title: Increased anti-apoptotic conditions in the nucleus tractus solitarii of spontaneously hypertensive rat.
abstract: Since the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is a pivotal region for regulating the set-point of arterial pressure, we propose here its role in the development of neurogenic hypertension. Given the findings of recent studies suggesting that the NTS of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibits a specific inflammatory state characterized by leukocyte accumulation within the NTS microvasculature, we hypothesized that gene expression levels of apoptotic factors are altered in the NTS of SHR compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). To test this hypothesis, we used RT(2) Profiler PCR arrays targeting apoptosis-related factors. We found that gene expression of the death receptor Fas (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 6) and the cysteine-aspartic acid protease caspase 12 were down-regulated in the NTS of both adult hypertensive and young pre-hypertensive SHR compared to age-matched WKY. On the other hand, an anti-apoptotic factor, neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein, was highly increased in the NTS of SHR. These results suggest that the NTS of SHR exhibits an anti-apoptotic condition. Furthermore, this profile appears not to be secondary to hypertension. Whether this differential gene expression in the NTS contributes to the hypertensive state of the SHR via alteration of neuronal circuitry regulating cardiovascular autonomic activity awaits elucidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan
authors.forename: Sabine S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gouraud
authors.forename: Hidefumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waki
authors.forename: Mohammad E R
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bhuiyan
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takagishi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohsaka
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism; D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein; D012313:RNA; D053454:Caspase 12