title: Changes of gene expressions in spontaneously hypertensive rat model after losartan treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The renin angiotensin system seems to play an important role in the development of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in hypertension. The changes in pathology, and gene expressions of the angiotensin II receptor type 1A (ATIA) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were investigated in order to explore the effects of losartan in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve week-old male Wistar rats were grouped as follows: control (C) group, hypertension (H) group, and losartan (L) group in which SHR was treated with losartan (10 mg/kg/day). Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis regarding seven genes such as endothelin-1, ACE, ATIA, neutrophil cytosolic factor, brain natriuretic peptide, troponin I, endothelial nitric oxide synthase were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in the L group compared with the H group in weeks 3 and 5. ACE and ATIA proteins in the L group were lower than H group in week 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Losartan reduced blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy and protein expressions of ACE and ATIA. Changes of protein expressions were more sensitive than changes in pathology. Further study is needed for the differing doses of losartan in SHR models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Hye Ryon
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwan Chang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Young Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hong