Arteries Of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Research Articles

Asprosin promotes vascular inflammation via TLR4-NFκB-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in hypertension

Objectiveand design Mild vascular inflammation promotes the pathogenesis of hypertension. Asprosin, a newly discovered adipokine, is closely associated with metabolic diseases. We hypothesized that asprosin might led to vascular inflammation in hypertension via NLRP3 inflammasome formation. This study shows the importance of asprosin in the vascular inflammation of hypertension. MethodsPrimary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were obtained from the aorta of animals, including spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKY), NLRP3−/− and wild-type mice. Studies were performed in VSMCs in vitro, as well as WKY and SHR in vivo. ResultsAsprosin expressions were up-regulated in VSMCs and media of arteries in SHR. Asprosin overexpression promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), accompanied with activation of NFκB signaling pathway in VSMCs. Exogenous asprosin protein showed similar roles in promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Knockdown of asprosin restrained NLRP3 inflammasome and p65-NFκB activation in VSMCs of SHR. NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 or NFκB inhibitor BAY11-7082 attenuated asprosin-caused VSMC proliferation and migration. Asprosin-induced interleukin-1β production, proliferation and migration were attenuated in NLRP3−/− VSMCs. Local asprosin knockdown in common carotid artery of SHR attenuated inflammation and vascular remodeling. ConclusionsAsprosin promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation in VSMCs by TLR4-NFκB pathway, and thereby stimulates VSMCs proliferation, migration, and vascular remodeling of SHR.

Asprosin contributes to vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats via superoxide signaling.

Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to vascular remodeling. Asprosin, a newly discovered protein hormone, is involved in metabolic diseases. Little is known about the roles of asprosin in cardiovascular diseases. This study focused on the role and mechanism of asprosin on VSMC proliferation and migration, and vascular remodeling in a rat model of hypertension. VSMCs were obtained from the aortic media of 8-week-old male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Asprosin was upregulated in the VSMCs of SHR. For in vitro studies, asprosin promoted VSMC proliferation and migration of WKY and SHR, and increased Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) activity, NOX1/2/4 protein expressions and superoxide production. Knockdown of asprosin inhibited the proliferation, migration, NOX activity, NOX1/2 expressions and superoxide production in the VSMCs of SHR. The roles of asprosin in promoting VSMC proliferation and migration were not affected by hydrogen peroxide scavenger, but attenuated by superoxide scavenger, selective NOX1 or NOX2 inhibitor. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was upregulated in SHR, TLR4 knockdown inhibited asprosin overexpression-induced proliferation, migration and oxidative stress in VSMCs of WKY and SHR. Asprosin was upregulated in arteries of SHR, and knockdown of asprosin in vivo not only attenuated oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in aorta and mesentery artery, but also caused a subsequent persistent antihypertensive effect in SHR. Asprosin promotes VSMC proliferation and migration via NOX-mediated superoxide production. Inhibition of endogenous asprosin expression attenuates VSMC proliferation and migration, and vascular remodeling of SHR.

Follistatin-like 1 protects endothelial function in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress through AMPK-dependent mechanism

ABSTRACT Objective Endothelial dysfunction is a critical initiating factor in the development of hypertension and related complications. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) can promote endothelial cell function and stimulates revascularization in response to ischemic insult. However, it is unclear whether FSTL1 has an effect on ameliorating endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and SHRs were treated with a tail vein injection of vehicle (1 mL/day) or recombinant FSTL1 (100 μg/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff plethysmograph, and vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries was measured using wire myography. Results We found that treatment with FSTL1 reversed impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in mesenteric arteries and lowered blood pressure of SHRs. Decreased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production in mesenteric arteries of SHRs were also reversed by FSTL1 treatment. Ex vivo treatment with FSTL1 improved the impaired EDR in mesenteric arteries from SHRs and reversed tunicamycin (ER stress inducer)-induced ER stress and the impairment of EDR in mesenteric arteries from WKY rats. The effects of FSTL1 were abolished by cotreatment of compound C (AMPK inhibitor). Conclusions These results suggest that FSTL1 prevents endothelial dysfunction in mesenteric arteries of SHRs through inhibiting ER stress and ROS and increasing NO production via activation of AMPK signaling.

Impaired vascular β-adrenergic relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive rats: The differences between conduit and resistance arteries

It was suggested that impaired β-adrenergic relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) might contribute to their high blood pressure (BP). Our study was focused on isoprenaline-induced dilatation of conduit femoral or resistance mesenteric arteries and on isoprenaline-induced BP reduction in SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). We confirmed decreased β-adrenergic relaxation of SHR femoral arteries due to the absence of its endothelium-independent component, whereas endothelium-dependent component of β-adrenergic smooth muscle relaxation was similar in both strains. Conversely, isoprenaline-induced relaxation of resistance mesenteric arteries was similar in both strains and this was true for endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent components. We observed moderately reduced sensitivity of SHR mesenteric arteries to salmeterol (β2-adrenergic agonist) and this strain difference disappeared after endothelium removal. However, there was no difference in mesenteric arteries relaxation by dobutamine (β1-adrenergic agonist) which was independent of endothelium. The increasing isoprenaline doses elicited similar BP decrease in both rat strains, although BP sensitivity to isoprenaline was slightly decreased in SHR. The blockade of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) and NO synthase (L-NAME) further reduced BP sensitivity to isoprenaline in SHR. On the other hand, salmeterol elicited similar BP decrease in both strains and the blockade of cyclooxygenase and NO synthase increased BP sensitivity to salmeterol in SHR as compared to WKY. In conclusion, attenuated β-adrenergic vasodilatation of conduit arteries of SHR but similar β-adrenergic relaxation of resistance mesenteric arteries from WKY and SHR and their similar BP response to β-adrenergic agonists do not support major role of altered β-adrenergic vasodilatation for high BP in genetic hypertension.

Abstract P104: EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF FOLLISTATIN ON CONTRACTION OF VESSELS FROM NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The lab has previously shown that follistatin (FST), a glycoprotein inhibitor of activins, reduced blood pressure in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) model of Essential Hypertension. Short-term exposure (30 minutes) to FST also reduced vessel contraction induced by potassium (KCl). This study aims to illustrate the mechanisms through which FST inhibits potassium-induced contraction in SHR and normotensive (WKY) rats. Function of SHR or WKY resistance mesenteric arteries was tested in response to KCl and ion channel modulators using wire myography. Cultures of primary smooth muscle cells (SMC) were also established from these vessels using cell explant technique. The calcium sensor dye Fluo-4 AM was used to examine calcium influx on a cellular level. To test whether FST effects were due to activin neutralization or activin-receptor inhibition, neutralizing antibodies against activin A and B or an activin receptor inhibitor (SB 431542) were used, respectively. Only activin A neutralization in the SHR reduced KCl-induced contraction similarly to FST. Activin receptor inhibition also reduced KCl constriction similarly to FST. When directly stimulated with Activin A, both WKY and SHR vessels displayed augmented KCl contraction compared to controls but the effect was more pronounced in the SHR. Preliminary Fluo-4 results showed that FST decreased KCl-induced calcium influx in SMC. Since activin A was shown to increase L-type voltage-gated Ca2+channel activity, an agonist (FPL 64176) of this channel was used to induce contraction. Although FST reduced KCl-induced contraction, it did not affect FPL-induced contraction in either SHR or WKY. Thus, Activin A neutralization reproduces FST reduction of KCl-induced vessel contraction. FST did not reduce FPL-induced contraction, suggesting that its inhibition of KCl-induced contraction is not through effects on this channel but rather an alternate Ca2+ or K-ATP channel.

Exercise During Pregnancy Improves PDE-BKCa Coupling In Cerebral Arteries In Offspring Of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

In numerous cardiovascular diseases, Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) mediate ion channel pathological compensation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Our previous studies showed that exercise during pregnancy improves ion channel function in VSMCs of offspring in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The hypothesis that the pathological compensation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels mediated by PDE in cerebral arteries of SHR is tested here. It is further demonstrated that exercise during pregnancy enhances the functional coupling of PDE to BKCa channels to improve cerebral arterial function in the offspring of SHR. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of exercise during pregnancy on BKCa channel and the role of PDE in regulating BKCa function of cerebral arteries in the offspring of SHR. Methods: Pregnant SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were separated into a sedentary group (p-WKY-SED, p-SHR-SED) and an exercise group (p-WKY-EX, p-SHR-EX) at random. Exercise group were subjected to swimming (60 min/day, 6 day/week, gestation day 1-19), and the BKCa channel function of the cerebral arteries from the 3-month-old (3 M) offspring were evaluated. Results: Exercise during pregnancy significantly decreased the resting mean arterial blood pressure at 3 M in the offspring of SHR (SHR-EX, 153.2 ± 7.5 vs. SHR-SED, 164.6 ± 3.6 mmHg, p < 0.05). The BKCa current density in p-SHR-SED offspring (49.8 ± 7.3 pA/pF) was markedly higher than that in p-WKY-SED (36.8 ± 6.1 pA/pF, p < 0.05). Exercise during pregnancy significantly decreased BKCa channel currents in p-SHR-EX (33.4 ± 11.2 pA/pF, p < 0.05 vs. p-SHR-SED). After application of PDE inhibitor (cilostamide and Ro-20-1724), the percentage of current enhancement was higher in p-WKY-SED (44.3 ± 15.1%) than in p-SHR-SED (13.5 ± 12.1%, p < 0.05), whereas exercise during pregnancy significantly increased it in p-SHR-EX (45.2 ± 3.1%, p < 0.05 vs. p-SHR-SED). Conclusions: These data suggest that the loss of PDE-BKCa coupling mediates pathological compensation of BKCa channels in the cerebral arteries of SHR offspring. Exercise during pregnancy enhances the coupling, and delays the development of hypertension. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 32071174.

Neutrophil extracellular traps accelerate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via Akt/CDKN1b/TK1 accompanying with the occurrence of hypertension.

Objective:Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can trigger pathological changes in vascular cells or vessel wall components, which are vascular pathological changes of hypertension. Therefore, we hypothesized that NETs would be associated with the occurrence of hypertension.Methods:To evaluate the relationship between NETs and hypertension, we evaluated both the NETs formation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and the blood pressure of mice injected phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) via the tail vein to induce NETs formation in arterial wall. Meanwhile, proliferation and cell cycle of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which were co-cultured with NETs were assessed. In addition, the role of exosomes from VSMCs co-cultured with NETs on proliferation signaling delivery was assessed.Results:Formation of NETs increased in the arteries of SHR. PMA resulted in up-regulation expression of citrullinated Histone H3 (cit Histone H3, a NETs marker) in the arteries of mice accompanied with increasing of blood pressure. NET treatment significantly increased VSMCs count and accelerated G1/S transition in vitro. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1b (CDKN1b) was down-regulated and Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) was up-regulated in VSMCs. Exosomes from VSMCs co-cultured with NETs significantly accelerated the proliferation of VSMCs. TK1 was up-regulated in the exosomes from VSMCs co-cultured with NETs and in both the arterial wall and serum of mice with PMA.Conclusion:NETs promote VSMCs proliferation via Akt/CDKN1b/TK1 and is related to hypertension development. Exosomes from VSMCs co-cultured with NETs participate in transferring the proliferation signal. These results support the role of NETs in the development of hypertension.

Impact of Selective Renal Afferent Denervation on Oxidative Stress and Vascular Remodeling in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Oxidative stress and sustained sympathetic over-activity contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. Catheter-based renal denervation has been used as a strategy for treatment of resistant hypertension, which interrupts both afferent and efferent renal fibers. However, it is unknown whether selective renal afferent denervation (RAD) may play beneficial roles in attenuating oxidative stress and sympathetic activity in hypertension. This study investigated the impact of selective RAD on hypertension and vascular remodeling. Nine-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were subjected to selective renal afferent denervation (RAD) with 33 mM of capsaicin for 15 min. Treatment with the vehicle of capsaicin was used as a control. The selective denervation was confirmed by the reduced calcitonin gene-related peptide expression and the undamaged renal sympathetic nerve activity response to the stimulation of adipose white tissue. Selective RAD reduced plasma norepinephrine levels, improved heart rate variability (HRV) and attenuated hypertension in SHR.It reduced NADPH oxidase (NOX) expression and activity, and superoxide production in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), aorta and mesenteric artery of SHR. Moreover, the selective RAD attenuated the vascular remodeling of the aorta and mesenteric artery of SHR. These results indicate that selective removal of renal afferents attenuates sympathetic activity, oxidative stress, vascular remodeling and hypertension in SHR. The attenuated superoxide signaling in the PVN is involved in the attenuation of sympathetic activity in SHR, and the reduced sympathetic activity at least partially contributes to the attenuation of vascular oxidative stress and remodeling in the arteries of hypertensive rats.

Loss of SR‐PM Contact Sites May Contribute to The Development of Hypertension in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)‐plasma membrane (PM) contact sites in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells bring the SR Ca2+ release channels into proximity of plasma membrane large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (BKca) channels and regulate intracellular Ca2+ through BKca‐mediated membrane hyperpolarization. Loss of BKca channel activity leads to increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, vascular hypercontractility, and activation of hypertrophic genes. We hypothesized that the loss of close contact between the SR and the PM contributes to the development of vascular hypercontractility and hypertrophy in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR). To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared BKca channel activity in response to the activation of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), an SR Ca2+ channel between SHR and normotensive Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. We found that in endothelium‐denuded pressurized mesenteric arteries, paxilline (1μM), a selective BKca channel blocker, significantly increased norepinephrine (NE, 0.5μM)‐induced vasoconstriction in SD arteries (n=5) by ~15% (% initial diameter from 78.58±3.93 to 66.77±3.07). However, paxilline failed to increase NE‐induced vasoconstriction in SHR arteries (Figure 1). Paxilline treatment significantly augmented the hypertrophic effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) in SD, where the total cell area of paxilline treated ANG II group was ~11% (from 3471.48±121.35 to 3854.86±129.99μm2) greater compared to the non‐paxilline‐treated ANG II group. In contrast, the paxilline‐induced increase in hypertrophic response was absent in SHR. Similarly, in WST‐1 cell proliferation assay, paxilline treatment significantly increased ANG II‐induced proliferation in SD by ~15% (Absorbance(A440nm‐A630nm) from 0.15±0.01 to 0.17±0.01) while having no effect on cell proliferation in SHR. Next, we compared the effect of 5‐HT on BKca channel activity between SHR and SD rat mesenteric VSM cells using patch‐clamp whole‐cell mode. 5‐HT activates IP3Rs by stimulating the production of IP3 in VSM cells. At +60mV, 5‐HT (0.3μM) significantly increased BKca current density at +60mV in SD VSM cells from 50.78±2.19 to 69.40±5.50 pA/pF (n=6 cells, P&lt;0.05) but the increase in current density was non‐significant in SHR (from 36.77±3.11 to 47.45±8.83 pA/pF, n=6 cells, Figure 2). We also examined the Ca2+‐ and voltage‐sensitivity of BKca channels using inside‐out patch‐clamp. BKca channels in VSM cells isolated from mesenteric arteries of SHR and SD rats displayed identical Ca2+‐ and voltage‐sensitivity. In conclusion, our data suggest a lack of BKca activation in response to IP3R activation in VSM cells ofSHR, which may be due to the loss of close contact between the SR and the PM.

Activation of APJ Receptors by CMF‐019, but not Apelin, Causes Endothelium‐Dependent Relaxation of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Coronary Arteries

Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, but the pathophysiological mechanisms linking these diseases are not completely understood. Apelin is a novel vasoactive adipokine. Receptors for apelin (APJ receptors) are G‐protein‐coupled receptors and are widely expressed throughout the cardiovascular system. APJ receptors can also signal via G‐protein‐independent pathways, including G‐protein‐coupled‐receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), which inhibits nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells. Apelin causes endothelium‐dependent, NO‐mediated relaxation of coronary arteries from normotensive animals, but the effects of activating APJ receptor signaling pathways in hypertensive coronary arteries are unknown. Since endothelium‐dependent relaxations are often blunted in arteries from hypertensive animals, we tested the hypothesis that apelin‐induced relaxation is impaired in coronary arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Moreover, we hypothesized that endothelium‐dependent relaxations in response to CMF‐019, an APJ receptor G‐protein biased agonist with little effect on GRK2, would be unaffected in SHR coronary arteries. Western blot and RT‐qPCR analysis demonstrated that APJ receptor protein and mRNA expression did not differ between normotensive WKY (Wistar‐Kyoto) and SHR coronary arteries. eNOS protein expression was also similar between SHR and WKY coronary arteries, but GRK2 expression was significantly increased in SHR coronary endothelial cells, as compared to WKY. In myograph studies, apelin (10‐9‐10‐6 M) caused endothelium‐dependent relaxation of isolated WKY coronary arterial rings (pD2= 7.00 ± 0.11; Emax= 54 ± 4% relaxation; n=6), but had no effect in arteries from SHR. By contrast, CMF‐019 (10‐9‐10‐6 M)‐induced relaxation did not differ between normotensive and hypertensive coronary arteries. The relaxation response to CMF‐019 was abolished by the APJ receptor antagonist, F13A (10‐7 M), by removal of the endothelium, and by inhibition of eNOS with nitro‐ L‐arginine (3 x 10‐5 M). Moreover, the GRK2 inhibitor, CMPD 101 (3 x 10‐5 M), partially restored the relaxation response to apelin in SHR coronary arteries (pD2= 6.56 ± 0.22; Emax= 46 ± 6% relaxation; n=6). Immunoblot analysis of SHR coronary endothelial cells demonstrated that CMF‐019 (10‐7 M) significantly increased eNOS phosphorylation whereas apelin (10‐7 M) had no effect. We conclude that apelin failed to cause relaxation in hypertensive coronary arteries, likely due to impaired eNOS activity resulting from APJ receptor signaling via the GRK2 pathway and decreased eNOS phosphorylation. APJ receptor activation by the biased agonist, CMF‐019, caused similar endothelium‐dependent relaxations in WKY and SHR coronary arteries. Thus, APJ receptor‐biased agonists, such as CMF‐019, may be more effective than apelin in causing vasodilation of hypertensive coronary arteries.

Artemisinin Improves Acetylcholine-Induced Vasodilatation in Rats with Primary Hypertension.

PurposeEndothelial dysfunction and the subsequent decrease in endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation of small arteries are major features of hypertension. Artemisinin, a well-known antimalarial drug, has been shown to exert protecting roles against endothelial cell injury in cardiac and pulmonary vascular diseases. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of artemisinin on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation and arterial blood pressure, as well as the potential signalling pathways in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).MethodsIn this study, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced dose-dependent relaxation assays were performed to evaluate vascular endothelial function after treatment with artemisinin. Artemisinin was administered to the rats by intravenous injection or to arteries by incubation for the acute exposure experiments, and it was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection for 28 days for the chronic experiments.ResultsBoth acute and chronic administration of artemisinin decreased the heart rate and improved ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation but negligibly affected the arterial blood pressure in SHRs. Incubation with artemisinin decreased basal vascular tension, NAD(P)H oxidase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, but it also increased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) activity and NO levels in the mesenteric artery, coronary artery, and pulmonary artery of SHRs. Artemisinin chronic administration to SHRs increased the protein expression of eNOS and decreased the protein expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase subunits NOX-2 and NOX-4 in the mesenteric artery.ConclusionThese results indicate that treatment with artemisinin has beneficial effects on reducing the heart rate and basal vascular tension and improving endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in hypertension, which might occur by increasing eNOS activation and NO release and inhibiting NAD(P)H oxidase derived ROS production.

Reduced Relaxant Response to Adenine in the Superior Mesenteric Artery of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

We investigated the vascular response to nucleobase adenine using freshly isolated superior mesenteric arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and its control, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxations were assessed in isolated segments in an organ bath. The releases of the metabolites of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin I2 were also detected. Adenine induced vasorelaxation in both the endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded arteries in a concentration-dependent manner. In the SHR group, the adenine-induced relaxation was slightly but significantly reduced in the endothelium-intact rings when compared with that in the WKY group. However, the relaxation in the endothelium-denuded rings were similar between the two groups. The difference in the adenine-mediated relaxation in the superior mesenteric arteries between the SHR and WKY groups was eliminated by endothelial denudation and a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor. In the absence and presence of adenine, SHR tended to have higher levels of metabolites of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin I2 compared with WKY. However, adenine did not induce the release of these substances in the arteries in both the SHR and WKY groups. These results suggest that the reduced adenine-mediated relaxation in the superior mesenteric arteries in SHR is due to a lack of contribution from the endothelium-derived NO and not from the release of prostanoids.

Abstract 37: Loss Of BK Ca - IP3R Functional Coupling Underlies Vascular Hypercontractility In Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The cellular mechanisms underlying enhanced vascular contractility in hypertension are still not fully clear. Recent studies have demonstrated that functional coupling between the large-conductance Ca 2+ -activated K + (BK Ca ) channel in the cell membrane and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) in the endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the regulation of intracellular Ca 2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and vascular contractility. Here, we examined the role of BK Ca -IP3R coupling in vascular hypercontractility in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR), as compared with Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. In pressurized mesenteric arteries, paxilline (1μM), a selective BK Ca channel blocker, significantly increased norepinephrine (1μM)-induced vasoconstriction in both SHR (% initial diameter: 71.6±6.8% [95.9±13 of 132.8±6.2 μm] and 65.0±4.8% [80.6±7.7 of 123.6±3.9 μm] in arteries treated with vehicle and paxilline respectively, n=4, P&lt;0.05) and in SD rats (% initial diameter: 84.2±7.9% [108.4±12.3 of 128.5±2.5 μm] and 60.5±0.2% [77.4±0.7 of 127.9±0.6 μm] in arteries treated with vehicle and paxilline respectively, n=3, P&lt;0.05). Paxilline-induced increases in vasoconstriction were significantly greater in arteries of SD as compared with SHR rats, suggesting that BK Ca channels are involved in hypercontractility in SHR. In inside-out patch-clamp, BK Ca channels in VSMCs isolated from mesenteric arteries of SHR and SD rats displayed identical calcium and voltage sensitivity. We next examined the effect of the selective IP3R-agonist, Adenophostin A, on BK Ca current density in VSMCs, using patch-clamp whole-cell mode. The results demonstrated that Adenophostin A (5μM) significantly increased BK Ca current density in VSMCs from both SHR (from 41.9± 5.7 to 61.5±9.1 pA/pF; n=6 cells, p&lt;0.05) and SD rats (from 29.9 ± 8.0 to 92.6 ± 9.1 pA/pF, n=5 cells, P&lt;0.01). There was no significant difference in basal BKca current density between SHR and SD rats; however, the Adenophostin-induced elevation in BK Ca current density was significantly diminished in VSMCs of SHR as compared with SD rats. In conclusion, the results indicate that loss of functional coupling between BKca and IP3R is involved in vascular hypercontractility in SHR arteries.

Extracellular Uridine Nucleotides-Induced Contractions Were Increased in Femoral Arteries of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Introduction: Femoral arterial dysfunction including abnormal vascular responsiveness to endogenous ligands was often seen in arterial hypertension. Extracellular nucleotides including uridine 5′-diphosphate (UDP) and uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) play important roles for homeostasis in the vascular system including controlling the vascular tone. However, responsiveness to UDP and UTP in femoral arteries under arterial hypertension remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate if hypertension has an effect of vasoconstrictive responsiveness to UDP and UTP in femoral arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) after 7 and 12 months old. Methods: Organ baths were conducted to determine vascular reactivity in isolated femoral arterial rings. Results: In femoral arteries obtained from 12-month-old rats, augmented contractile responses to UDP and UTP were seen in femoral arteries of SHR than in those of WKY under situations not only intact but also nitric oxide synthase inhibition, whereas no difference of extracellular potassium-induced vasocontraction was seen in both SHR and WKY groups. Similar contraction trends occurred in femoral arteries obtained from 7-month-old rats. Moreover, contractions induced by UDP and UTP were increased in endothelium-denuded arteries. Cyclooxygenase inhibition decreased the contractions induced by these nucleotides and abolished the differences in responses between the SHR and WKY groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of regulation of extracellular uridine nucleotides-induced contractions in hypertension-associated peripheral arterial diseases.

Improvement of Vascular Function by Knockdown of Salusin-β in Hypertensive Rats via Nitric Oxide and Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling Pathway.

PurposeSalusin-β, a multifunctional vasoactive peptide, has a potentially important function in the pathological development of hypertension. However, the exact functional role of salusin-β and the underlying mechanism in this process are still not fully understood. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of silencing salusin-β on vascular function and vascular remodeling, as well as its signaling pathways in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).MethodsSilencing salusin-β was performed by caudal vein injection of adenovirus expressing salusin-β short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was used to evaluate vasodilator function, and high K+ solution-induced constriction was used to evaluate vasoconstriction function.ResultsSalusin-β levels in plasma and its protein expression in mesenteric artery (MA), coronary artery (CA), and pulmonary artery (PA) of SHR were higher than those in WKY. The salusin-β level and expression were decreased effectively by salusin-β shRNA. Knockdown of salusin-β decreased arterial blood pressure (ABP) and high K+ solution-induced vascular constrictions, and improved the endothelium-dependent relaxation and vascular remodeling in SHR. The improved effect of silencing salusin-β on ACh-induced relaxation in SHR was almost blocked by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME. Compared to WKY, the endothelial NOS (eNOS) activity and level, and nitric oxide (NO) level were decreased, while NAD(P)H oxidase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in MA, CA, and PA of SHR were increased, which were all redressed by salusin-β knockdown.ConclusionThese results indicate that knockdown of salusin-β improves endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation and vascular remodeling and decreases ABP and vasoconstriction in SHR, which might be accomplished by increasing eNOS activation and NO release while inhibiting NAD(P)H oxidase derived-ROS generation. Scavenging salusin-β improves vascular function and then prevents the development and progression of vasculopathy of hypertension.

Chronic Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia Decreases High Blood Pressure by Stabilizing the Vascular Renin-Angiotensin System in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Background and AimsPrevious studies have demonstrated the anti-hypertensive effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) in hypertensive rats. The present study investigated the anti-hypertensive effect of CIHH in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in anti-hypertensive effect of CIHH.MethodsFifteen-week-old male SHR and WKY rats were divided into four groups: the SHR without CIHH treatment (SHR-CON), the SHR with CIHH treatment (SHR-CIHH), the WKY without CIHH treatment (WKY-CON), and the WKY with CIHH treatment (WKY-CIHH) groups. The SHR-CIHH and WKY-CIHH rats underwent 35-days of hypobaric hypoxia simulating an altitude of 4,000 m, 5 h per day. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded by biotelemetry, and angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang1–7, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α, and IL-10 in serum and the mesenteric arteries were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The microvessel tension recording technique was used to determine the contraction and relaxation of the mesenteric arteries. Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s staining were used to observe vascular morphology and fibrosis. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, AT1, and Mas proteins in the mesenteric artery.ResultsThe biotelemetry result showed that CIHH decreased arterial blood pressure in SHR for 3–4 weeks (P < 0.01). The ELISA and immunohistochemistry results showed that CIHH decreased Ang II, but increased Ang1–7 in serum and the mesenteric arteries of SHR. In the CIHH-treated SHR, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in serum and the mesenteric arteries, and IL-10 increased in serum (P < 0.05–0.01). The microvessel tension results revealed that CIHH inhibited vascular contraction with decreased Ang1–7 in the mesenteric arteries of SHR (P < 0.05–0.01). The staining results revealed that CIHH significantly improved vascular remodeling and fibrosis in SHR. The western blot results demonstrated that CIHH upregulated expression of the ACE2 and Mas proteins, and downregulated expression of the ACE and AT1 proteins (P < 0.05–0.01).ConclusionCIHH decreased high blood pressure in SHR, possibly by inhibiting RAS activity, downregulating the ACE-Ang II-AT1 axis and upregulating the ACE2-(Ang1-7)-Mas axis, which resulted in antagonized vascular remodeling and fibrosis, reduced inflammation, and enhanced vascular relaxation.

Vasomotor action of androgens in the mesenteric artery of hypertensive rats. Role of perivascular innervation.

Androgens may exert cardiovascular protective actions by regulating the release and function of different vascular factors. In addition, testosterone (TES) and its 5-reduced metabolites, 5α- and 5β-dihydrotestosterone (5α- and 5β-DHT) induce vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects. Furthermore, hypertension has been reported to alter the release and function of the neurotransmitters nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and noradrenaline (NA). Since the mesenteric arteries possess a dense perivascular innervation and significantly regulate total peripheral vascular resistance, the objective of this study was to analyze the effect of TES, 5α- and 5β-DHT on the neurogenic release and vasomotor function of NO, CGRP and NA. For this purpose, the superior mesenteric artery from male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats was used to analyze: (i) the effect of androgens (10 nM, incubated for 30 min) on the neurogenic release of NO, CGRP and NA and (ii) the vasoconstrictor-response to NA and the vasodilator responses to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and exogenous CGRP. The results showed that TES, 5α- or 5β-DHT did not modify the release of NO, CGRP or NA induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the arteries of SHR; however, in the arteries of WKY rats androgens only caused an increase in EFS-induced NO release. Moreover, TES, and especially 5β-DHT, increased the vasodilator response induced by SNP and CGRP in the arteries of SHR. These findings could be contributing to the hypotensive/antihypertensive efficacy of 5β-DHT previously described in conscious SHR and WKY rats, pointing to 5β- DHT as a potential drug for the treatment of hypertension.

Larger endothelium-dependent contractions in iliac arteries of adult SHRs are attributed to differential downregulation of TP and EP3 receptors in the vessels of WKYs and SHRs during the transition from adolescence to adulthood

This study was to determine how endothelium-dependent contractions (EDCs) change in iliac arteries of Wistar-Kyoto (WKYs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) during the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the underlying mechanism(s). We also aimed to elucidate effects of L-798106, an EP3 receptor antagonist, on EDCs and the blood pressure increase in adolescent SHRs. Blood vessels were isolated for functional and biochemical analyses. EDCs were comparable in adolescent iliac arteries of both strains, and contractions to ACh, prostacyclin (PGI2), the EP3 receptor agonist sulprostone and the TP receptor agonist U46619 in adult vessels were less prominent compared with those in the adolescents, while the attenuation of vasoconstrictions to ACh, PGI2 or U46619 with age was to a lesser extent in SHRs. PGI2 production was decreased to a similar level in adult arteries. TP and EP3 expressions were downregulated in adult vessels, whereas the extent of TP downregulation was less in SHRs. L-798106 partially suppressed the vasoconstrictions to U46619 and attenuated EDCs to a greater extent than SQ29548, and administration of L-798106 blunted the blood pressure increase with age in prehypertensive SHRs. These results demonstrate the comparable EDCs in iliac arteries of the adolescents are decreased in the adults, but relatively larger EDCs in adult SHRs can be a reflection of differential downregulation of TP and EP3 receptors during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Also, our data suggest that blockade of both TP and EP3 receptors starting from the prehypertensive stage suppresses EDCs and the development of hypertension in SHRs.

Impaired UTP-induced relaxation in the carotid arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) has an important role as an extracellular signaling molecule that regulates inflammation, angiogenesis, and vascular tone. While chronic hypertension has been shown to promote alterations in arterial vascular tone regulation, carotid artery responses to UTP under hypertensive conditions have remained unclear. The present study investigated carotid artery responses to UTP in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Accordingly, our results found that although UTP promotes concentration-dependent relaxation in isolated carotid artery segments from both SHR and WKY after pretreatment with phenylephrine, SHR exhibited significantly lower arterial relaxation responses compared with WKY. Moreover, UTP-induced relaxation was substantially reduced by endothelial denudation and by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine in both SHR and WKY. The difference in UTP-induced relaxation between both groups was abolished by the selective P2Y2 receptor antagonist AR-C118925XX and the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethacin but not by the thromboxane-prostanoid receptor antagonist SQ29548. Furthermore, we detected the release of PGE2, PGF2α, and PGI2 in the carotid arteries of SHR and WKY, both at baseline and in response to UTP. UTP administration also increased TXA2 levels in WKY but not SHR. Overall, our results suggest that UTP-induced relaxation in carotid arteries is impaired in SHR perhaps due to impaired P2Y2 receptor signaling, reductions in endothelial NO, and increases in the levels of COX-derived vasoconstrictor prostanoids.

The dynamic change of phenotypic markers of smooth muscle cells in an animal model of cerebral small vessel disease

BackgroundThe pathological character of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the dysfunction of cerebral small arteries caused by risk factors. A switch from the contractile phenotype to the synthetic phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can decrease the contractility of arteries. The alteration of the vascular wall extracellular matrix (ECM) is found to regulate the process. We speculated that SMCs phenotype changes may also occur in CSVD induced by hypertension and the alteration of ECM especially fibronectin and laminin may regulate the process. MethodMale spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used as a CSVD animal model.SMCs phenotypic markers and the ECM expression of the cerebral small arteries of SHR at different ages were evaluated by immunofluorescence. The phenotype changes of primary brain microvascular SMCs cultured on laminin-coating dish or fibronectin-coating dish were evaluated by western blot. ResultA switch from the contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype in SHR at 10 and 22 weeks of age was observed. Meanwhile, increased expression of fibronectin and a temporary decline of laminin was found in small arteries of SHR at 22 weeks. In vitro experiments also convinced that SMCs cultured on a fibronectin-coating dish failed to maintain contractile phenotype. While at 50 weeks, significant drops of both synthetic and contractile phenotypic markers were witnessed in SHR, with high expressions of four kinds of ECM. ConclusionSMCs in cerebral small arteries exhibited a switch from the contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype during the chronic process of hypertension and aging. Moreover, the change of fibronectin and laminin may regulate the process.