title: Mechanisms of blood pressure variability-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice with impaired baroreflex.
abstract: Enhanced blood pressure variability contributes to left ventricular hypertrophy and end-organ damage, even in the absence of hypertension. We hypothesized that the greater number of high-blood pressure episodes associated with enhanced blood pressure variability causes cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction by activation of mechanosensitive and autocrine pathways. Normotensive mice were subjected to sinoaortic baroreceptor denervation (SAD) or sham surgery. Twelve weeks later, blood pressure variability was doubled in SAD compared with sham-operated mice. Blood pressure did not differ. Cardiac hypertrophy was reflected in greater heart/body weight ratios, larger myocyte cross-sectional areas, and greater left ventricular collagen deposition. Furthermore, left ventricular atrial and brain natriuretic peptide mRNA expression was greater in SAD than in sham-operated mice. SAD had higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressures and lower myocardial contractility indexes, indicating cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac protein content of phosphorylated p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125 FAK) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was greater in SAD than in sham-operated mice, indicating activation of mechanosensitive pathways of cardiac hypertrophy. Furthermore, enhanced cardiac renin and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) protein content indicates activation of autocrine pathways of cardiac hypertrophy. Adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase protein content and the number of renin-positive glomeruli were not different, suggesting that sympathetic activation and the systemic renin-angiotensin system did not contribute to cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, more frequent blood pressure rises in subjects with high blood pressure variability activate mechanosensitive and autocrine pathways leading to cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction even in the absence of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of Iowa, 410 Field House, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinka
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fielitz
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patzak
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Regitz-Zagrosek
authors.forename: Pontus B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Harald M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Stauss
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D017704:Baroreflex; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003714:Denervation; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006439:Hemodynamics; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000294:innervation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C496051:Ptk2 protein, mouse; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D012083:Renin