. L-163,017 also significantly reduces blood pressure in a renin-dependent model of hypertension, similar to an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (Enalapril) and an angiotensin AT 1 receptor-selective antagonist (L-159,282). These studies indicate that neither the angiotensin AT 2 receptor nor bradykinin is important in the acute antihypertensive activity of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

BW A575C: Pharmacological Profile in vivo of a Novel Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and β-Blocker

The novel compound BW A575C, N-(1-(S)-carboxy-5-[4-(3-isopropylamino-2-(R,S)-hydroxypropoxy)-indole-2 - carboxamido]pentyl)-(R,S)-alanyl-(S)-proline, is a potent angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and beta-blocker in vitro. It was therefore of considerable interest to establish whether this novel pharmacological profile was maintained in vivo. In conscious instrumented normotensive rats and dogs, intravenous and oral administration of BW A575C causes a dose-dependent rightward displacement of the pressor dose-response curve to angiotensin I (dose ratio of 29.5 and 16.1 in rats and dogs, respectively, at 1.0 mg/kg i.v.) and the tachycardia dose-response curve to isoprenaline (dose ratio of 3.1 and 8.0 in rats and dogs, respectively, at 1.0 mg/kg i.v.). In these experiments BW A575C is approximately 2-10 times more active as an ACE inhibitor than as a beta-blocker. In conscious instrumented acute renovascular hypertensive dogs, where plasma renin activity is elevated 10-fold, BW A575C (1.0 mg/kg i.v.) causes a reduction in blood pressure of 35% within 10 min of injection, which is sustained for up to 4 h. This reduction in blood pressure is accompanied by a consistent, but nonsignificant, reduction in heart rate. These results confirm the novel pharmacological profile of BW A575C in vivo and demonstrate that this compound is an effective antihypertensive agent in a renin-dependent model of hypertension.

BW A575C

Summary The novel compound BW A575C, N-(1-(S)-carboxy-5-[4-(3-isopropylamino-2-(R,S)-hydroxypropoxy)-indole-2-carboxamido]pentyl)-(R,S)-alanyl-(S)-proline, is a potent angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and β-blocker in vitro. It was therefore of considerable interest to establish whether this novel pharmacological profile was maintained in vivo. In conscious instrumented normotensive rats and dogs, intravenous and oral administration of BW A575C causes a dose-dependent rightward displacement of the pressor dose-response curve to angiotensin I (dose ratio of 29.5 and 16.1 in rats and dogs, respectively, at 1.0 mg/kg i.v.) and the tachycardia dose-response curve to isoprenaline (dose ratio of 3.1 and 8.0 in rats and dogs, respectively, at 1.0 mg/kg i.v.). In these experiments BW A575C is approximately 2–10 times more active as an ACE inhibitor than as a β-blocker. In conscious instrumented acute renovascular hypertensive dogs, where plasma renin activity is elevated 10-fold, BW A575C (1.0 mg/kg i.v.) causes a reduction in blood pressure of 35% within 10 min of injection, which is sustained for up to 4 h. This reduction in blood pressure is accompanied by a consistent, but nonsignificant, reduction in heart rate. These results confirm the novel pharmacological profile of BW A575C in vivo and demonstrate that this compound is an effective antihypertensive agent in a renin-dependent model of hypertension.

Indomethacin decreases arterial blood pressure and plasma renin activity in rats with aortic ligation.

Severe renovascular hypertension was produced in rats by complete aortic ligation between the origin of the renal arteries. Six days after coarctation, a carotid cannula was implanted and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined. Subsequently, indomethacin (5 mg/kg in oil) or vehicle was administered subcutaneously three times in the following 24-hour period. On day 7, MABP and PRA were again determined. Indomethacin reduced MABP from 179.0 +/- 6.7 to 156.5 +/- 8.8 mm Hg (P less than 0.002, n = 11) and PRA from 21.2 +/- 7.3 to 9.3 +/- 2.9 ng AI/ml per hr (P less than 0.045, n = 10), whereas vehicle treatment did not alter either MABP or PRA (n = 6). There was a significant association between the decrease in MABP and the percentage decrease in PRA following indomethacin treatment (r = 0.766, P less than 0.016). A similar study was performed in aortic ligated rats in which the left kidney was removed at the time of ligation. In these animals, 6 days after surgery, MABP and PRA were 128.0 +/- 5.9 mm Hg and 0.11 +/- 0.06 ng AI/ml per hr (n = 6), respectively, and indomethacin had no effect on either MABP or PRA. These data provide evidence that the prostaglandin system is involved in the release of renin and in the pathogenesis of elevated blood pressure in this model of renin-dependent hypertension.