title: Evidence for increased functional vascular Na+/K+ pump activity in the obese Zucker rat.
abstract: Insulin is known to stimulate Na+/K+ ATPase and to relax vascular smooth muscle. We hypothesized that vascular tone in the obese Zucker (fa/fa) rat, a hyperinsulinemic model in which hypertension can develop, may be influenced by insulin's ability to stimulate Na+/K+ ATPase at the vascular level. We studied isometric preparations of tail and femoral arteries from 10-wk-old, male obese Zucker rats, which were hyperinsulinemic but still normotensive vs. lean controls. Sensitivity to potassium-induced relaxations, an index of vascular Na+/K+ ATPase activity was significantly greater in the obese Zucker rat than control. Sensitivity to transmural-nerve-stimulation-induced contractions was decreased in the femoral and tail arteries from obese rats as compared with lean controls. Insulin (50 to 200 mU/ml) mimicked potassium-induced relaxations in the femoral artery, an effect that was significantly greater in the obese group. These data suggest that in the young hyperinsulinemic Zucker rat, insulin has a stimulatory effect on the vascular Na+/K+ pump, which may be associated with a decreased presynaptic adrenergic influence on vascular tone. Development of resistance to these vascular relaxant effects of insulin with advancing age might contribute to the onset of hypertension in this model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Southern California System of Clinics, Sepulveda, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Golub
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tuck
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013623:Tail / Q000098:blood supply; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase