title: Expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis during the development of spontaneous hypertension in rats.
abstract: This study was performed to investigate the expression of the major isoforms of nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at two different postnatal ages corresponding to the development of genetic hypertension. Using RT-PCR and Western blot techniques, the mRNA and protein levels of neuronal (nNOS), endothelial (eNOS) and inducible (iNOS) isoforms were measured in 3- to 4-week-old (prehypertensive phase) and 12- to 13-week-old (established hypertension phase) SHR and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. nNOS but not eNOS mRNA levels were increased at prehypertensive and hypertensive phases in SHR HPA axis. Compared to age-matched WKY rats, significantly higher levels of nNOS protein were found in the hypothalamus, lower levels in the adrenal glands and no changes were observed in the pituitary gland. At both ages tested, there was no significant change in eNOS protein expression in SHR HPA axis. The expression of iNOS mRNA and protein was under detection limit. In the HPA axis, the expression of nNOS isoform appears to be differentially controlled at the transcriptional and translational levels in SHR. Increased mRNA levels and differential nNOS protein expression from birth in SHR HPA axis may contribute in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Häuser
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sassmann
authors.forename: Fatimunnisa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jöhren
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dominiak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat