Plasma sodium stiffens vascular endothelium and reduces nitric oxide release.
Dietary salt plays a major role in the regulation of blood pressure, and the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone controls salt homeostasis and extracellular volume. Recent observations suggest that a small increase in plasma sodium concentration may contribute to the pressor response of dietary salt. Because endothelial cells are (i) sensitive to aldosterone, (ii) in physical contact with plasma sodium, and (iii) crucial regulators of vascular tone, we tested whether acute changes in plasma sodium concentration, within the physiological range, can alter the physical properties of endothelial cells. The tip of an atomic force microscope was used as a nanosensor to measure stiffness of living endothelial cells incubated for 3 days in a culture medium containing aldosterone at a physiological concentration (0.45 nM). Endothelial cell stiffness was unaffected by acute changes in sodium concentration <135 mM but rose steeply between 135 and 145 mM. The increase in stiffness occurred within minutes. Lack of aldosterone in the culture medium or treatment with the epithelial sodium channel inhibitor amiloride prevented this response. Nitric oxide formation was found down-regulated in cells cultured in aldosterone-containing high sodium medium. The results suggest that changes in plasma sodium concentration per se may affect endothelial function and thus control vascular tone.
Oberleithner
Hans
H
Institute of Physiology II and Department of Internal Medicine D, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany. oberlei@uni-muenster.de
Riethmüller
Christoph
C
Schillers
Hermann
H
MacGregor
Graham A
GA
de Wardener
Hugh E
HE
Hausberg
Martin
M
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004548:Elasticity; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology
D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000450:Aldosterone; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium