The participation of brain NO synthase in blood pressure control of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Increased blood pressure (BP) in genetic hypertension is usually caused by high activity of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which is enhanced by central angiotensin II but lowered by central nitric oxide (NO). We have therefore evaluated NO synthase (NOS) activity as well as neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) protein expression in brainstem and midbrain of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) characterized by enhanced sympathetic vasoconstriction. We also studied possible participation of brain NO in antihypertensive effects of chronic captopril treatment of adult SHR. NOS activity was increased in midbrain of SHR compared to Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. This could be ascribed to enhanced iNOS expression, whereas nNOS expression was unchanged and eNOS expression was reduced in this brain region. In contrast, no significant changes of NOS activity were found in brainstem of SHR in which nNOS and iNOS expression was unchanged, but eNOS expression was increased. Chronic captopril administration lowered BP of adult SHR mainly by attenuation of sympathetic tone, whereas the reduction of angiotensin II-dependent vasoconstriction and the decrease of residual BP (amelioration of structural remodeling of resistance vessels) were less important. This treatment did not affect significantly either NOS activity or expression of any NOS isoform in the two brain regions. Our data do not support the hypothesis that altered brain NO formation contributes to sympathetic hyperactivity and high BP of adult SHR with established hypertension.
Hojná
Silvie
S
Institute of Physiology AS CR, Charles University, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic.
Kadlecová
Michaela
M
Dobesová
Zdenka
Z
Valousková
Vera
V
Zicha
Josef
J
Kunes
Jaroslav
J
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010425:Pentolinium Tartrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects
D010425:Pentolinium Tartrate; D002216:Captopril; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester