title: Expression of protein kinase C gene in the brain and heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: 1. The aim of this study was to investigate protein kinase C (PKC) gene expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2. Using the PKC oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes (gamma, epsilon), we detected PKC isoforms gene expression in the heart and brain of 4 and 20 week old SHR with those of age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats by northern blot analysis. 3. In the cerebral cortex, there were significantly increased levels of expression of the Ca2+-dependent isoform PKC-gamma in 4 and 20 weeks SHR compared with that of WKY, while Ca2+ -independent isoform PKC-epsilon did not differ between SHR and WKY. 4. In ventricular myocytes, there was a significant expression of the Ca2+-independent isoform PKC-epsilon in 4 and 20 week old SHR compared with that of WKY, while Ca2+ -dependent isoform PKC-gamma could not be detected in the same extracts of SHR or WKY. 5. We conclude that both of the Ca2+ -dependent and Ca2+ -independent PKC could be involved in the pathogenesis of SHR. Ca2+ -dependent PKC-gamma may be mainly involved in the modulation of blood pressure in the level of the central nervous system, while Ca2+ -independent PKC-epsilon could be related to the genetic myocardial hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to the Shanghai Second Medical University, China.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011493:Protein Kinase C