Effect of sodium on blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and angiotensin receptor expression in rats.
BACKGROUND
Sodium-induced hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy is related to pressure and volume overload.


METHODS
Wistar rats were exposed to low and high sodium diet for 8 weeks. Angiotensin II receptor mRNA, abundance of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), vasoconstriction of aortic rings, and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase were investigated.


RESULTS
Rats on high sodium diet showed significantly elevated blood pressure. Heart weight, AT1 receptor mRNA in cardiac and aortic tissues, and abundance of p38MAPK were significantly increased in rats on high sodium diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased AT1 receptor expression and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase are compensatory effects in sodium-induced hypertension.
Zhu
Zhiming
Z
Department of Hypertension and Endocrinology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China. zhuzm@yahoo.com
Zhu
Shanjun
S
Wu
Ziqian
Z
Liu
Daoyan
D
Yang
Yongjian
Y
Wang
Xianmei
X
Zhu
Jijin
J
Tepel
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases