Hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and impaired vascular relaxation induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin are associated with increased superoxide.
The mechanisms by which 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) increases the incidence of human cardiovascular disease are not known. We investigated the degree to which cardiovascular disease develops in mice following subchronic TCDD exposure. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were dosed with vehicle or 300 ng TCDD/kg by oral gavage three times per week for 60 days. Blood pressure was recorded by radiotelemetry and aortic endothelial function was assessed by acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation. Mean arterial pressure of TCDD-exposed mice was increased significantly by day 4 and between days 7-10, 25-35, and 45-60 with two periods of normalization on days 11-24 and days 36-39. Consistent with a prolonged period of systemic hypertension, heart weight was increased and was associated with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Significant increases in superoxide production also were observed in the kidney, heart, and aorta of TCDD-exposed mice. Furthermore, increased aortic superoxide resulted in endothelial dysfunction as demonstrated by significant impairment of acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation in TCDD-exposed mice, which was restored by tempol, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic. Our model is the first to definitely demonstrate that sustained AhR activation by TCDD increases blood pressure and induces cardiac hypertrophy, which may be mediated, in part, by increased superoxide.
College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC09 5360, 2502 Marble NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. pkopf@salud.unm.edu
Phillip G
PG
Kopf
Janice K
JK
Huwe
Mary K
MK
Walker
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D013481:Superoxides; D000109:Acetylcholine