title: Comparative Analysis of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS)-Related Gene Expression Between Hypertensive and Normotensive Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND The renal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is physiologically important for blood pressure regulation. Altered regulation of RAS-related genes has been observed in an animal model of hypertension (spontaneously hypertensive rats - SHRs). The current understanding of certain RAS-related gene expression differences between Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) and SHRs is either limited or has not been compared. The purpose of this study was to compare the regulation of key RAS-related genes in the kidneys of adult WKYs and SHRs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Coronal sections were dissected through the hilus of kidneys from 16-week-old male WKYs and SHRs. RT-PCR analysis was performed for Ace, Ace2, Agt, Agtr1a, Agtr1b, Agtr2, Atp6ap2 (PRR), Mas1, Ren, Rnls, and Slc12a3 (NCC). RESULTS Increased mRNA expression was observed for Ace, Ace2, Agt, Agtr1a, Agtr1b, and Atp6ap2 in SHRs compared to WKYs. Mas1, Ren, Slc12a3, and Rnls showed no difference in expression between animal types. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the upregulation of several key RAS-related genes in the kidney may account for the increased blood pressure of adult SHRs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Chad R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Phong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Collin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.|Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada.|Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.|Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C000715472:Mas1 protein, rat; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger