Enhanced expression of endothelin-1 and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 in acute hypoxic rat aorta.
Deeply anesthetized male Wistar rats were perfused by Hanks' balanced salt solution bubbled with either 95%air and 5%CO2 (normoxic group) or 95%N2 and 5%CO2 (hypoxic group) from the thoracic aorta for 30 min, and the isolated abdominal aortae from both groups were used for electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry of endothelin (ET)-1 and ET-converting enzyme (ECE)-1, and in situ hybridization of preproET-1 mRNA. A remarkable increase in the number of Weibel-Palade (WP) bodies, storage sites of ET-1 and ECE-1, occurred in the hypoxic group when compared to the normoxic group. Immunoreactivities for ET-1 and ECE-1, and signals for preproET-1 mRNA were seen along the endothelia of both groups, but the intensities were significantly elevated in the hypoxic group. The increase in the number of ECE-1 immunoreactive gold particles was noticed especially in WP bodies in the hypoxic group. These findings indicate the enhancement of preproET-1 synthesis in the aortic endothelial cells as well as the acceleration of ET-1 processing in increased WP bodies in such cells in an experimentally hypoxic condition of the rat aortae.
Doi
Y
Y
Department of Anatomy, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan. y-doi@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Kudo
H
H
Nishino
T
T
Yamamoto
O
O
Nagata
T
T
Nara
S
S
Morita
M
M
Fujimoto
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism*; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D016232:Endothelins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D020302:Weibel-Palade Bodies / Q000378:metabolism
D019332:Endothelin-1; D016232:Endothelins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes