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Distribution of κ‐Opioid Receptor in the Pulmonary Artery and its Changes During Hypoxia
Author(s) -
Peng Pai,
Huang Luyu,
Li Juan,
Fan Rong,
Zhang ShuMiao,
Wang YueMin,
Hu YuZhen,
Sun Xin,
Kaye Alan David,
Pei JianMing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.20911
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , kappa , κ opioid receptor , immunohistochemistry , western blot , medicine , pulmonary artery , receptor , endocrinology , pathology , chemistry , cardiology , biology , opioid , oxygen , biochemistry , gene , philosophy , linguistics , organic chemistry
The present study evaluated the distribution of κ‐opioid receptors (κ‐ORs) in pulmonary arteries (PAs) in rats and investigated whether κ‐ORs are altered in PAs during hypoxia. An animal model of hypobaric/hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and a pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) model of hypoxia were utilized. Distribution of κ‐ORs was determined by fluorescence immunohistochemistry and changes in κ‐ORs expression in PAs and PASMCs were determined by fluorescence immunohistochemistry or Western blot techniques. The κ‐ORs were primarily distributed in the smooth muscle layer of the PAs and in the nucleus of PASMCs. The expression of the κ‐ORs were increased in PAs of rats subjected to hypoxia for 1–4 week ( P < 0.01). Accordingly, the expression of κ‐ORs in PASMCs were also increased when subjected to hypoxia for 12–36 hr ( P < 0.05). The present study has provided evidence for the first time of the precise location of κ‐ORs in PAs and PASMCs of rats and that hypoxia upregulates expression of κ‐ORs. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.